Bees in the back yard

Keeping bees in an urban backyard might seem unlikely, but it’s anything but impossible, or difficult.

Wayne Edmond has a single hive in his backyard in Aranui, suburban Christchurch. He got a little bit of honey off it in the first season, and is looking for more in this, his second season.

‘‘It was pretty time consuming to get into it, and it’s still a learning process, but I love it. I was totally paranoid when I started but now I sit and watch them, and it’s really calming.’’ He said being part of a club was incredibly rewarding.

Edmond has taken his fascination with his hive to the next level, painting his registration number on the wooden exterior and mapping the 3km distance his bees are likely to travel.

‘‘I told the neighbours when I got the hive, and they were really good about it,’’ he said.

Edmond’s interest in bees dates back to when he was a young child.

‘‘When I was about eight, there was a massive swarm at my great uncles, and that’s where it all started.’’