A French beekeeper has told how a television programme about environmental issues inspired him to set up his own apiary and even write a children’s book about bees.
Benoit Malot, from the small town of La Heuniere in Normandy, said watching a documentary about the importance of balanced biodiversity six years ago made him think.
Speaking to Le Democrate Vernonnais, a weekly local newspaper, he said: “By watching this documentary, I discovered the issue and all the problems about it. I found it really interesting.”
Benoit and his father Michel decided to get in touch with an apiarist before installing some hives on their estate.
Benoit said: “We have got enough space so we said to ourselves: Why not?”
Today, the duo manage seven hives. Their rapeseed springtime honey and their chestnut and acacia summer variations are on sale at a local store.
Last year, Benoit published ‘Les Aventures de Bimoza et Bourdodu‘ (The Adventures of Bimoza and Bourdodu), a book about a honeybee and a bumblebee for children from the age of six.
The 35-year-old, who works in the video gaming industry, told Le Democrate Vernonnais: “It’s a story about the fascinating world of bees which aims to make kids aware of the threats to biodiversity. In the book, I give advice on how to support ecosystems in cities as well as in the countryside.”
Benoit added: “It even features a song which readers can listen to thanks to a QR code.”
