afternoon bee tea

There's only a few more weeks left to enjoy our special guest lemon, honey and ginger recipe.

So to celebrate all your thirsty work in helping set up 40 hives across the UK and reintroducing countless bees, we've come up with a special competition with our friends at the National Trust.

 

One lucky winner and their friend will win a trip to visit Hanbury Hall in Worcestershire to meet Tim the beekeeper, see the hives, take a tour of the beautiful gardens and after asking all your bee related questions, enjoy a spot of afternoon tea.

 

Here's Tim telling people about bees

 

And here's a nice cream tea (NB: scones may differ to picture shown)
  

All you need to do to enter is answer the following questions from Neil, the head gardener at Hanbury Hall:

1. Which capital fellow designed the spectacular gardens at Hanbury Hall?

2. What is the one thing you'd like to ask Tim the beekeeper?

3. How many scones can you eat in one sitting?

Just post your answers, age and whereabouts you live as a comment below and we'll choose a winner on Friday 30th July.

Meantime, if you've not posted your bee flower picture yet, you can do so right here.

This competition is now closed. We'll get Tim and Neil to pick a lucky winner this week. Meantime, thanks to everyone who entered.

Comments

[Rowan]

1. George London
2. How do prolonged periods of rain affect bees?
3. One if I am polite, two if I am enjoying myself, three if I am being a piggy!

Age: 45
Location: Kidwelly, South Wales

[Katherine Wilson]

Hello Neil,
1: George London designed the spectacular gardens.
2: Dear Tim the Beekeeper, have you ever encountered an incident when your own bees have caused you to sweat a little more than usual?
3: It greatly depends on the size of the scones but unfortunately for my waistline rather a large number as they are a personal favourite along with shortbread.
Many thanks,
Katherine

[R J Tysoe]

1) George London
2) I'd like to have a small bee hive (as soon as I get a garden) but will soon have 2 small children. Any advice on bee keeping with children?
3) That depends... If they are the same size as the ones at Felbrigg Hall (National Trust, Suffolk) I could probably squeeze in 6, maybe more if it was competitive scone eating.

Age: 41
Location: Around the corner from Fruit Towers, Shepherds Bush, London (but I grew up near Droitwich and my Dad still lives there, if that helps)

[Maz Lopez]

1. George London
2. Please can you explain the difference between a honey bee, worker bee and queen bee - diagrams are appreciated!
3. Two normally suffices; but if I knew they were the home-made National Trust scones than exceptions can be made and breakfasts skipped in ordar to make vital way for the yumminess!!

[Maz Lopez]

1. George London
2. Please can you explain the difference between a honey bee, worker bee and queen bee - diagrams are appreciated!
3. Two normally suffices; but if I knew they were the home-made National Trust scones than exceptions can be made and breakfasts skipped in ordar to make vital way for the yumminess!!

Oops ignore the previous post I forgot to say.

Age:24
Location: Sunny Watford, Hertfordshire

[Ronan]

1. George London
2. What's your theory on the decline of the UK bee population.
3. 7 as it's a nice round number.
North East Scotland

[Stewart Burchell]

1. George London
2. What are the causes in the decline of bee populations and what is being done about it?
3. All of them! After all - here today, scone tomorrow!

[Linda Hart]

1. George London, natch.
2. What are the best things we can do to support the bee population?
3. Every. Last. One. (Did I mention it's before lunch?)

Age: 53
Location: Isleworth

[Cathy T]

1. George London
2. What happens to all the bees in Winter?
3. That depends on whether they come with Butter, Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream!

Location Somerset

[Giulia]

1. George London
2. Are wasps also dying off?
3. i am reknown for my lack of boundaries when it comes to food, so i'm gonna say: the tray is the limit.

age: 25
Location: the very green Bavaria - Germany

[Chloe]

1. George London
2. Is it tue that if you stay still they will leave you alone?
3. There are so many factors to consider.... Have I eaten before hand?

What type of scones?

etc etc

but i'm going with 3 :)

Location Houghton-le-spring

[Peter]

1. George London
2. What's the worst bee-related pun you have encountered on the job?
3. Easily double figures - I am an American after all!

Age: 30
Location: Marylebone, London

[A P Lister]

1) George London
2) Why do I now see many huge bees in the garden and few 'normal' size ones?
3) I can only manage 1 scone but if my husband is around he could polish off a whole dinner plate full!

[Guni]

1. George London
2. Dear Tim, I am sad to hear that bees are on a downer. I have lots of little flowerbees in my garden - does it help them to put up little bug houses?
3. I am eating for two, so on that basis it aint over till the fat lady eats four scones.

[Helen]

1.That would be one George London. Here's another fact for you: The park surrounding the gardens has its origins in the ancient Forest of Feckenham. Brilliant name for a forest, or anything else for that matter.

2. Can you train bees to come and sit on your finger?

(If I'm allowed another question I'd also like to know more about the importance of bees in our eco-system. I heard that if all the bees die right now, then the human race would survive no more than 3 years. Long live the Bee!)

3. Ooh probably 4 on a no-breakfast day. If there's no jam or cream (a horrible thought) then I could manage 5. But they'd be a bit dry, so I wouldn't really want to.

[marilyn bellis]

1 George London

2 When somethings great it said to be 'the bees knees' do bees really have knees?

3 Two, but with jam and cream who knows!

[Claire Webster]

1, George London

2, What kind of relationship do bees in a hive have with each other? and how do they have rules?

3, Depends on the size. I ate 4 small ones at a posh afternoon tea a few weeks ago but I had to hold back so I wouldn't embarass my mother. Probably 3 or 4 big ones.

Age: 27
Location: Guildford

[Jake]

1. It was George London, although I had to look up what a Parterre was.

2. Why does the wax and comb turn yellow, when it is originally white?

3. Three or four, probably ... with jam and cream obviously.

Although if I missed breakfast and someone issued a challenge... we'd have to see. The real challenge though is to eat one without licking your lips: try it!

Jake, 29, Peaks

[Carys Lawlor]

1. George London
2. Are bees tougher than wasps?
3. Can definitely eat as least three, as long as I'm not distracted by tiny sandwiches and chocolate cake.

Carys, 29, Warwick

[David]

1. George London
2. Why do bees hum?*
3. Not as many as these guys...

http://www.ifoce.com/rankings.php

David, 25, London

*(A rhetorical question, the answer being because they don't know the words...)

[Sarah Buchanan]

George London

Is every bee different in appearance and is it possible to determine certain characters when working with them like you do?

As long as you can keep providing clotted cream and that delicious looking jam; I'll be eating!

[Paul]

1. George London
2. Do bees have a favourite part of the UK?
3. Last count was four- but I can go on and on...

[Harriet]

Dear Neil,
Good evening, I hope you are well and enjoying a spot of tea and a sit down; gardening is hard work!
1. I believe it was George London
2. I would like to ask Tim if he could shouw me an example of the "waggle dance"
3. Probably only two, but I would bring a friend who could eat many more!

Harriet Day, 19, Cirencester

[Lisa]

1. George London
2. Are there any bees that just can't do their jobs properly?
3. How many are there available??

[Deborah Marshall]

1. George London
2. What happens to the bess and the honey if the hive is not emptied?
3. At least 3 (old people and children always have room for cakes and ice cream )

Age: 48
Location: North London about 8 miles from Shepherds Bush

[Heather]

1. George London
2. How closely related are honey bees to the little wild bees I have in my garden?
3. Lots. I like warm cheese scones even better than sweet ones.

60s, Croydon

[Deborah Woolf]

1, George London
2, OTher than planting bee friendly plants what else can I do to attrach bees to my garden, would a bee costume help?
3, How many have you got....

Age 23
Location Southgate, London

[Julia Ross]

1. George London

2. Hi Tim ... I'd like to know if bees can see in colour when they're whizzing around the flowers in my garden?

3. Ooooh, that's such a hard question to answer. I can always manage one; I have been known to eat two, and if there are treacle scones around, I can eat three of those - but then wouldn't be able to move for the rest of the day! :)

[Mhairi]

1. George London
2. What's your favourite way to eat honey?
3. Three and without raising agents. I don't agree with raising agents in scones. It's in the method; they shouldn't need baking powder if you make them proper.

Mhairi
19
Dundee, Scotland

[Kim]

1. George London
2. Where are all the bees going and what can we do to stop them dissappearing?
3. two usually - but I would prefer them with a scrape of butter and lashings of honey

Kim
51
London

[Nicola]

1. George London
2. What is the best way to remove a bee that has inadvertently flown into your living room?
3. I could comfortably eat 3 reasonably sized plain or fruit scones, always with jam (sometimes with butter as well but this is not always essential)

[Vicki]

1. George London
2. Where do bumble bee's go in the winter?
3. If there were lashing of cream and jam I could probably go 4.

25, Surbiton Surrey.

[Tim D]

1. George London
2. ONE QUESTION??? Poor Tim is going to be bombarded with questions on this amazing subject. Can you help me to find out what type of bee hovers round holes in my garden when I am digging (I have a photo)? How do the bees who keep the hive warm get enough energy?...and can you feel how warm they are in your hand? How have apiarists deciphered the waggle dance? I would love to get really close to the hives, but can I please have a full body costume? (these were the first questions that came to mind)
3. My wife would be my 'friend' joining me if I were to win. We would politely eat two each (but would be trying to secrete any that were left into her bag for the journey home!!)

Tim, 45, Near Stockton-on-Tees

[Marion Symes]

1 George London

2 Which flowers or mix of flowers is best to encourage bees

3. probably too many if they are National Trust ones but to be good say 4
Marion, 55 Somerset

[Katie Toghill]

1. George London
2. Could we pollenate flowers without bees/wasps?
3. I could probably do 3 with cream and jam, but maybe 5 or 6 without the filling, but with a bit of marg.

Age:20
Location: Right now, York. Next week, Guildford (I'm a student going home for summer)

[Joanne Newton]

1. George London
2. What plants / flowers should i put in my garden to encourage bees to come & say hello
3. Depends if they are fruit scones because i dont like currents, but probably only one with a lovely cup of tea...mmmmm

[Helen Armes]

1. George London
2. Have any of your hives ever been infested with verroa mites and what do you do about it?
3. probably 2

23, Cambridgeshire

[Jane, 55, Sheffield]

1. Never heard of George London, but will look him up on the internet when this is done.
2.Which are the best flowers to grow for early spring food for bees? They seem to love the buttercups and forgetmenots, but keeping the buttercups is a problem on the allotment. And they might benefit from other plants too.
3.Sorry, no scones for me, I am stuck with rice cakes, but my friend could eat three or four with no problem, and has a great fondness for the additions of jam and cream.

[Fionna]

1. George London
2. Is there any correlation between Colony Collapse Disorder and the type of hive the bee is living in?
3. Depends who is watching

[Andy]

George London designed the wonderful gardens.
My question is can more than one queen live in a normal sized hive, or do arguements ensue?
If they are sweet scones, 2 or possibly 3, depending on how long ago lunch was.

[Andy]

I forgot to say how old I am!

I am 47

[Mrs Ruth Hamilton]

1. George London designed the gardens.
2. My question - what is life like in a hive if man doesn't take the honey?
3. Only one thank you.
Ruth - who is 66, going on 40!

[Zafer]

1. Mr George London
2. How do I make the bees form faces and shapes, like the water alien in The Abyss?
3. At least 10, but halve that if I have them with peanut butter.

[Sam]

1. George London
2. Do bees have a preference for the pollen of any particular flower or do they go for the brightest flowers?
3. If I was hungry (greedy) I could easily eat at least 5!

21 years, Reigate, Surrey.

[Julie]

1. George London

2. can i not has him two questions?

3. All depends on how scrummy or not scrummy they are

25 London

[Karen]

1.George London
2. Why is our honey so pale and interesting.
3.That would bee 2
46 Worcester

[Louisa]

1. George London (nice work George)

2. How far do bees fly from the hive, for how long are they gone, and do they have some sort of in-built homing device ? (I've cheated a bit on the 1 question rule, but technically it's one sentence!)

3. I don't think I've ever had the opportunity to eat as many as I wanted (or could) ... bring on the challenge! (I reckon at least 4)

[Cherry]

1. George London (what a patriotic name!)

2. I read that some nicotine-based pesticides are responsible for the decline of the bee population, because although they don't kill the bees (and therefore are not banned) they do disorientate and weaken them. Have you heard this, and can we start a petition to have these pesticides banned?

3. I'll politely eat one, but will enjoy watching others tuck in greedily.

Cherry
Age: Just reaching my peak
Location: Woodford, Essex

[Caroline]

1. George London created the gardens.

2. My question would bee "what happens if the queen bee falls ill and is unable to reproduce? is it the decline of the colony or does another bee become the queen?"

3. I would definitely stop at 2 scones and they're yummy with cream and honey instead of jam and cream (and that's from a Cornwall born girl).

Caroline

Early forties, living in SW London (St Margarets)

[Amanda Dumble]

1. George London
2. If I find an injured or sleepy bee ill-prepared for winter, how can I best help it survive?
3. I shall say 5 although I have a nagging feeling I could probably eat more. I probably Should only eat 2 for the benefit of my waistline :)

Amanda
Age: 33
Location: Guildford, Surrey

[Anthony Harris]

1. Has there ever been a more English name than George London?

2. Tim, do you have the orchestral piece 'Flight of the Bumblebee' on your iPod? Have you ever been caught listening to it full blast whilst dancing around in your beekeeping suit?

3. I'm trying so hard to avoid a dad-style joke but I'm afraid it has to be done. 'They'd all be scone'

Anthony
Age:21
Location:SE London

[Lucy M]

1. George London
2. What can I do to help bees stop 'disappearing'?!
3. As many as will fit in my havesack. 'nuff said.

[Lucy M]

ooh and I'm Lucy, 16, London :)

[Jenny]

Hi Neil

What a cool competition
Answers As Follows:-

1) George London (sorry, I didn't know that, so I copied it from the others amswers- is that cheating?)

2) How do the bees visiting different flowers affect the flavour of honey they produce? (Or are the flavours added by the beekeepers later??)

3) Two if I'm being polite, but I'm happy to rise to any challenger in a scone eating competition...

Age: 32 (I think)
Location: In my garden, watching the wildlife, Sunny South East

[Elaine Miller]

1. George London
2. Does the smoke used to passify bees have any effect on humans?
3. Until the jam runs out

[Carly]

1. George London
2. Why do bees always end up sleeping on cycle paths where they're likely to get run over?
3. Four. But I'd be eyeing the others up until someone insists that I eat more.

I'm 23 and I'm from Bristol.

[Bronwyn Cannon]

1 George London
2 Is it true that honey is m
ade by the bees regurgating nectar
3 It all depends on the size of the scone. Only one from Buckfast Abbey but probably 2 from a supermarket. With Little Scarlet strawberry jam. Yum yum yummy

[Bronwyn Cannon]

Should have been regurgitating - before I had time to edit

[Teresa Hill]

1- George London
2- aren't you worried the bees will sting you?
3- Mmmm scones, I love them so it would bee at least 2 but just with a little butter as jam and cream take away the lovely flavour of the scone.
Age 51
West Sussex

[Kate Lord]

1. George London
2. What would happen to the world if we didnt have bees?
3. Definately 2, must be accompanied with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

eddy, 43.

[Eleanor]

1)George London designed the beautiful gardens.

2)What do you need to do to look after the bees and the hives over the winter?

3)Probably only one....maybe two at a push....I like a lot of clotted cream and jam with my scones so anymore than two and I would most likely feel a little sick!

Eleanor, 25

from Shrewsbury

[Gail]

1. George London.
2. What made you decide to become a beekeeper?
3. 2 or possibly 3, with lashings of jam and clotted cream.
Age 59
Poole, Dorset