There’s a buzz going on at Glastonbury Festival… (From Smallholder)

There’s a buzz going on at Glastonbury Festival…

7:06pm Tuesday 16th June 2009

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Exmoor to Uganda via Glastonbury Festival. Bees Abroad - Supporting beekeeping projects in developing countries A Ugandan bee-keeper with his family, and Julian Willford of UK charity Bees Abroad This month a team of six people from Bees Abroad charity make the journey to Glastonbury Festival to raise awareness of bees around the world and support 600 beekeepers and their families in Kisoro, south west of Uganda.

Kisoro - famous for mountain gorillas, stunning scenery, and lush vegetation - is ideal for beekeeping. Julian Willford, a Somerset farmer and beekeeper, has a bee in his bonnet about beekeeping in developing countries! “Helping beekeepers develop better marketing methods can make a huge difference to the quality of life for the beekeeper and his family in Uganda”.

Kisoro Honey Producers - a beekeeping project that Julian is involved in - is an excellent example how a little help can go a long way. Members of the Kisoro Honey Producers project purchase honey from the beekeepers at a fair trade price, then process, bottle and market the honey. The money they make supports the beekeepers’ teenage children in vocational skills training, such as tailoring, carpentry, domestic sciences and - of course - beekeeping. All students do a one year course and are assisted in finding employment. This year alone, the project presented 20 young women with certificates for tailoring, and over half gained employment immediately. In some cases tools were provided for them to start their own businesses - a carpenter who a year ago worked on his own now employs 6 men making bee hives. Fantastic, what a difference!

Julian says ‘’Bees Abroad are thrilled to have been asked by the Glastonbury Festival organisers to be one of the charities they support this year. As it is our 10th anniversary this is a fantastic place to celebrate with people we feel can relate to this charity, supporting bee projects in developing countries’’ Each year Julian makes a bee line to Uganda to help with the projects, and is looking to expand the project to other countries. “Beekeepers and their bees need help. I have faith in human nature and people’s interest in bees and honey. Now is the time to support beekeeping world wide. Without honey bees, life would be very difficult. Bees are essential for the continuation of life as we know it. Imagine a world without fruit, vegetables and flowers - get involved!”

www.beesabroad.org.uk

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