Peak Queencell Number: What It Tells Us About Our Bees
BeginnerBeekeeping Some of the most useful ideas in beekeeping never make it into the textbooks. Peak Queencell Number, or PQN, is one of them. The theory comes from Roger Patterson, and…
Basic Beekeeping Principles
Sustainable Bee Splits: A Simple Method for Strong Colonies
A simple, sustainable bee splits method that uses natural swarm cells instead of bought queens. Learn how to create strong, productive colonies with minimal intervention, fewer resources, and a beginner-friendly…
How to Start Beekeeping as a Complete Beginner
Want to start beekeeping but do not know where to begin? This beginner’s guide explains the safest, simplest way to start in the UK, from joining a local association to…
Why Are Honey Bees Imported into the UK – and What Are the Risks?
Honey bee imports to the UK have more than quadrupled in the past two decades. This article explores why beekeepers import so many queens, the countries they come from, and…
Maximising Production with Native Honey Bees: Lessons from Colm O’Neill
Irish beekeeper Colm O’Neill shares how native bees, careful record-keeping, and brood management can dramatically boost honey yields while preserving bee health.
Viral Infections in Honey Bee Queens Disrupt Pheromones and Threaten Hive Stability
New UBC research shows how viral infections in honey bee queens suppress vital pheromones, causing colonies to replace their monarchs and threatening global pollination stability.
Precision nutrition for honey bees: The “super‑food” that could transform UK beekeeping
In recent years UK beekeepers have faced mounting pressures: reduced floral diversity, unpredictable weather, parasites, pesticides and landscape change. Against this backdrop, a significant scientific breakthrough may offer a fresh…
Apimondia Condemns Immature Honey: Why Unripe Honey Isn’t Real Honey
In September 2025, Apimondia – the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations – released a landmark statement on the growing issue of immature honey production. The organization warned that this emerging…
Tropilaelaps: The Next Big Threat to UK Beekeeping
Tropilaelaps mites are rapidly emerging as one of the most dangerous threats to honeybee health - and they could soon reach the UK. More aggressive and faster-reproducing than Varroa, these…
Britain’s Wild Honey Bees: Thriving Against the Odds
New research from the University of Sussex reveals that wild honey bee colonies are thriving in Britain’s countryside, sustained by veteran trees and natural selection.