BEE populations are in decline but entries for the bee and honey section of last weekend’s Three Counties Show were up.

Despite the worrying demise of the insects the number of honey products entered into competitions at this year’s show were actually up on 2008, proving that Worcestershire beekeepers are keen to promote their age-old trade.

Last weekend beekeepers from the region were on hand inside their tent dedicated to the delightful treat that is honey to chat to visitors and explain why the traditional beekeeping trade is so important.

There was also a fascinating observation hive stocked with busy bees and queens for visitors to inspect.Watson Sleightholme, of Kidderminster, has kept bees for 44 years and he was awarded three of the show’s top prizes for his honey and bee hives. He said: “There’s quite a revival at the moment. I’m a member of the Kidderminster branch of beekeepers and at the start of this year we had 29 members.

Now we’ve got 44.

“I think the fact that bees are in decline has brought people’s attention to it.”

Honey bees play a vital role in the pollination of food crops, garden plants and trees, but disease, warmer winters and wetter summers has seen populations rapidly declining.

The impact on the rural community, especially local food producers, is potentially catastrophic which explains why Defra recently announced plans to invest £10 million into crucial research. Every year 95,000 people swarm through the gates of the Three Counties Show at Malvern– making it the perfect platform to promote awareness.

For Mr Sleightholme beekeeping is a way of life.

He said: “There is always something different to enjoy. It doesn’t matter what you do to help, the bees will always do their own thing. They’re very special.”