OPINION: The importance of bees

OPINION: The importance of bees - and their honey!

It’s been an absolute joy of late to see the blue sky and a bit of sunshine and we all know how much we love to talk about the weather in this country - it’s a national sport!

I think there are some times that the colder, wetter weather drags on for so long we forget that the sun will eventually make an appearance again.

I also forget that with the arrival of spring and a bit of sunshine, everything springs into life - from the lawn starting to grow again to the leaves on the trees, the emergence of those vibrant yellow fields of rapeseed… and those of us with a pollen allergy start sneezing.

I’m not sure why it surprises me every year but it does - possibly because we’re only just leaving cold and flu season behind and there is a bit of a crossover there in terms of symptoms.

Whilst reaching for the antihistamines is one way to deal with the coughs, sneezes, runny nose, and general discomfort of hay fever, I must admit I’m a big fan of the old housewives' remedy of taking local honey.

Turns out, there’s no scientific evidence to support the antihistamine properties of local honey, but I’m not going to let that stop me!

There’s room for both I say.

We are very lucky to live in a part of the country where sourcing honey is relatively easy.

We have on our doorsteps DOP Honey (www.dopbeekeeping.com) here in Exmouth who have a lovely range of honey and other bee-based products.

We also have Budleigh Bees just down the road who have a page on Facebook and whose delicious honey can be found at Budleigh Salterton Market and Crafts fairs - next one 2nd May.

A little further afield, there’s also Blackbury Honey Farm near Colyton (www.blackburyfarm.co.uk) who even have a tea room for you to sample their wares before you buy a jar to take home.

I should also confess that one of my favourite things to do at the County Show is a tour of the Beekeeping tent where there’s always someone selling scones with clotted cream and honey and a host of other beekeepers' wares to try.

Whether you hold with old wives' tales or not, if you catch yourself sneezing give some local honey a try.

It might not stop your symptoms but it will definitely keep you sweet.

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