Would-be beekeepers stung by huge increase in start-up costs
WOULD-BE beekeepers are having to pay much higher start-up costs in the face of declines in honeybees and the growing popularity of the pursuit.
"Beeflation" has seen the cost of a five-frame nucleus of bees needed to set up a hive increase from just 40 in 2008 to more than 150 now, according to the Co-operative.
Beekeeping has become increasingly popular in cities and towns, with growing awareness of the plight of the honeybee, which has suffered a major decline in numbers in recent years.
As part of its Plan Bee, the Co-operative is running a scheme to fund training and start-up kits – including bees – for new urban beekeepers.
Chris Shearlock, sustainable development manager at the Co-operative, said: "A series of factors have come together to have a devastating impact on honeybees, which are nature's number one pollinating machine."
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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