Normally the driest county in England, Norfolk has received more than its fair share of rainfall this summer.

This unusually wet weather has not only impacted on Norfolk’s farmers and tourism, the humble honey bee has also been suffering.

Norfolk’s beekeepers are reporting that yields will be well down this summer due to the wet and cool weather.  Bees need fine weather conditions to fly to collect pollen.  If it is pouring down with rain or is excessively cool they simply will not leave the hive.  The bee colonies are then forced to live off their food reserves,  this considerably reduces the amount of honey produced by a hive over the season.  The West Norfolk Beekeepers’ Association has reported a possible reduction in yields this year of up to 80 per cent.

If you love your Norfolk honey the advice is to buy it now as supplies will quickly run out.