I’m terrified of flying insects – could a twerking bee cure me?

The campaign to save our bees is something we can all get behind, so I decided to face my fears at an urban apiary

You know what really makes a summer? Being besieged by flying insectoid life forms with venomous stingers. As a child, I discovered a wasps' nest in the shed while trying to retrieve a lawnmower and it didn't end well. Now a grown man, I'm terrified of anything airborne. The list of things that have triggered freak-outs includes flies, butterflies, poplar fluff and falling leaves, as well as the hair on my own neck. So, I am uncomfortable to be at Black Bee Honey, an apiary in Woodford, east London. I'm here to face my fears by putting my face next to things I'm afraid of: insects with wings and stings.

The company's co-founder, Chris Barnes, is swinging a smoker around like a Russian Orthodox priest, attempting to pacify the bees, or me. He explains that bees sting only to defend their hive, that stinging a human will kill them, that these bees have been bred to be docile. The thing is, he is wearing a full protective suit, as is everyone else around. "That sounds great," I say. "But can I wear what you're wearing? And you mentioned gloves. Where are they?"