Prisoners at HMP Bristol are learning valuable skills from nature by taking care of their own beehives and making tasty honey which could provide them with a future career.
As well as feeding staff and fellow prisoners alike with their haul of homemade honey, the Bees Behind Bars project could soon see HMP Bristol’s produce on the shelves of a local cafe.
As the United Nations marks World Bee Day on Monday 20 May, Muhammed Foulds – Imam at HMP Bristol – says the insects can make a big impact on the men working with them for the first time.
“We tell the prisoners to look at how bees work as a community and support each other. There is no fighting, they all have a job to do, it is a holistic way of living and we can all relate to that.
“Bees put honey into cells, they don’t live in cells like the prisoners – there are lessons we can take from them.
“We want to make the link that, through beekeeping, their time in prison can be a transition to a new, more prosperous and harmonious life.”
Since starting the fully subscribed beekeeping course at HMP Bristol, Muhammed has been inundated with interest from staff and prisoners alike. HMP Bristol currently has 10 working hives, which produced around 30lbs worth of honey last year, and there are plans for expansion.
The honey that is extracted is taken around the wings and then given to the kitchens for cakes for staff and prisoners, before finally being bottled up and offered to staff.
The beekeeping course has already changed some prisoners’ outlook on life and could provide them with a route to employment upon release.