ONE OF THE regions beekeeping associations found a new home at a Kidderminster hotel.
Brockencote Hall Hotel, in Chaddesley Corbett is working with North East Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association to house new honey bee hives.
The hotel will also develop bee keeping masterclasses for the public and provide a space for the association to hold meetings.
Four honey bee hives are now at the grounds – with members of the association set to visit all year round.
Honey made at the hotel will be used in the restaurant as well as in the scent diffusers in the bedrooms.
The footpath leading up to the newly gated area containing the beehives has been named ‘Beehive Boulevard’.
Jack Hartshorne, general manager at the Hotel, said: “A few days after holding initial discussions with the local beekeeper’s association about ways we could work together, we noticed a small colony of bees had landed on one of our fences.
“The beekeepers were able to take these bees away safely, and some of these original honey bees have now been rehomed and, in a weird twist of fate, they are now part of the hives that are on site.
“We’re really pleased to be working with North East Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association.
“The honey will be used throughout our food menu, and will also be incorporated into our cocktails, mocktails, and we’ll also be making honey flapjacks for guests to enjoy in their rooms.
“We are also exploring the potential of hosting regular beekeeping masterclasses at the hotel where guests and the general public can meet the beekeepers and learn basic facts about honey bees, and how to care for them.”
Dave Lantsbery, from North East Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association, added: “We’re really excited to have Brockencote Hall Hotel as our new home.
“Not only does it provide a great base for us to be able to care for our bees 24/7, but it will enable us to educate more people about honey bees, and their value to our eco system – to the point where perhaps people may be inspired to become beekeepers themselves.
“Unlike bumble bees, honey bee colonies survive the winter and they typically produce up to 50kg of honey in a good year – and their population tends to peak in midsummer as a result of the Queen bee beginning to lay around 2000 eggs per day from early Spring for the following three months.”
