Anyone who’s watched Bee Movie knows that they’re a small species with a mighty impact. The tireless pollinators are at the roots of thriving ecosystems, ensuring the biodiversity of our natural environments is conserved. With habitat loss, climate change, and diseases threatening their survival, SustainaBee has stepped in to give the bees a helping hand.
Run by Jersey Honey, SustainaBee is a local project driven towards protecting and preserving Jersey’s bee population. Through supporting responsible, sustainable beekeepers, the aim is to start a collaborative movement that puts conservation efforts first. By inviting local businesses to sponsor hives, SustainaBee brings in a fresh approach to corporate social responsibility. With Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers of support, companies can directly fund hive management, contribute to ecological balance, and even get hands-on with workshops and education days.
Behind each hive is a beekeeper suiting up, heading out, and caring for the colonies through rain or shine.
We caught up with some of the faces supported by the SustainaBee programme, asking them how they got started, where their hives are based, and what they’d be keeping if not for bees.
Shaun Gell
Number of years keeping bees: 5
Where are your hives? St Lawrence
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep?
Coral fish tank
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for?
We’ve infused it into soaps and hand cream and won the Pure Beauty Global Awards, competing against 305 international companies.
Albert Mahe
Number of years keeping bees: 2
Where are your hives?
St Peters and St Lawrence
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep?
I’d return to cockatiel breeding.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for?
Honey with turmeric in warm milk relieves congestion.
Damian Murgatroyd
Number of years keeping bees: None (yet)
Where are your hives? None (yet)
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep? Gardening & Home Ferments
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for?
Making mead (honey wine)
Neill Stoddart
Number of years keeping bees: 4
Where are your hives? Les Cotils
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep?
Good company
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for? It’s delicious drizzled on aged cheddar or blue cheese.
Tom Arnold
Number of years keeping bees: 3
Where are your hives?
St Peters and St Lawrence.
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep?
More cannons probably. I currently look after 4 of them as part of the 1781 Jersey Militia.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for? It’s not me personally, but Mum had a horse with a persistent cough lasting months. Apparently she added 2 tablespoons of honey a day mixed with warm water into feed. After a week the cough had gone!
Hannah Gell (Jersey Bee Girl)
Number of years keeping bees: This is my first year and loving it.
Where are your hives?
Waterworks Valley
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep? Another dog
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for? I love to experiment with different ingredients to produce delicious meals. Honey is so amazing, 100% natural liquid gold.
Toby Kramer
Number of years keeping bees: 1.5
Where are your hives? St. Brelade
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep?
Old milkers – retired dairy cows, to give them a new lease of life!
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for?
Pizza – I mix it with Jersey Chilli Kitchen Ghost Pepper Sauce to make a moreish Hot Honey dip.
Emma Voisin
Number of years keeping bees: 2
Where are your hives?
St Brelade and St Lawrence
If you weren’t keeping bees what else would you keep? Alpacas
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve used honey for? Burns – honey has antibacterial properties.
