The British Black Bee Project

You can donate directly to this project by going to this page - www.britishblackbees.org Many thanks for your support. Phil Chandler

Many thanks to those who have backed this project, but we have reluctantly decided to close it, after our initial promotion effort failed to achieve our expectations. Rather than wasting time pushing it harder and risking over-exposure, we have decided to re-launch at a later date with a more modest proposal, which we hope you will still support. Meanwhile, we will be continuing with our work with the Black Bees and you are more than welcome to make a contribution to Friends of the Bees to help us, once your funds have been released from Crowdfunder. Thank you again for your willingness to support Friends of the Bees. Phil Chandler

If our Crowdfunder succeeds, we expect to build 170-200 hives over a three year period, plus nucleus hives of at least two types. We will also be selling queens and nucs by year 3 in order to provide funding over a longer period. We want this to be accessible to all beekeepers and prospective beekeepers within range - starting in the South West - and we will always strive to make information available freely whenever possible. We are still a long way from our target, so please tell your friends about us! Thank you for your support. Phil Chandler Director Friends of the Bees www.friendsofthebees.org

Hi Phil, I've kept black bees in Britanny, France for a few years. There are also wild colonies in the neighbourhood, as I have collected one swarm to start off a hive and have been notified of others in the area, although a local who had 10 hives a couple of years lost all but one last year! (he claimed due to pesticides).What is the scale of your project? How many hives are you planning? When do you anticipate selling your first queens/nucleii? Best of luck with the fund raising. Mike

Amazing idea Phil, Glad to have helped get the project past £2000. Sincerely hope that's the tipping point! Love and best wishes, Ken & Jill

I hope your successful in your plans for wider distribution of the Black Bee within the Brutish Isles. Best of luck with the project.

Good luck with the project. I keep black bees here in Cawsand, SE Cornwall. I got them from Joe Widdicombe our local bee breeder who has been piloting a black bee queen breeding programme on our little peninsula. Best regards Pete Dunstone

Great project; we all need help from the bees, so let's help them the best way we can.... Jane

Many thanks, everyone who has backed us so far! We are going to have to work hard to achieve our target, so anything you can do to spread the message far and wide will be greatly appreciated.

Great project - thank you for doing it on behalf of and benefit to us all! Good wishes!

This is a fabulous project and I'm so happy to be able to contribute even a little something to it - good luck with the raising the rest!

Sorry it couldn't be more. But I'm happy to offer any practical help needed. Masses of luck with it xxx

Best of luck Phil and the team who are running this project. It would be so good to see a Black Bee revival in this country. God bless you all. Steve M

All the very best Phil for this important venture! June x

Many thanks for your support - greatly appreciated!

Phil I really hope the black bee project is a great success and I am happy to support this valuable initiative Best wishes Nick

Good luck with your venture. It makes me happy whenever I see anyone trying to make the world a better place. Patty K., WA State, USA