Loveday Esher’s beautiful landscape gardens are now home to a thriving colony of bees. We are thrilled at the arrival of our first pot of Loveday honey- it’s rich, golden and absolutely delicious. The bees are thriving in our vibrant gardens, especially enjoying the lavender and wildflowers, and their honey is already being used to enhance dishes prepared by our chefs for our Members.
Our bee initiative is part of Loveday’s commitment to sustainability and meaningful engagement. Members and our team are enjoying learning about the fascinating world of beekeeping, particularly the intricate workings of bee society and bee politics.
We have been fascinated to learn from Dave, our Resident Bee Keeper, about the complex social structure within the hive- especially the phenomenon of the “play cup.” These small, vertical wax cells are created by worker bees as a sort of trial structure. While play cups are usually harmless and don’t contain eggs, they must be carefully monitored. If a queen lays an egg in one, it can become a fully developed queen cell. This triggers a natural process called swarming, where the existing queen leaves the hive with up to half the colony to form a new one. While swarming is a natural part of bee behaviour, it’s not ideal in a managed hive, as it can significantly reduce the number of bees and compromise honey production.
Our beekeepers regularly inspect the hives to ensure these early signs are identified and managed, preserving the health and productivity of our colony, and ensuring our Members continue to enjoy the sweet rewards of their labour.
These sessions offer more than education, they provide sensory stimulation, connection with nature, and an appreciation for the essential role bees play in our ecosystem (and of course delicious honey and honeycomb!)
