A teenager who has helped her mum look after bees at the Wilton Centre has been picked to represent England in a global beekeeping competition.
Fifteen-year-old Phoebe Jones will be heading to Dubai in December for the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers. It is the first time the event will be held outside Europe in its 13 year history.
Phoebe will be part of a team of three who were chosen after a rigorous selection process by The British Beekeepers Association. She was interviewed, took a written test, delivered a presentation and was observed as she worked with bees.
Similar challenges await Phoebe in Dubai where, although assessed as a team, the English beekeepers will be split up and work with young people from other countries. They will learn how bees survive to produce honey in 50 degree temperatures.
Phoebe’s hobby began five years ago when her scientist mum Emily started caring for the Wilton Centre’s apiary.
“I’ve been stung a few times. It hurts, but it’s not put me off. It’s great seeing the colonies grow,” said Phoebe.
The colonies have flourished and last year more than a quarter of a million bees produced hundreds of jars of high-quality honey.
For each one sold at the Wilton Centre £1 was donated to its adopted charity, Zoe’s Place, the baby hospice.
Even though the apiary is located near one of Europe’s most concentrated industrial sites, Emily said the bees have everything they want: “They need water – and they’re next to a lake. They’re surrounded by trees. In the spring they’ve got the dandelions and in the late spring they’ve got the heather.”
She said Phoebe was so excited about being selected she could not sleep and, while she has nurtured her daughter’s hobby, her membership of the Cleveland Beekeepers Association has been invaluable. “She’s where she is because of their support,” said Emily.
As well donations through the sale of honey, two members of the Wilton Centre Management team – Claire Morton and Natalie Taylor – have just raised more than £2,900 for Zoe’s Place after skydiving from 15,000 ft.
