Canalside Beekeeping - we warmly welcome our latest new members!

Canalside Beekeeping - we warmly welcome our latest new members!

Last Updated (Wednesday, 30 September 2009 16:10) Written by Administrator Wednesday, 30 September 2009 13:40

Southport & Formby Beekeepers are delighted to welcome our latest new members

The Liverpool Biennial Arts For Places Scheme - Beekeeping Initiative

As part of Art for Places Sefton’s Community Engagement Programme, Liverpool Biennial has commissioned a series of artist residencies along the Sefton and Liverpool stretch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Throughout 2009 artist Kerry Morrison has been conducting wildlife and habitat surveys of this extremely bio-diverse area with Botanist Alicia Prowse. The information gathered has been documented and explored in a traditional detailed survey but has also incorporated performances and many chance meetings with residents and wild life of the area.

Early on in 2009, following initial research of the area, Kerry identified the canal as a perfect habitat for keeping honey bees. This was just the beginning of the initiative and research into how Kerry and Liverpool Biennial could make this a real and sustainable opportunity for residents to become bee keepers and perhaps producers of some Canal Honey in 2010!

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.

The bees are being kept at a secret location. More visible along the canal will be large white hives that we hope other wild life will adopt as a home.

Following the publication of a report from the British Beekeepers Association showing that Britain’s bee colonies are suffering unsustainably high losses British Waterways are now looking at how more land adjoining its canals and rivers can be used for more community beekeeping initiatives. British Waterways, the national organisation responsible for over 2,200 miles of canals and rivers

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 honey bees and other polinators.

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 wild flowers for foraging bees, offer ideal space for beehives and an opportunity for local communities to get involved in beekeeping themselves.

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.”
As part of Art for Places Sefton’s Community Engagement Programme, Liverpool Biennial has commissioned a series of artist residencies along the Sefton and Liverpool stretch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Throughout 2009 artist Kerry Morrison has been conducting wildlife and habitat surveys of this extremely bio-diverse area with Botanist Alicia Prowse. The information gathered has been documented and explored in a traditional detailed survey but has also incorporated performances and many chance meetings with residents and wild life of the area.

Early on in 2009, following initial research of the area, Kerry identified the canal as a perfect habitat for keeping honey bees. This was just the beginning of the initiative and research into how Kerry and Liverpool Biennial could make this a real and sustainable opportunity for residents to become bee keepers and perhaps producers of some Canal Honey in 2010!

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.

The bees are being kept at a secret location. More visible along the canal will be large white hives that we hope other wild life will adopt as a home.

Following the publication of a report from the British Beekeepers Association showing that Britain’s bee colonies are suffering unsustainably high losses British Waterways are now looking at how more land adjoining its canals and rivers can be used for more community beekeeping initiatives. British Waterways, the national organisation responsible for over 2,200 miles of canals and rivers

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 honey bees and other polinators.

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 wild flowers for foraging bees, offer ideal space for beehives and an opportunity for local communities to get involved in beekeeping themselves.

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.”
As part of Art for Places Sefton’s Community Engagement Programme, Liverpool Biennial has commissioned a series of artist residencies along the Sefton and Liverpool stretch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Throughout 2009 artist Kerry Morrison has been conducting wildlife and habitat surveys of this extremely bio-diverse area with Botanist Alicia Prowse. The information gathered has been documented and explored in a traditional detailed survey but has also incorporated performances and many chance meetings with residents and wild life of the area.

Early on in 2009, following initial research of the area, Kerry identified the canal as a perfect habitat for keeping honey bees. This was just the beginning of the initiative and research into how Kerry and Liverpool Biennial could make this a real and sustainable opportunity for residents to become bee keepers and perhaps producers of some Canal Honey in 2010!

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.

The bees are being kept at a secret location. More visible along the canal will be large white hives that we hope other wild life will adopt as a home.

Following the publication of a report from the British Beekeepers Association showing that Britain’s bee colonies are suffering unsustainably high losses British Waterways are now looking at how more land adjoining its canals and rivers can be used for more community beekeeping initiatives. British Waterways, the national organisation responsible for over 2,200 miles of canals and rivers

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 honey bees and other polinators.

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 wild flowers for foraging bees, offer ideal space for beehives and an opportunity for local communities to get involved in beekeeping themselves.

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.”