Near native black honeybees (Apis mellifera mellifera)
in Wester Ross Scotland
Apis mellifera mellifera from near Poolewe
Here in the Highlands of Scotland the original honeybee was the native black or dark type subspecies called A. mellifera mellifera, which had, over thousands of generations, adapted to environmental conditions in the northern temperate regions of Europe. This bee used to be the only type of honeybee present in Britain. However as man has imported foreign subspecies into our country the stock of native bees has been polluted by out breeding with other races of bees. This was sometimes done to increase stocks of bees when they were scarce, such as after the ravages of the 'Isle of Wight disease' at the turn of the century, or by beekeepers who did not appreciate the adaptive significance of the thrifty traits of our native bees to their harsh climate, and thinking that by keeping bees from Italy, Greece or even Hawaii they could increase honey yields to those achieved in the long summers of the Mediterranean. Occasionally beekeepers were looking to find very docile bees that wouldn't sting them, unlike native bees which had an, often undeserved, reputation for bad temper.
The small white dot on the bottom right is the queen, she is lowering herself into a cell, she laid quite happily in this observation hive during the Inverewe Garden 'Bioprotection Day' in May 2009. Her legs are larger and paler than the black legs of the workers.
Our bees are of the local near native. This means that they are of the native A.m.m type but with some degree of hybridization from other strains of honey bee. We can tell this from looking at some of their features like the veins on their wings, length of their body hair and colour.
2010
The bees were flying for cleansing flights on Thursday 4th Feb (7°C). The bees were fed more damp sugar to add to the remains of the Apifonda fondant that had been placed on the tops of the brood frames in October. The fondant had largely been eaten away by February with only pockets in the corners of the plastic packets remaining. The centres of the plastic wrapping were cut open and 1kg bags of Tate and Lyle sugar (pure cane sugar, not beet with additives) were soaked in warm water and placed into the peeled back exposed centre of the pack where the bees were.
Bee collecting pollen on hyacinth at midday 8th March 2010 at Naast, Poolewe.
The bees were also working on heather (above), snowdrops and crocus. This was the first occasion this year that the bees were seen out actively working as opposed to just having a short cleansing flight.
HONEY
Our honey is of two type: wild flower honey which is produced in the spring and summer and is clear yellow with a fruity, blossom flavour, or heather honey which our bees collect in the autumn and is opaque and dark gold in colour. Heather honey is a jelly-like consistency and must be pressed from the combs by hand, this makes it more expensive. It is considered one of the great honeys of the world. All our honey is produced without the use of heat treatment. Honey is harvested at the end of the Summer and not be available until Sept/Oct 2010. We sell most of our honey at the local markets so the 2009 harvest is sold out. Contact me directly for overseas sales.
SOAP
We also produce honey and beeswax soap in 75g (50p each + £2.50 p&p) blocks printed with a honeycomb pattern, the soap is vegetarian and contains:
Vegetable fat, Olive oil, Coconut oil, Beeswax, Water, Lye and Honey
SKIN BUTTER
We produce a skin cream for very dry, eczematous skin. Its £2.50 + £2.50 p&p for a small 42g jar. It contains:
Beeswax, coconut oil, Palm oil, olive oil, honey, water, ylang ylang essential oil
CONTACT DETAILS
Tel 01445 781321
Am Bothan, 8 Naast, Poolewe, Achnasheen, Ross-shire, Scotland, IV22 2LL