Bees are fundamental to our entire eco-system – but how much do you know about this humble insect? A visit to Les Ruchers de la Suisse Normande in Le Vey near Clécy in Calvados will answer all of your questions and more.

Owner Lionel Letellier started his bee business 20 years ago and has 350 beehives.

He is also the president of the Confédération des Apiculteurs du Calvados and an expert in his field.

Mr Letellier says the exceptionally cold winter has not impacted on the hives here – and the alarming decline in the bee population in the UK does not appear to be replicated in Normandy.

He is more anxious about the threat from pesticides, and the natural process of swarming, when the queen and her workers can leave the hive due to over-population.

Bees are active from February onwards and start collecting pollen in earnest from April to September.

The bees at Les Ruchers collect honey from all flowers, particularly rape, dandelion and fruit blossom in May, chestnuts at the end of June and sunflowers in July.

“In Normandy we benefit from an abundance of fruit trees in the spring time, and of course being a Bocage region we have plenty of green cow pastures which provide lots of clover,” says Mr Letellier.

In mid-June the hives are physically moved to woodland areas to allow the bees to collect their pollen from chestnut trees and other wild flowers. They are moved at least 5km from their original site so that the bees do not return to their previous gathering area.

In 2003, Mr Letellier added an eco-museum to the site, completely dedicated to the life of the bee, bee-keeping techniques and artefacts, as well as a shop selling varieties of honey and related products such as soap, royal jelly, spice cake and sweets.

The museum has a glass-sided beehive with an opening on the outside wall which allows the bees to go about their daily business in full view of visitors.

These fascinating creatures can be witnessed working in the honeycomb, and “dancing”, indicating with their bodies to the other bees the direction of the field of blossom they have just come from.

At Les Ruchers honey is harvested two or three times each year. The amount of honey produced can vary but on average each hive produces 25-35kg per year.

Honey on this scale makes harvesting a big event. Once the wax has been scraped off the combs, they are placed vertically into a large centrifuge which is spun at high speed to extract the honey.

The honey is then left in large vats for several weeks to allow any remaining wax to come to the surface. All wax is later recycled to produce more frames to go back into the hives. The extracted honey is then poured into jars.

Les Ruchers supply large supermarkets such as Leclerc as well as selling locally at the markets in Caen and Falaise. Visitors to the centre can also buy the produce direct.

So what determines whether your honey is runny or hard? Apparently this is down to the amount of fructose and glucose. “The more rich in fructose, the more liquid the honey,” Mr Letellier explains.

Visitors are welcome at Les Ruchers by appointment in July and August from 15.00 to 18.00. Call 02 31 69 46 27.

Starting your own hive

If you have long been hankering after a hive of your own and would like to do your bit for the bee population, start-up costs are not as high as you might think.

Mr Letellier estimates that any budding bee-keeper could set himself up with equipment, hive and protective clothing for not more than €500.

The Confédération des Apiculteurs du Calvados would be happy to offer advice.

The group also produces a regular bulletin providing bee-keepers with information. To find out more, call 02 31 69 46 27.