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Datenbank der Projekte zur ländlichen Entwicklung

Scottish Bees boost the Local Economy and Raise Awareness of the Environment in Tayside

Summary

This Leader project supported the establishment of a new cooperative of commercial honey farmers & hobbyists, developed new field trails to attract visitors & raised awareness of the importance of honey bees & pollination to the local environment.

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Background

Scottish Bee Services Ltd is a newly established cooperative, comprising commercial honey farmers & hobbyists. The cooperative was set up as part of a local response to reversing the decline of the honey bee, which is vitally important to the economy and the environment in rural Tayside, recently decimated by a virulent bacterial infection known as 'foul brood'. Rural Tayside Leader helped identify solutions to combat the disease and supported awareness raising on the honey bee as a pollinator.

Objective

The main objectives were: raising awarness on the importance of pollination, contributing to maintaining of the bee population, and protecting the biodiversity, environment and local economy (producer network).

Main activities

The Coop is developing a basic health and hygiene programme and installing a sterlisation unit, the first of its kind in Scotland, for used bee equipment. The unit is avaliable to commercial operators and hobbyists throughout Tayside, at an affordable price. In addition, field trails have been developed and seasonal site visits organised to participating farms, led by a crop specialist.

Results & Benefits

The visits raise awareness amongst farmers and land managers of what mainstream crops and specific pollinator cover mixes are good for honey bees. This is complemented by a new database linking producers with growers. These initiatives will help to maintain the local bee population which is vital to biodiversity, protecting the environment and sustaining the local economy, supporting a network of producers.

Lessons learnt

The project has demonstrated through practical activities, ways in which environmental objectives can be achieved that can also have a real and lasting benefit for the local economy.

Project location and other information

Forfar, Rural Tayside

Region

Scotland

RDP Territory

Scotland

Total project cost (€)

209 301

EAFRD contribution (€)

74 727

National contribution (€)

108 927

Private contribution (€)

25 650

Contact name

Rita B. Calander

Telephone

+44 (0) 1307473239

Languages for contact

English

At a glance

Country

United Kingdom

Final beneficiary type

Producer groups, Other

Budget range

€100 000 - €500 000

Start date:

01/09/2011

End Date:

30/09/2013

Theme / Measure:

• Rural Quality of Life & Economic Diversification
• Rural economic diversification
• 312. Support for business creation and development

Keywords:

Apiculture, Awareness raising, Biodiversity, Cooperation, Leader

Last update

07/11/2012