The On-The-Spot (OTS) method offers a simple, graft-free way to rear queens - adapted here for British conditions. This sustainable approach empowers beekeepers to raise locally adapted, disease-resistant queens that…
Bee bread, also known as perga, is nature’s fermented masterpiece - a mix of pollen, honey, and enzymes transformed by bees into a powerhouse of nutrition. Rich in proteins, fatty…
The native dark honeybee, Apis mellifera mellifera, once thrived across Britain - but decades of imports have blurred its genetic identity. Now, PhD researcher Victoria Buswell at the University of…
Moving bees can be daunting for beginners, but with the right steps it’s easy. This guide explains how to safely relocate colonies or nucs, including the 3 feet or 3…
Raw honey is more than a buzzword - it’s honey as nature intended. Learn what “raw” really means, how it’s often misunderstood, and why knowing your beekeeper matters.
The shook swarm, or shakedown method, is a proven beekeeping technique for renewing comb, managing disease, and reducing varroa infestations. By moving bees onto fresh foundation and removing old comb,…
Apidea mating hives are lightweight polystyrene nucs designed for efficient queen rearing. Each unit contains moulded plastic frames with recesses for queen cells and an integrated feeder. Though compact, they…
For many people unfamiliar with beekeeping, the honey bee is often seen as a threat because of its sting. In reality, bees do not sting at every opportunity, and the…
In The Principles of Bee Improvement, Jo Widdicombe offers a practical, sustainable approach to breeding gentle, productive honey bees from local stock. Instead of relying on imported queens, Jo guides…
Swarming in honey bees is rarely caused by a single factor. Instead, it results from a mix of conditions such as overcrowding, lack of egg-laying space, declining queen pheromone, and…
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