YOU MUST READ THESE STORIES. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE OPTIMISM AND IT'S NICE TO HEAR GOOD THINGS WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE STRESSFUL - PERSONAL OR NATIONAL. I LOVE TO BRING SUCH STORIES TO YOU ON OURS AUSTRALIA. PERSONALLY, I DO NOT "WATCH THE NEWS"......... I PREFER TO FIND GOOD NEWS. KUITPO FOREST IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, IT WAS A NICE SURPRISE TO HEAR OF THESE NEW VENTURES ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. CHEERS TO THE PEOPLE CONCERNED.
Beekeepers Chosen For Kuitpo Forest Pilot Program Jul 2020
THREE South Australian apiarists have been offered sites within the Kuitpo Forest Reserve to each house up to 120 beehives, in a bid to allow beekeepers access to public land in order to address growing pollination demands across the state.
Aaron Woolston, Meningie, Les Crane, Macclesfield, and Simon Peacock Mypolonga are the successful beekeepers to be involved in the pilot program.
Primary industries minister, Tim Whetstone, said a strong apiary industry was vital for the state's horticulture and agriculture industries.
"The buzz of activity we expect in the Kuitpo Forest Reserve will help address the further 20,000 hives required to meet pollination demand in the South Australian almond industry," Mr Whetstone said.
"The pilot program will also help an industry which was devastated by the summer's bushfires with more than 2,000 hives lost across the state."
The average economic value of honeybees as pollinators in SA is worth about $1.7 billion.
Mr Whetstone said the natural environment of the Kuitpo Forest Reserve was the first step in identifying further suitable locations for beehives on public land.
The hives are expected to be moved to the Kuitpo a bit later in the year, likely during September or October, with the three beekeepers in the process of determining site specific requirements, and licence arrangements, with assistance from ForestrySA.
Kuitpo Forest Set To Buzz
Apr 2020
KUITPO Forest is set to welcome new residents - hundreds of thousands of bees - as the reserve opens to beekeeping for the first time in an effort to help SA's apiary industry.
During the initial phase of the pilot program, the Apiary Taskforce - which was established by the state government to source beekeeping sites on public land - has identified three sites within the forest each able to house up to 120 hives with up to 60,000 bees in each hive.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said beekeepers would be able to access approved areas of ForestrySA-owned land within Kuitpo Forest when the bees are not pollinating horticultural crops such as almonds, apples and cherries.
"Bee pollination is a vital part of keeping our horticultural and agricultural industries strong, with the average economic value of honeybees as pollinators in SA worth about $1.7 billion," he said.
"The demand for honeybee pollination continues to grow and it is projected the SA almond industry alone will require an additional 20,000 hives by 2021.
"The only way to meet the 30 per cent increase in demand is to provide beekeepers greater access for hives and bees on public land."
Apiary Alliance SA chair Danny Le Feuvre said opening up opportunities in Kuitpo Forest would help support a stronger beekeeping industry.
"As an industry we've been working for years to get greater access to public lands to ensure our bee industry remains vibrant, particularly with more than 2000 hives lost during the recent devastating bushfires," he said.
"We welcome the pilot project in Kuitpo Forest as a step forward in driving change and meeting increasing demand for the betterment of the apiary industry in SA."
Beekeepers interested in establishing hives on the sites are invited to register to take part in the pilot.
They can register their interest in the pilot program until Thursday, April 23. Details: pir.sa.gov.au/apiarypilot
https://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/6724064/kuitpo-forest-set-to-buzz
What do you think of this idea that is practiced in Holland?
Bus Stops Turned Into Havens For Bees
The Dutch city of Utrecht has turned more than 300 of its bus stops into shelters for bees. These “bee stops” now have green roofs planted mainly with Sedum, a drought-resistant plant favoured by pollinators, which also captures dust and rainwater. The new bee-friendly stops are cared for by a team of workers who use electric vehicles. [Source: Metro]
Utrecht is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands (Holland) capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad, in the very centre of mainland Netherlands.
Like most Dutch cities, Utrecht has an extensive network of cycle paths, making cycling safe and popular. 33% of journeys within the city are by bicycle, more than any other mode of transport. (Cars, for example, account for 30% of trips). Bicycles are used by young and old people, and by individuals and families. They have barrow bikes, for carrying shopping or small children.
How would you like to wait in one of the bus stops? Would you be nervous? I suppose they have it worked out somehow:)
I love the bees! Another post you may enjoy reading also is:
It’s A Really Good Time For The Bees – Look What These Aussie Bee Keepers Did In 2015