Save The Bees!

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is the phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind the queen, plenty of food and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen.

Our local honey supplier Paul Kelly, in Clonakilty, lost 40 of 60 hives over one winter so it’s a real problem. One of the main issues causing Colony Collapse are the widespread use of herbicides and pesticides.

Loss of habitat and food sources through a combination of cutting back hedges, a lack of biodiversity and climate change also hurts the bees’ livelihood. This leads to their immune systems being weakened which makes them more susceptible to illness and diseases and the deadly bee killer, the varroa mite.

‘All Ireland Pollinator Plan’ is an initiative in Ireland set up to raise awareness of the problems our wild pollinators are having and to advise farmers, gardeners, schools and businesses on what they can do to be part of restoring the populations to healthy levels. For example do you know the best plants for pollinators in different months? Why not mow your lawn or grass verges less to allow the wildflowers to blossom and in turn feed the bees.

Urban beehives are becoming more common, often on the roofs of city buildings They are not as threatened by overuse pesticides, herbicides or weedkiller and the lack of biodiversity as in more agricultural areas.