Although 2020 has been a year of upheaval for its human population, nothing much had changed for the winged workers of Metropollen's South London hives as they continued in their duty of collecting nectar and pollen for Queen and colony. Social distancing was certainly not observed as bees jostled to collect the necessary provisions from lime trees and lavender, buddleia and blackberry, iris and ivy to see their colonies through winter. Indeed, with the reluctance of people to venture outside to strim and mow, gardens, verges and parks became a riot of wildflower colour providing a floral banquet for our struggling pollinators. The result of all this hard work has been a bumper harvest of exquisite honey that, after some persuasion, the bees generously agreed to share with their human neighbours.
Thomas Binsted (1997) put his harvest of Metropollen's sustainably sourced honey on sale and the whole lot was snapped up within two days!