In Spring last year, I was taking my little boy through a meadow in full flower and realised something was missing... bees. I remembered they were always around when I was young, and decided to do something about it.
This was just before the media frenzy, and had only heard they were in decline.
I read a book, and was a little nervous, but the good peeps on this forum gave me confidence, so got myself some bees.
Whilst looking after my neighbours chickens, I noticed an old WBC hive and when he returned we started chatting bees. It turned out he kept bees for years and he also gave me confidence. (my neighbour is Somerford Steve on this forum)
A year and a month later, my daughter also has her own hive and through buying a few more, catching swarms and a couple of splits, we are now up to 13 colony's. (not including a very large colony of rescued bumblebees)
I did not did not do it for the honey (although it IS a delicious by-product!), I did it for the bees and the land. With a good team of pollenators, it may be my imagination, but the land and the hedgerows look healthier and am sure there are more flowers and fruits on the hedgerows and in turn, more wildlife.
I Have also noticed that I am a lot more aware of my surroundings and am spotting plants and flowers I never knew existed.
It makes me extremely happy if I am tinkering on the farm to be pleasently distracted by a honeybee servicing a wild flower. Some of the elderly neighbours to the farm have also said how nice it is to see honeybees in their gardens.
The last year, I have had some very happy moments, sad moments with realisation that I had lost a hive, exciting when catching a swarm, painful when getting stung twice on the back of the neck and nervous when I realise I am looking through a hole in the hood of my suit whilst inspecting... all in all it has been completely worth it and a great experience