A bee-zy start to the new year

Sunday 01 January 2017

2017 is going to be bee-ze-eer than normal for the Jersey Beekeepers' Association - it's celebrating its 100th anniversary.

To mark the centenary the association has a special series of events laid on for the next 12 months.

These include developing an association apiary, to provide a training centre for bee keepers in Jersey; creating a special release of stamps with Jersey Post; a Honey Show at Hamptonne Country Life Museum; a pollination project in St Helier to raise awareness about bees; and a series of talks with UK expert speakers.

But, it's staring the year off by becoming a member of Genuine Jersey - a group aimed at promoting local produce and helping support local industries.

Jersey Beekeepers' Association member Michael du Feu says: "Joining Genuine Jersey is something we are doing for our members. We've lost a number of bee colonies over the past few years so there is a shortage of bees, and a very limited supply of local honey. Members therefore have no problem selling the honey they have, but being able to certify it as Genuine Jersey is a good way of reminding people they are eating a local product that is becoming increasingly difficult to produce".

John Garton, Chief Executive, Genuine Jersey Product Association, says: "we are delighted to welcome the Jersey Beekeepers' Association as new members. Genuine Jersey is all about supporting local producers and raising awareness about local produce, and we hope this will be a very productive centenary for Jersey's beekeepers."

The Jersey Beekeepers' Association has more than 100 members and recently became a charity,