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Samuel Perichon
Feedback from beekeepers that use the Warré (People's) Hive Questionnaire online survey both in Europe and other parts of the world
Samuel Perichon. Feedback from beekeepers that use the Warré (People's) Hive Questionnaire online survey both in Europe and other parts of the world. Journal of Apicultural Research, 2021, 63 (1), pp.41-56. ⟨10.1080/00218839.2021.1946939⟩. ⟨hal-04848517⟩
For a long time in Europe, honey bees were kept in hives made of wicker, cork, and in sections of tree trunks. It was only in the second half of the 19th century that so-called “modern” beehive designs followed one another in large numbers, some of them are commonly used by beekeepers (Dadant, Langstroth, Zander). These hives revolutionised beekeeping practices, mainly through the use of removal frames with wax foundation sheets, honey supers, and honey extractors. L’Abbé Warré (1867–1951) stands out among other originators by prioritizing bee welfare while simplifying the modern beekeeping practices. In 1948, he published a manual for the management of his hive design called “People’s Hive.” Over the last decade, in France and elsewhere in the world, more and more candidates are attracted by the Simplified Beekeeping of L’Abbé Warré. We have surveyed over 151 people, mostly French and German beekeepers, about their perception of this trend, and their evaluation of the benefits and problems of this management. We also wanted to better understand the human-bees relationship from the major reasons why they keep bees and recalling the fondest memories of their beekeeping experiences. Our study highlights a variety of profiles united by a common desire to ensure animal welfare.