Bees need flowers in order to survive and as Spring begins the bees will start to get active and so what flowers are good for bees in spring? As I keep my bees in the UK I am talking about the varieties we find here but if you live anywhere else...
Read moreNew beekeepers are often worried about where to keep their bees and ask “can I keep bees in my garden?” In the UK there are no actual laws about where you can keep bees, other countries are different. Whilst the law allows you to keep...
Read moreSwarming is a natural thing that bee colonies do but why do bees swarm? The main reason that a bee colony will swarm is that it has reached a sufficient size to enable it to split into two and hence reproduce itself. Whilst it is important for...
Read moreOne of the questions we get asked the most by people on courses is How Is A New Queen Bee Made? In this blog we look at the incredible process of the making of a new queen. When Will Bees Make A New Queen? If the old queen has died or is getting...
Read moreSpring is a difficult time for bees. They have come through the winter and hopefully the queen has had a good rest. The problem is that with the mild winters we have been having it is likely that she will have carried on laying and there will...
Read moreAs I write this blog the sun is shining outside the office and if I open the door I can see and hear bees flying but it’s way too early to start doing anything with the bees. We should, however, be turning our thoughts to how to prepare for...
Read moreOne of the most frequently asked questions on our courses is when is the best time to start beekeeping? The answer is as soon in the season as possible, but like most things it may not be that simple. Probably the most difficult part of...
Read moreWe have all seen bees flying out to gather food but how do they know where to go to find the richest pickings? Once the scout bees have discovered a good source of forage they will return to the hive a tell their sisters where to go to find food...
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The short answer to this question is that as far as I can see there is no good scientific research that supports the claim that organic honey is better for you than good quality regular honey. It is often assumed that because something is...
Read moreIs Honey Good For You? Well the short answer is YES. As producers of honey it will not surprise you that we believe that honey is good for you, but we really should look at this scientifically and as impartially as a bee farmer can. Is All Honey...
Read moreWe are often asked what happens to bees in the winter? Do they hibernate? Well, the short answer to the question is no. Honey bees do not hibernate but they do completely change their habits during the colder months and you will...
Read moreHow Do Bees Make Honey? First of all what is honey? The legal definition contained in the Honey (England) Regulations 2015 is as follows: 2.—(1) In these Regulations “honey” means the natural sweet substance produced by Apis mellifera bees from...
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