UK: Boutique hotel Mallory Court, located in Leamington Spa, has appointed Lottie Buckland as its first ever beekeeper of the property’s four hives.
The bees originally arrived as two hives – one of which was a rescue colony and the other adopted. Buckland will bring two additional hives to the 10-acre site.
Mallory Court is hoping the project can boost local bee numbers and pollinate green spaces in its gardens. The hotel is also exploring how the honey can be used in recipes at its restaurant and spa café, as well as sold to guests.
Buckland said: “I got into beekeeping at the beginning of last year when taster sessions were offered by our local Warwick and Leamington Beekeepers branch. Within the space of a week I had completed my Introduction to Beekeeping course, acquired my own bees, and filled my first beehive, and I’m now on the display committee of the local Beekeeping branch and also the British Beekeeping Association – so it has been a bit of a whirlwind with a steep but amazing learning curve.
“When I took on two new hives, I needed a location to allow them to grow and Mallory Court offered their beautiful gardens, which is an ideal location for them to thrive. The hotel and its staff really appreciate the role bees have to play with regards to biodiversity, and in return the bees are pollinating the wonderful kitchen gardens. Next year we will hopefully have a good honey harvest if the weather is kind and the bees are able to get plenty of foraging time,” she added.
Josefine Blomqvist, general manager of Mallory Court Hotel and Spa, said: “The bees have been a real success story thanks to Lottie’s guidance and we are really looking forward to working with her to help them grow.”