Beekeepers Journal

Swallows, swarms and a runaway Queen

Swallows, swarms and a runaway Queen

You can tell summer is here: the bloody swallows are back. My wife thinks they are lovely as they swoop across the fields, silly moo. I try to explain that...

Swallows, swarms and a runaway Queen

You can tell summer is here: the bloody swallows are back. My wife thinks they are lovely as they swoop across the fields, silly moo. I try to explain that...

The Great Bee Breakout

The Great Bee Breakout

I love this time of year - it’s full-on swarming time. Most animals have some annoying features: goats eat anything and everything, horses have riders, sheep eat grass and die...

The Great Bee Breakout

I love this time of year - it’s full-on swarming time. Most animals have some annoying features: goats eat anything and everything, horses have riders, sheep eat grass and die...

Hive Havoc: Nature's Drummers

Hive Havoc: Nature's Drummers

For me it started badly and went down hill. Autumn brought wasps, the Messerschmitt of the insect world, to terrorise one of my apiaries which were then nobly assisted by...

Hive Havoc: Nature's Drummers

For me it started badly and went down hill. Autumn brought wasps, the Messerschmitt of the insect world, to terrorise one of my apiaries which were then nobly assisted by...

Ready for action

Ready for action

At last, winter is fading away, and days of reading and planning about bees will soon be replaced by action. Beekeeping in the past was not all about honey. We...

Ready for action

At last, winter is fading away, and days of reading and planning about bees will soon be replaced by action. Beekeeping in the past was not all about honey. We...

On the brink of spring

On the brink of spring

What’s to like about January? Not a lot, really, except for the anticipation of the year to come. Now that we've reached February, nature is teetering on the brink of...

On the brink of spring

What’s to like about January? Not a lot, really, except for the anticipation of the year to come. Now that we've reached February, nature is teetering on the brink of...

The calm before the swarm

The calm before the swarm

Well, that’s it, whatever you were celebrating, winter solstice is passed.  Me? I have lots of kit made up ready for the spring and the hum of the hives. I...

The calm before the swarm

Well, that’s it, whatever you were celebrating, winter solstice is passed.  Me? I have lots of kit made up ready for the spring and the hum of the hives. I...