Creating buzz for extra bee funds (From News Shopper)

Creating buzz for extra bee funds

11:06am Monday 28th April 2008 in

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Bee colonies in the UK are being wiped out by a mystery virus. William Mundy tells MICHAEL PURTON more Government cash is needed to deal with the problem.

WILLIAM Mundy's passion for bees began in 1935. He has been keeping them at his home in Dartford ever since and has around 100,000 in the four hives in his back garden.

The 87-year-old established the Dartford branch of the British Beekeeper's Association as a teenager in 1937, and passed on the beekeeping bug to his wife Gladys and grandson Richard.

So he is distraught by the mystery virus currently sweeping through the UK bee population.

‘The virus is wiping out our bees and there is no known cure for it.’

WILLIAM MUNDY

The virus, which is being spread by the parasitic varroa mite, is believed to have killed almost all our wild honey bees and one fifth of colonies kept by beekeepers.

Mr Mundy said: "The virus is wiping out our bees and there is no known cure for it, so it is essential money is provided for research."

As the chairman of the Dartford beekeepers, Mr Mundy is calling for people throughout north Kent to sign a British Beekeeper's Association petition demanding Government funding for research.

At the moment, the Government gives £200,000 to bee health research each year, but the association is calling for £1.6m to be pumped into studies this year.

An association spokesman said: "The Government has refused to increase the paltry £200,000 it currently puts into bee health research.

"This is despite acknowledging the fact if we don't act we may lose our honey bees and their massive contribution to agriculture and the environment."

It is estimated honey bees contribute around £165m to the agricultural economy each year by pollinating plants which produce crops and seeds.

Bees also play an important environmental role pollinating plants, which provide fruit and seeds for wild animals to eat.

The Government says it provides £1.3m each year to look after the bee population and £200,000 each year for research into bee health.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said: "The association's list of proposed research is £7.7m, including areas of research which we would not be involved in.

"The fact funding for bee health has been maintained at the same level over a number of years is a positive indication of the importance Government attaches to this area of work."

It is the industrious nature of bees which first attracted Mr Mundy, who lives in King Edward Avenue, to beekeeping.

He said: "Bees are hard-working, fascinating creatures and it has to be one of the most productive hobbies because of the honey and the way you get to see a colony develop."

His passion for bees is shared by the 10 members of the Dartford branch of the association, which meets once a month at its apiary at the Tredegar Allotments, off King Edward Avenue.

The assocaition hopes to recruit more members through a course on how to care for bees which begins at the apiary at 7pm on May 7.

Mr Mundy hopes as well as increasing membership, this will help increase the number of names on the petition.

Having kept bees in Dartford all of his adult life, the retired town planner is desperate for money to plan the revival of British bees.

He and his 87-year-old wife, Gladys, celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this September and they both hope research will have found a cure to save their beloved bees by then.

For more information on the petition, visit britishbee.org.uk