Classifieds | Goulburn Post

It's an idea that's set to generate a lot of buzz. Blakehurst resident Saverio Russo is starting a project to save the Australian native bee population. He is setting up the Billion Bees Foundation to propagate the native bee population of Australia by distributing hives to schools, community gardens and organic farmers. Savarerio said that the aim of the foundation is to give nature back the upper hand. "I want to maintain a healthy native bee population because under current conditions with land-clearing and all the chemicals that farmers are using, native bees are getting hammered," Saverio said. "Australian native bees are little and they don't come out of the hive unless it is over 18 degrees. "Native bees are more delicate and for this reason there has never been an attempt to use them to make honey for commercial purposes. "The native bees are competing with the European bees so when they do get out of their hive the flowers they go to have probably been visited by the European bees. ""By setting up the Billion Bees Foundation we want to donate hives to all the schools along the east coast, particularly in areas where native bees thrive." "In the next eight years we want to distribute 10,000 hives. This will include all the organic farmers in the vicinity of Sydney will also get these bees. "Sydney council become the protagonist to help farmers pollinate. "The European bees have got the Varroa mite, a parasitic mite that attacks honey bees. But native bees don't have it, so there is a big role to play in providing pollinators. "And in Sydney suburbs the native bee grows eight tiems faster than in its natural habitat." Saverio is setting up the Billion Bees foundation through his family company, Roma Pizzeria Restaurant at South Hurstville. Last week he drove to Queensland to bring back 39 hives. "I started in July and so far have got 48 hives. The target is to have established 10,00 hives in eight years." Saverio was inspired to start the Billion Bees Foundation because of his son, Edoudo, 4, has an interest in insects. "Originally I was going to buy him a lady bug pack but they have to be kept in a tank so it wasn't a natural environment. "I didn't want my kids to have pets in an artificial environment. I wanted them to have something that is kept in the wild. "The bees are the best pets because there is literally no maintenance on them. The less interference they get the better." Saverio said once the foundation is up and running there will be a need for volunteers to help in collecting and distributing hives. He said the St George Men's Shed at Carss Park and the Mortdale Men's Shed will be building the hives. "We are including the whole community. We will have the school children involved and we have the other end of the age spectrum. It becomes a full circle." The Billion Bees Foundation facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/Billion-Bees-115359786589413

Tributes

Celebrations

Cars

Place a Job Ad

Place a Classifieds Ad

Real Estate

Ag and Rural

Garage Sales