Harry Goudie,
Lochluichart, Scotland.
Knitwear Page: http://freespace.virgin.net/luichart.woollens/
-----Original Message-----
From: Madeleine Pym <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 22 September 1998 12:05
Subject: Protection for bees - but which ones?
 
 
 
>
>3.    BEEKEEPERS BEES WILL BRING IN VARROA - they believe they can
>protect the feral colonies from varroa by keeping out beekeepers.
>
>I would like to know who on earth is advising them on these matters.
>
 
Hi Madeleine,
I think he (or she) is quite correct.  Beekeepers do being in varroa and it
is nice to see that someone who is not a beekeeper is aware of this problem.
In this age of varroa I think you have to think very carefully about moving
bees especially into areas where varroa may not be present.  Not so much in
this case because of the risk of infection but because of the reaction of
the local beekeepers.  An angry bee is nothing compared with an angry human
and perhaps landowners are becoming more concerned about this.
 
. The implications are extremely worrisome because as far as I
>understand, EN are in conrol of more or less all the 'wild' areas left
>in Britain. Which would mean that beekeepers would not have access to
>these areas. Only gardens or farmland. It brings up a number of ethical
>questions too, to do with man's rights, responsibilities, and
>considerations in respect of 'nature' and in his relationship to bees to
>name but few.
 
Surely the landowner has the right to say whether beekeeping is allowed on
his land or not whether this be an individual or land held in trust for the
Nation.  You have to respect their wishes.
It is interesting that beekeeping is almost unique in that it is one of the
few farming activities which do not require you to own any land!