MINDEN-LÜBBECKE

The honey bees

On our mill grounds, south of the Bockwindmühle, we have been home to beehives for several years, which were looked after by the hobby beekeeper Friedrich Schepsmeier. This year, a younger beekeeper has taken over the care of the two to three bee colonies. In June, around 50,000 worker bees live in each hive and their honey is offered for sale on mill days. In addition to honey, the bees' other services are of great importance. Their pollination work is crucial for the growth of the fruit in our sweet hedgerow and for much of the food we consume every day. However, the pollination service of bees is endangered by the incorrect use of pesticides and a cleared landscape. This danger does not primarily affect honey bees. Wild bees, bumblebees, wasps and other pollinating insects, which we should regard as "brothers and sisters" of the honeybee, are much more affected. To educate people about the important role of bees and the connections between their work, we have set up an educational bee trail. This is located on the southern boundary of the mill site and offers interested visitors the opportunity to learn more about these fascinating insects and their importance for our ecosystem.