HONEY EDUCATIONAL EVENT

Honey bees face major risks to their health and survival due to lack of food, exposure to pesticides, habitat destruction and climate change. The importance of providing sufficient food for them was the topic of an event hosted at Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The educational event was aimed at raising awareness of the need to restore the diversity of indigenous forage for the Cape honeybee, especially in farming landscapes, in order to keep bee populations healthy. Fynbos is a good source of nectar and pollen due to the wide varieties of it.

Beekeepers are urged to register with the Department of Agriculture and obtain a registration number. This enables the Department to share information to keep bees healthy. Trainee beekeepers are urged to join associations and obtain guidance.

The WWF partners with 60 conservation champions, of which Vergelegen is the longest-standing. The estate was the first wine producer to be awarded Biodiversity and Wine Initiative champion status in 2005, when it undertook an alien vegetation clearing project. This enabled indigenous vegetation to flourish, attracting more birds, bees and insects.

Vergelegen is home to approximately 300 hives and the estate has established an educational bee zone, planted with bee-friendly plants such as lavender, vygies, clover, white mustard and sunflowers. The hives are placed on pallets and the area is enclosed by two fences to keep honey badgers at bay.

www.wwf.org.za