Local lady, Jean Mozley, from Newington near Folkestone has got a bee in her bonnet about the declining bee population in the UK and is starting her own business to help stem the decline.
A self employed bee keeper for the last thirty years, Jean suffered a painful condition in 2008; acute pancreatitis causing inflammation of the pancreas and severe abdominal pain. The condition forced her to stop work while she received treatment and required a radical change to her health, diet and fitness. With the condition under control, Jean wished to return to employment, but in a new direction. She sought the help of the Royal British Legion which provides employment, training and support for people, including those with disabilities.
Jean’s idea was to start a bee keeping academy and, in her words, to teach the ‘gentle art of bee
keeping’. Jean’s course will be the first bee keeping academy in Britain. The first course kicks off across three Sunday afternoons, one per month in January, February and March 2010, where students will be able to learn how to keep bees, studying in the picturesque village hall in Jean’s home village of Newington.
‘The art of bee keeping is fascinating. Students will learn about pollination, how to keep bees safely, and understand the rudiments of bee behaviour. As a bee breeder, I’ll also be able to sell queen bees to newly qualified bee keepers’.
The decline in the number of bees all over the world, but especially in Europe, poses a major threat not just to honey production but to the pollination of plants leading to food production.
Contact Jean on 01303 273466 or mobile 07952739795 or email bees4u@tiscali.co.uk for the prospectus
