General Meeting: November 2025

Alec Thomson is an experienced bee keeper and Chair of the Nottingham Bee Keepers Association.

He shared his vast knowledge and passion with us, concentrating on the female honey bee, the hardest working bee in the hive. He listed her jobs under headings such as water collector, cleaner, pest controller, interior decorator and shared beautiful close-up photos of her busy at work.

All this was magnificent and impressive, not just the talk but the bees themselves. We learnt about swarms, the Queen Bee, looking after bees, their peculiar waggle dance, pollination, producing honey and so much more.

These incredible little creatures have inhabited our planet for 5 million years and we are totally dependent on them for our food and well-being. Now it is vital that we do what we can to support them and help mitigate the effects of climate change and loss of habitats. As gardeners we can help bees by planting a variety of bee-friendly flowers throughout the year, allow some areas to grow wild, provide water sources, and avoid using pesticides.

Alec sold jars of his Trent Valley Honey at a reduced price, and also runs training courses.

An exciting, fascinating talk and I’m sure there is more we could learn on a future occasion.

Marianne White