BEEKEEPERS from across Hampshire came together to plant a special 'bee-friendly' tree to mark the 150th anniversary of the British Beekeepers Association.
Hampshire's beekeepers joined with the local community in Wootton St Lawrence to celebrate a Blessing for the Bees and the planting of a bee-friendly tree to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the British Beekeepers Association.
The Tree Planting followed the morning service at the Church in Wootton St Lawrence where the Reverend Charles Butler, the father of British Beekeeping celebrated service 400 years ago.
It was led by Revd. Ben Kautzer who blessed the beekeepers and the honey harvest.
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David Holloway, trustee of Hampshire Beekeepers' Association and Basingstoke and District Beekeepers' Association, who organised the event, said he was honoured to mark the occasion.
He said: "It was an honour to be involved with the planning of an event that marked 150 years of the British Beekeepers’ Association at the home of modern beekeeping.
"The Revd Charles Butler paved the way for beekeepers like myself today, so to be able to celebrate his life at the very church where he delivered services to his parishioners 400 years ago, was a very special moment indeed.
"Now his legacy and influence can be enjoyed and appreciated for generations to come and I would like to thank everyone involved who helped to bring his story full circle in Wootton St Laurence over the weekend."
During the event, Canon John Owen, editor of an updated version of Charles Bulter’s famous book on beekeeping, The Feminine Monarchie (1623) gave a talk about the life and times of Charles Butler who skilfully navigated the religious and political upheaval during the Elizabethan and Commonwealth periods.
After tea and cake, beekeepers and parishioners went into the Church Meadow and planted a substantial Acer Campestris (Field Maple) tree.
John Lauwerys, chairman of Hampshire Beekeepers Association, and Canon John Owen planted the tree and revealed a beautiful plaque.
John Hanks, a master beekeeper from Romsey, was in attendance at the event. He and Canon John Owen put together the 125th Anniversary celebrations of Hampshire Beekeepers back in 2007.
John Hanks was interested in 16th-century music and reached out to John Owen at the time for some guidance. John Owen then became drawn into the Charles Butler story, and ended up editing an updated version of Butler's famous book on beekeeping, 'The Feminine Monarchie'.
The BBKA charity was founded in 1874 and was originally a London-based beekeepers club. Within a decade it had evolved into a national organisation. Today, it represents around 30,000 beekeepers across the country, and works to support education around honey bees, while actively campaigning to raise awareness of threats to pollinators.
As part of its year-long 150th birthday celebrations, the BBKA gifted each of its 75 local associations a tree to be planted in their apiaries.
Each tree has been carefully chosen to support local wildlife by providing an abundant food source for honey bees, bumble bees and other species.
2024 is an exceptionally busy year for the BBKA and its members, as they fight to tackle increasing threats to native bees - including the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, and the alarming growth in numbers of the highly destructive Yellow-legged Asian Hornet, an invasive species which has the potential to cause huge damage to British honey bee populations and the wider ecology.
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