Reports: Brian Donaldson

Photos: John McVitty

WE NEED bees to keep a healthy environment around us.

Bees are very much understated as they and other pollinators help to provide the healthy natural foods we consume on a daily basis.

They do this by transferring pollen they obtain from flowering plants and bringing it back to their hives, where they build honeycombs on frames.

It is estimated bees pollinate around 80 per cent of our wildflowers in Europe, but they also produce one of nature's best foods – honey, from the beehives looked after by beekeepers.

However, the bee population is in trouble as a result of a loss of habitat and food sources, some connected to our changing climate.

Fermanagh Beekeepers Association is a very active group as readers of The Impartial Reporter can attest, with monthly reports of their activities.

Over the past few years, they have introduced many new honey producers through training and teaching for examinations in beekeeping.

According to a spokesperson for the Association, Fermanagh honey is a desirable and valuable product.

"Honey bees need long spells of warm sunny weather to be able to gather the nectar which they convert into honey.

"The odd good day is not enough, as the bees will use the nectar collected to feed themselves and the brood which they are rearing, leaving little or nothing to be stored for the beekeeper to harvest.

"This is one of the reasons that our beekeepers are working on a small scale, many producing enough for their families only.

"That is the downside, but on the plus side, the honey which finds its way onto the market is of very high quality, rich in flavour, aroma and curative properties, and treated with respect by the beekeeper from whose apiary it originates.

"By 'respect', we refer to the fact that our honey is not overstrained which would remove most of the pollen, nor is it overheated, which can destroy many of the medicinal benefits.

"Fermanagh honey will contain no additives, nor will it be adulterated in any way.

"We sell most of our honey as ‘run’ honey, in 454g, 340g and 227g jars, but a few beekeepers produce cut comb, that is an 8oz piece of honey, cut straight from the comb, and a very few [sell] the traditional sections of honey.

"These latter are much prized, as the only handling they have had is straight from the hive to the shelf.

"Many like the thought of eating the bees’ wax, but it has no nutritional value at all.

"Fermanagh honey, and indeed, all Irish honey, is noted for its flavour. This is because of the wide range of flowers upon which the bees forage.

"Each flower imparts its own singular essence, so the honey harvested will depend on the plants in bloom within the flight range of the honey bee during the good spells of weather,"

They continued: "Most years, our honey will contain a small percentage of heather, again adding depth to the flavour as well as augmenting its efficacy as a healer.

"Some of our beekeepers have had the pollen in their honey analysed, and there have been between 30 and 40 different pollens found.

"Interestingly, this means that no two apiaries will produce identical honey, nor will the honey from any one apiary be the same from one year to the next. What can be guaranteed is a fine-tasting product.

"One person who moved out of Fermanagh has decided that his family have become 'honey snobs'!

"They thought that all honey tasted the same, but now recognise just how sumptuous the Fermanagh honey which they took for granted really is.

"The one plant which no beekeeper wants to see in the vicinity of his apiary is ragwort, as the resultant honey from this plant tastes foul to most people."

They added: "As beekeepers, we are very grateful to all those who are responsible for the trees, bushes and flowering plants in Fermanagh.

"This includes small holders, gardeners, park keepers, farmers and the local Council, which is responsible for policies on hedge cutting, the trimming of verges and planting of roundabouts, etc.

"Honey bees love dandelions in Spring, and bramble later in the season, and beekeepers are heartened by the sight of both, so we trust that future planning will take into account the needs, not only of honey bees, but of all our so important pollinators," the spokesperson said.

Honey facts

A 450 grams jar of honey needs:

- 1,152 bees

- That fly a total of 180,246kms

- And visit 4.5 million flowers

- Giving an average flight of 156kms per bee