Bee Meadow is a six acre field in which we plan to place 40 hives. The field has been freshly planted with a selection of organically sourced seed which will provide a continuous display of nectar from pollen-rich legumes and wildflowers guaranteeing a rewarding honey harvest. A good early Autumn range of flowers will help the bees build up their honey stocks for the Winter.
At three weeks.
A bee is said to make three journeys in order to bring one drop of nectar to the hive; 25,000 foraging trips are said to be necessary to gather the raw material for one pound of honey.
A honeybee will visit 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip, and a hive of bees will fly 90,000 miles to collect 1 kg of honey. During the average worker bee's lifetime, she will produce only about 1/12th teaspoon of honey and it takes one ounce of honey to fuel a bees' flight around the world.
At six weeks.
We're giving the bees a hand by planting flowers, trees and bushes that will make these trips easier, and provide all the nectar they need to create a thriving, healthy, productive hive.
Some flowers produce more nectar than others, others are great honey flowers, and some just intoxicate the bees. We have chosen a variety of plants that flower at different times so there is always a snack available when bees are out and about.
A selection of what's been planted:
Weeding at magic hour.