A BUSINESSMAN is on an un-bee-lievable mission to install 500 new beehives across Dorset and Hampshire – in a project which also offers jobs to homeless people.
Care home business owner Chris Bialan founded Bee Mission thanks to a desire to improve conditions for bees across the region and was kickstarted by a successful pilot project at a care home in Fordingbridge.
Following a conversation with a beekeeper, and with an already established “love” for bees, Chris said: “I got thinking about all the gardens and available space out there that could be used for hives, and then I realised that the grounds at my care home sites were a great place to start.”
Bee Mission’s pilot scheme happened in 2020 and saw the installation of four beehives at Kings Lodge Nursing Home in Reigate.
The pilot scheme, however, wasn’t successful. Undeterred by the failure, Chris said: “We decided to try another site and we put some hives in at Allenbrook Nursing home in Fordingbridge, thankfully, this site was much more successful.
“We quickly got up to five hives, all with abundant harvests. Each hive can contain up to 50,000 bees and can produce 40-50kg of honey which is amazing, I have the greatest love and respect for bees – they are the most amazing creatures.”
After the success in Fordingbridge, Chris was inspired to take his project to the next level. He added: “This is when Bee Mission was truly born, imagine if even a small percentage of people had a hive installed and how much difference that could make to our bee population. Our mission now, is to get 500 beehives installed in Dorset people’s gardens, balconies, on roof tops and in local areas, and I think we can do it.”
Bee Mission officially launched on March 21 and isn’t just helping bees, with Chris planning to offer support for homeless people to upskill and train them in a variety of roles.
He said: “We’ve been working with the homeless in Bournemouth for two and half years now and really wanted to provide a way they can get involved, to help them by upskilling and giving them some focus.
“We’ve set out with some big ideas, big targets, and a big mission for Dorset and Hampshire, but we are confident in the power of the community to help and support each other, and the bees.”
Visit beemission.co.uk for more information.
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