BBC Country Side

[nantmoel]

There's an article on BBC Country File from 'Powys Castle', both the presenter (Matt Baker) and bee keeper got stung on their heads, not a good advert for keeping bees in public places. Or at least introduce a docile strain. Thoughts?

 

[dpearce4]

even docile bees can have a bad day.

I bet the public will get stung in the pocket every time they buy the honey.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Oh I don't know!

First of all, it was very funny.
Secondly, it showed a certain nonchalance about bee stings, in a culture which is terrified of everything! To see people being stung, and not falling on the floor, writhing around and expiring dramatically, but just getting on with it, is a refreshing corrective.

I was more horrified to see them dipping their fingers in the (unfiltered) but supposedly 'clear' honey, and licking it. I'd hate the public to think that's how beekeepers care about hygiene.

Dusty

 

[dpearce4]

Oh I don't know!

First of all, it was very funny.
Secondly, it showed a certain nonchalance about bee stings, in a culture which is terrified of everything! To see people being stung, and not falling on the floor, writhing around and expiring dramatically, but just getting on with it, is a refreshing corrective.

I was more horrified to see them dipping their fingers in the (unfiltered) but supposedly 'clear' honey, and licking it. I'd hate the public to think that's how beekeepers care about hygiene.

Dusty

the whole thing made me snigger a bit, the extractor rattling round as they spun the honey out. I think they will need more than a 2 frame hand tang spinner for the number of hives in the background, they will be there forever if they actually do it like that.

 

[theeggman]

Which episode of Countryfile was it, I need a good laugh?

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Which episode of Countryfile was it, I need a good laugh?

Tonight - the current one.
I guess it will be on iplayer later.

Dusty

 

[dpearce4]

was about 20mins into the program

 

[Erichalfbee]

That's just when onlookers get stung. The beekeeper looks at the colonies and walks away bringing the bees with him.
Quite refreshing to see the presenter not that bothered though.

 

[nantmoel]

I must say I am so glad I bit the bullet and bought an electric extractor!

 

[enrico]

I agree, came over well. Obviously the extractor bit was a bit twee just to show the basics of how it is done but at least it showed the mechanics. I feel sure he has better equipment in his extracting room! At least with the tasting they didn't double dip!
Well done to all I say!
E

 

[Jimmy]

The beekeeper featured has just had his honey stocked by Tesco at £5.95 per 340g. The brand is Hilltop Honey, only started out in 2011, not clear from the website how much of his British honey is produced by him personally and how much is bought from others.

 

[For want of a better word]

I agree, came over well. Obviously the extractor bit was a bit twee just to show the basics of how it is done but at least it showed the mechanics. I feel sure he has better equipment in his extracting room! At least with the tasting they didn't double dip!
Well done to all I say!
E

It is all THEATER!


Now must go and put me smock on and me white wellie boots... find a nice bit of straw to chew... lean over the Farm gate and sell some more Gorgeous Local Cornish Honey to the Grokkles!!!

Yeghes da

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The beekeeper featured has just had his honey stocked by Tesco at £5.95 per 340g. The brand is Hilltop Honey, only started out in 2011, not clear from the website how much of his British honey is produced by him personally and how much is bought from others.

Most of his honey is imported from Poland, before anyone asks - I got that information from him at the Royal Welsh

 

[Jimmy]

Most of his honey is imported from Poland, before anyone asks - I got that information from him at the Royal Welsh

Hopefully not the stuff labelled as British

 

[For want of a better word]

Looks like lard!
I expect Tesco will have found a loophole.... what is a British bee?

Yeghes da

 

[beebot]

That would be a bl**dy big loophole. Surely not. Must be talking about something else?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

they have a wide range of honey including 'organic' and forest - all sourced in Poland - wasn't very impressed with some of the stuff on offer - in squeezy bottles and already beginning to crystalise. looks like the stuff in Tesco probably imported from over the border - he's based in Newtown so only a short drive to England and the mazola honey fields

 

[dpearce4]

it can leagally say made in the uk if say the honey was set when purchased and then made runny or the other way round as it has gone through some processing in the uk.

the law is that vague. lots of meats labelled as british or madein the uk can be traced back to other countries in the eu it is just they have been processed/ final packaging has been done here.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

That's just when onlookers get stung. The beekeeper looks at the colonies and walks away bringing the bees with him.
Quite refreshing to see the presenter not that bothered though.

The cynic in me wonders if the sting was real or a bit of theatre? Still hilarious though

 

[alanf]

Also noticed that he has a "nutrition" panel. Is that his choice or a Tesco requirement? My reading of the Food Information Regulations (as in REGULATION (EU) No 1169/2011) is that Annex V excludes honey from nutrition labels as "1. Unprocessed products that comprise a single ingredient or category of ingredients".

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32011R1169&from=en