British Waterways pilots community beekeeping
10 September 2009
Following the publication of a report from the British Beekeepers Association showing that Britain's bee colonies are suffering unsustainably high losses, British Waterways is looking at how land adjoining its canals and rivers can be used for community beekeeping.
British Waterways, the national organisation responsible for over 2,200 miles of canals and rivers, is teaming up with Arts for Places to install hives along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Liverpool for the local community to adopt. If successful, BW plans to roll out the initiative across the rest of the canal network.
Bees are estimated to be worth around £200 million to the UK economy each year as they pollinate many of the food crops grown here, such as apples and oilseed rape. In recent years they have been hit by agricultural changes, which have reduced the availability of the wildflowers that are so important in providing food for the insects.
The destruction of bee-friendly habitats and the losses sustained by colonies make it increasingly important to take action to help honey bees. The British Beekeepers Association encourages people to become beekeepers and urges communities to find safe spaces for their bee colonies. Britain’s waterways are rich in wildflowers for foraging bees, offer ideal space for beehives and an opportunity for local communities to get involved in beekeeping themselves.
Over 20 local residents from Liverpool and Sefton trained as beekeepers as part of the project with the Arts for Places scheme. Now ten residents have joined Southport Beekeepers Association to maintain the hives on land adjoining the canal. Working with local beekeeper Margaret Murdin and artist Kerry Morrison, the community beekeepers will care for five beehives situated between Litherland and Eldonian Village in Liverpool.
Dr Mark Robinson, national ecology manager for British Waterways and beekeeper comments: “The UK’s canals, rivers and reservoirs act as green corridors and safe havens for many species. Our honey bees are under threat and are in need of good habitat. By installing hives on the land adjoining our canals and rivers, British Waterways is providing a safe environment for bees to thrive.
"It is important to engage local people in these schemes and we look forward to working with Arts for Places and the Liverpool community to make this a success, with a view to rolling out the idea across more of our network in future.”
Tim Lovett, president of British Beekeepers Association said: “Here is an imaginative initiative, which exploits a latent asset and involves the community in a meaningful project – there is great potential for future growth and provision of all too rare apiary sites.”
Paul Kelly, housing market renewal public realm manager said: “The Art for Places Project in Sefton is engaging with residents on a number of projects centred around the Leeds & Liverpool Canal ahead of a spectacular moveable artistic structure being built there. Introducing honeybees to the area is an exciting part of this initiative and will hopefully go some way to help keep them sustainable, as well as offer people living there the skills to look after them.”
Ends
For media enquiries contact:
Helen Hall, British Waterways, T. 01942 405 788, M. 07717 760284,
helen.hall@britishwaterways.co.uk
Fran Read, British Waterways, T. 020 7985 7276, M. 07796 610427,
fran.read@britishwaterways.co.uk
Notes to editors:
British Waterways cares for 2,200 miles of the nation's canals and rivers. Rich in heritage, abundant in wildlife and teeming with activity, inland waterways are as popular today as they've ever been. Half the population lives within five miles of one of our waterways and an incredible 11 million people use them every year as part of their everyday life – as a short-cut to work, for walking the dog or simply for taking time-out and watching the boats. British Waterways' job is to ensure the waterways attract enough investment to be well maintained and remain appealing to society and the local communities through which they pass.
www.britishwaterways.co.uk
Art for Places is a three year project, taking place in the three local authority areas of Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral and is partnership between NewHeartlands, Liverpool Biennial and the Arts Council England North West, British Waterways and local authorities and housing associations.