A beekeeper has reflected on how he received support from his colleagues when his colonies were at risk of drowning following days of intense rain.
Horst Schäfer was shocked to see that the meadow on the outskirts of Hanover where his apiary is situated was inundated when he attended the location to carry out his winter treatment routine.
The experienced beekeeper, who heads the Großburgwedel Beekeeping Association, immediately rang up some colleagues. Together, the apiarists relocated the hives which were at acute risk of being soaked with water.
Speaking to the Bienen Journal, a German magazine, Horst claimed that there had been “political intention” behind the ignorance regarding clogged ditches in the area.
He said: “The past summers were very dry. That’s why they wanted to let some water fill the soils.”
The Lower Saxon honey farm manager and queen breeder said road maintenance workers, who have their headquarters not far from his apiary, agreed to repair some of the congested roadside drains when he told them what had happened.
There is no river or lake near the pasture which was inundated due to several days of heavy rain, according to the Bienen Journal. Horst’s hives were not seriously harmed due to the immediate response by his peers. He said: “Fortunately, none of my colleagues had been affected, so they were able to come and support me.”
