THE MOVEMENT OF HONEY-BEE COLONIES FOR CROP POLLINATION AND HONEY PRODUCTION BY BEEKEEPERS IN GREAT-BRITAIN

At least 70 crops grown in the UK are dependent on, or benefit from, i nsect pollination for fruit and seed production(9). Honey bees are the most important pollinators of these crops, although commercially rear ed bumble bee colonies are extensively used to pollinate some glasshou se crops, particularly tomatoes(7,8). Information about interactions b etween beekeepers and growers, and honey bee colony movements is neede d if appropriate agricultural and environmental policies, and co-ordin ated research programmes are to be developed, but few reliable statist ics are available. This survey of commercial and amateur beekeeping pr actice updates information received from a similar survey of beekeeper s a decade ago(12).