NATIVES: Saving Scotland's Original Honey Bees

I am thrilled to announce the release of the new documentary, “Natives”!
This project that I’ve been working on for three years, delves into the world of Scotland's native honey bees and highlights the efforts of a dedicated group of conservationists and scientists working to ensure their future survival, both on their reserve on the island of Colonsay and elsewhere in Scotland.
Scotland is home to Apis mellifera mellifera - a resilient subspecies of honey bee, known for its hardiness and ability to cope with wet and often harsh winters, poor springs and unsettled summer weather typical of the western Atlantic seaboard.
However, in recent decades, native bees have faced numerous threats, including mass importations of non-native strains of bees, intensified by the global trade and commercial beekeeping. Importations of honey bees are frequently of unsuitable types more used to other climes and often, when the inevitable cross-matings occur, leads to a deterioration in the behaviour of honey bees locally.
“Natives” sheds light on these challenges and the remarkable individuals committed to addressing them.
How You Can Help
Here are a few ways you can get involved:
Local Bees, Local Honey: Either an aspiring beekeeper or honey lover - purchase bees and honey from the local beekeepers who practice sustainable methods.
Consider supporting the work of the Scottish Native Honey Bee Society (SNHBS.scot), collaborators in the creation of this film.
Create Bee-Friendly Habitats: Plant native flowers and avoid using pesticides in your garden.
Educate Others: Share this documentary with friends and family to spread awareness about the importance of native honey bees.
Watch “Natives” now on KZbin and be part of the movement to safeguard our natural heritage.

[@honeybeesforsale]

If every bee keeper was to raise just two queens a year. Nice one Andrew!

[@LaurieSyrett-Judd-mr7dv]

Thank you for creating this film. It was a pleasure to watch such a well produced piece on an important matter. I keep AMM in North Wales. We went up to visit Andrew in June 2022 which was an amazing experience. Our local bee keepers association is also strongly committed to breeding native bees.

[@m1nfy]

Excellent video. Great production, well structured and informative content!

[@won2winit]

Well worth the wait from when the trailer was teased.

[@mikemilespitcairn]

Nice one Gavin.

[@alinerussell787]

Wonderful video - thank you

[@ashapogosova6172]

Great video! ❤❤❤

[@anais7915]

Beautiful job!

[@bullbreedpriderb]

Great video, I’m new to bee keeping and I’m very keen to keep only Black Bees

[@jonnisack]

Good job👍 Thank you🙏

[@wolfane64616]

First video I've seen from this channel, incredibly well made and very informative. Was very surprised when I checked your other videos and the trailer for this was released nearly a year ago. Judging by all the masks much of the filming is from even several years ago. Awesome dedication to keep working on something like this for such a long time

[@gappo1301]

Took me almost three years this one. Glad you liked it✋🏻

[@wolfane64616]

@@gappo1301 I thoroughly enjoyed it, very well made. As an American all I knew was that the honey bee is actually invasive to the North American continent. I had no idea that the black bee even existed, or even any of the other types of bees, I've only ever known of "European" honey bees or "Africanized" bees. Super informative, and very well done. For what it's worth I think the effort to save at least some pockets of original species is well worth the effort. Can't wait to see more content, cheers

[@user-wl3gh6tp8r]

It's really great to see such an interesting video, which states all the issues around the black bee. Well done!

[@danushkajayasooriya574]

Really informative. 31.02 is nice way of education

[@ashapogosova6172]

Very informative indeed❤

[@Earthstein]

Thank you for this presentation. I learned some vital information.

[@wanderingmonk007]

I'm a beekeeper from America. Sounds heroically awesome what you're doing. Maybe try working with hobbyists in the different parts of Scotland, make it easier for them to get climate adapted blackbee queens than the imports. Winter is my enemy over here, and a lot of work goes into making sure the girls are alive in the spring. Cold weather adapted bees are so worth the effort. Good luck!!!!

[@ashapogosova6172]

I see beehives on the background. Being a beekeeper myself I wonder if tabaco plant produce any pollen/ fourage fot the bees? Have you noticed any bee activity around the plants?

[@michaelhansen6481]

👍

[@jscfb]

The economic interests is all that matters to government it's the same with wild Atlantic salmon decline economics favour the highly polluted salmon farms here in west of Scotland mainly

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

Good to see. Hilarious to watch people on a windy, remote Scottish islands wearing useless masks!

[@tonyjetton8352]

2024 and still wearing the useless mask.