The hum of the bees is the voice of the garden, so said Elizabeth Lawrence, an internationally famous American garden writer. Retford Ladies Probus Club’s April speaker was Bev Fullwood, who shared her enthusiasm and joy of keeping bees for the last 12 years. A group of beehives is called an apiary and Bev keeps 12 hives on a farm at Sutton -Cum-Lound.
Her talk covered bees’ altruistic nature and their biology, as well as their symbiotic relationship with flowers, which can sense the presence of bees and produce nectar accordingly.
Bev spent time talking about the valuable products from the hive with many health-giving properties, honey being the main one. Others include Propolis, a sticky substance from trees used to patch up holes in the hive which can be used in antimicrobial medicines; Royal Jelly; Bee Bread and wax. Bees also have a venom sac and it has been suggested that the venom could be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The Club’s next meeting will take place on Wednesday 14th May, when Chris Weir will be speaking about Jesse Boot and Boots the Chemist. They meet at Westfield Road Community Centre in Ordsall at 10.00am for 10.30am. All are welcome.