Meet the beekeepers promoting conservation and education in Singapore

This was where it all started for Xavier. While he was honing his chops as a beekeeper in Malaysia under the tutelage of a friend, he was horrified to learn how commercial pest control teams deal with unwanted bees: they spray chemicals that effectively kill the whole colony. In the process, they kick up clouds of agitated bees that may fly to nearby homes and sting neighbours. The process also leaves toxic residue and the dead bodies of the insects in its wake.

This inspired him to move back to Singapore to start Nutrinest in 2014. Nowadays, he responds to daily calls during peak periods to remove bees from backyards, homes and commercial buildings. His method is decidedly non-lethal. He waits till evening when most of the bees have returned to the hive, relocates the queen bee and her larvae in a new home, and the rest of the colony will calmy follow.

Most of the beehives that he removes end up at The Ashram. At this halfway house for ex-offenders recovering from substance abuse, Xavier has carved out a backyard eco-garden with the founder and tenants at The Ashram. They plant vegetables and flowers that live in a mutually beneficial relationship with the resident bees.

Xavier doesn’t blame people for calling pest control. “People are afraid of what they don’t know,” he says, acknowledging the harmful misconception that bees are dangerous and sting indiscriminately. But with some education, people can come to see that bees are mostly harmless. In his words, “They mind their own business.”

To change minds, you first have to change hearts. That’s why both Xavier and John emphasise hands-on learning in their tours and workshops.

At The Ashram, Xavier typically starts by taking visitors around the garden. To get there, you first have to walk through a purpose-built arched tunnel covered in flowering vines – and yes, bees. With some coaching, he might allow you to experience what it’s like to hold a sheet of honeycomb crawling with the little stingers. Throughout, he gently reminds visitors, “Don’t make any sudden moves because that’s when the bees feel threatened and are more likely to sting.”

At BEE Amazed, John Chong takes a different approach. Having worked at the Ministry of Education for 37 years, he’s an educator at heart and loves coming up with engaging programmes about bees to impart important values. At his breezy outdoor classroom in Kampung Kampus, he uses song and dance to teach students, corporate participants and families about teamwork and climate change. Here, it’s just as important to learn from the bees as it is to learn about the bees.

There are signs that Xavier’s and John’s efforts are paying off. Xavier shares how heartened he is that some condominium managers, from the urging of residents who have attended Xavier’s workshops, now engage his services rather than call pest control.

Bee havens are also starting to pop up around the country. Some organisations like Temasek and JTC Corporation are eager to throw their weight behind bee conservation in Singapore. Xavier has worked with them to set up sanctuaries where the bees can live and flourish. Temasek Shophouse for example, has an outdoor garden that is now home to a hive relocated from Mandai. BEE Amazed has also worked with Sentosa Golf Club to rehome bees as part of their ongoing CSR efforts.

Xavier believes that Singapore is a great place to ramp up bee conservation. “We’re a city in a garden after all,” he says. We just have to be conscientious about preserving green spaces as we continue to urbanise.

John breaks it down simply. “Don’t be afraid, don’t call pest control, grow more flowering plants, and build more bee sanctuaries.”

With that in mind, another way to support our bee farms is by buying local honey. 

Native honeybees don't produce as much honey as their foreign counterparts – for example, Xavier harvests up to 20kg of honey per hive in a year. Contrast that with his beekeeper friend in Australia, who can get as much as 300kg from each hive annually. Nevertheless, Xavier takes good care of the bees, and only harvests when the honey is at the peak of maturity – ensuring high-quality honey with characteristic low water content and anti-bacterial properties. Depending on what's flowering in the Nutrinest garden, Xavier's honey might also have subtle notes of bittergourd, cinnamon or lime!

John from BEE Amazed has yet to harvest honey for sale. But you can still enjoy My Honey, a brand that he imports from Israel. There are five different flavour profiles on offer, the most interesting being Wildflower Blossoms, a polyfloral honey with cinnamon, chocolate, liquorice, citrus and vanilla notes.