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| London bee numbers 'could be too high' | London bee numbers 'could be too high' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| There may be too many bees in the capital, the London Beekeepers Association (LBKA) has said. | There may be too many bees in the capital, the London Beekeepers Association (LBKA) has said. |
| The association has criticised an initiative by a business group offering hives to central London firms. | The association has criticised an initiative by a business group offering hives to central London firms. |
| InMidtown, which represents firms in Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Giles, said its scheme had seen a 40% increase in honey produced in the last year. | InMidtown, which represents firms in Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Giles, said its scheme had seen a 40% increase in honey produced in the last year. |
| But the LBKA dismissed the project as "bee bling" saying firms should focus their spending on planting forage. | |
| InMidtown said it had doubled its bee hives from four to eight, introduced more plants and increased its honey produced to 37lbs (16.8kg), bucking the national trend. | InMidtown said it had doubled its bee hives from four to eight, introduced more plants and increased its honey produced to 37lbs (16.8kg), bucking the national trend. |
| The total honey crop for England and Wales is estimated to be down 50% on an average year, which equates to a loss of £7m for UK honey production, according to a recent survey carried out by the Bee Farmers' Association (BFA). | The total honey crop for England and Wales is estimated to be down 50% on an average year, which equates to a loss of £7m for UK honey production, according to a recent survey carried out by the Bee Farmers' Association (BFA). |
| 'Bee bling' | 'Bee bling' |
| London Wildlife Trust reserves manager Tom Hayward, said: "We are really encouraged by InMidtown's commitment to help 30 businesses in their district of London to install bee hives and to plant pollinator friendly plants. " | London Wildlife Trust reserves manager Tom Hayward, said: "We are really encouraged by InMidtown's commitment to help 30 businesses in their district of London to install bee hives and to plant pollinator friendly plants. " |
| But LBKA said latest government figures showed the number of officially registered bee colonies in the capital had increase from 1,617 in 2008 to 3,337 in 2012. | But LBKA said latest government figures showed the number of officially registered bee colonies in the capital had increase from 1,617 in 2008 to 3,337 in 2012. |
| But LBKA secretary Angela Woods said: "We may have too many bees in London. | But LBKA secretary Angela Woods said: "We may have too many bees in London. |
| "We are consulting environmental organisations and academics to look at ways to get credible data to find out what's really happening. | "We are consulting environmental organisations and academics to look at ways to get credible data to find out what's really happening. |
| "Firms would be better off spending money on forage projects and teaching bee keepers to act responsibly." | |
| An InMidtown spokesman said: "Our team that led this scheme has been trained and guided by sustainability experts to ensure the flower to bee ratio is right before any hives are installed. | An InMidtown spokesman said: "Our team that led this scheme has been trained and guided by sustainability experts to ensure the flower to bee ratio is right before any hives are installed. |
| "We are very happy with how this scheme is being managed and the interest from businesses in the district to participate this year." | "We are very happy with how this scheme is being managed and the interest from businesses in the district to participate this year." |