The healing power of honey

Bees are vital for life on earth and, for the past 30 years, a British charity has been helping some of the world's poorest people to become self-sufficient through beekeeping, finds Agnes Stamp

- Agnes Stamp

DRAWING on decades of research, Lars Chittka argues in his illuminating book The Mind of a Bee that bees—once considered little machines incapable of sophisticated cognitive ability—are, in fact, intelligent and sentient creatures, which can recognise flowers and human faces, learn by observing others, count, exhibit basic emotions and problem solve. It is not surprising then, that the bee is so pivotal in addressing some of the world’s greatest problems, such as poverty and climate change.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Bees For Development is a specialist beekeeping charity with a distinctive purpose —to make life better with bees. By providing training and reliable advice for those who have no access to educational resources, the charity develops beekeeping skills in the poorest communities of the world, giving those most in need a reliable, sustainable income for life.

‘When we set out, we knew that beekeeping worked very well as a way for rural people to create food for their family and community, and income also,’ explains the charity’s director, Dr Nicola Bradbear. ‘We set to work in 1993 with dual aims: to reduce poverty and to increase biodiversity.

‘In those days, it was suggested that we should not use the word biodiversity, because nobody knew what it meant,’ she adds with a smile. ‘Nowadays, it’s not only bees, but all insect pollinators that have gained public awareness. The climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis are no longer treated as separate issues. Beekeeping remains a feasible way for many people to create income at the same time as doing their bit to restore their surrounding habitat.’