Beekeeper’s Notes: Link Between The Wonder Of Plastics And Guildford Association’s Chairman

Published on: 1 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 1 Dec, 2020

Hugh Coakley keeps bees in Worplesdon

A tenuous link coming up, with a couple of things from last week.

I was looking at a plastic spout that had come adrift from an orange juice carton in our fridge. The closer I looked, the more intricate and wonderful this commonplace object became.

The design and manufacturing details for this tiny device to be water-tight, easily opened and then securely shut are mind boggling.

Plastic is a fantastic material which is why we use it everywhere.

The wonders of a plastic spout from an orange juice carton with its tiny hinge, clips and seals.

Of course, too much of a good thing is not good at all. Too much plastic use is not sustainable. And that leads onto the wobbly link. Sustainability……..

In its 100th year, Guildford Beekeepers Association has elected Jonathan Brookhouse as its new chairman. Quietly spoken and with decades of beekeeping experience, he is convinced that sustainability has to be high in Guildford’s priorities.

He said: “Beekeeping needs to be a sustainable stewardship; it is a responsibility and not just a quaint hobby.”

Jonathan Brookhouse said: “lovely calm bees, these are the ones I breed from.”

He is aiming for Guildford beekeepers to contribute more to a sustainable ecosystem, not just for honey bees but the wider flora and fauna. “It is a big ask” said Jonathan, “but we can’t keep saying manyana,” when talking about the climate and biodiversity.

He wants to steer away from just creating new beekeepers. “That can’t be the aim anymore,” he said.

He will of course have the age-old problem with any club and that is getting people involved. He will be asking the members what they want from Guildford Beekeepers.

Jonathan is not an average beekeeper as I found when I interviewed him last year about his efforts to go chemical free with his bees. He has taken this a step further now and is involved in the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Association (BIBBA). He would love members to get involved in the national improvement programme.

Chairing any organisation is not an easy task at the best of times. Trying to make changes when working with the very independently minded beekeepers will be very hard and he is going to need lots of support from the members. I wish him the best of luck.

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