I recently found out about the Portsmouth & District Beekeepers’ Association and decided to pay them a visit. They started over 100 years ago and now have 83 members each with their own hives scattered across the island and district. The Association exists to promote the craft of beekeeping and increase public awareness of bees and their contribution to the ecology around Portsmouth. They have a small shop selling supplies at Bastion 3, Hilsea and sell their honey at local markets and shows. David Nield the treasurer of the association stated that their honey is currently in short supply “the bee population is in a mess with only 50% stock due to disease, weather and chemicals affecting the queen bee laying”. Hopefully this will change over the coming months. It is wonderful to find sources of local made products to support on the island.

For further information please visit their website at – http://portsmouthbeekeepers.co.uk/cms/ They have an extensive range of equipment to buy or rent and even have an adopt a hive scheme. This summer they are also running a free beekeeping course further details again of their website.

Photos by Claire Sambrook and Portsmouth & District Beekeepers’ Association