August is the month of wasps. As a child, and even into adult hood, I was the first to be waving my arms about in panic and fear at the sight of any wasp, and sitting outside in pub beer garden’s was always met with trepidation. Since keeping bees, my fear turned to hatred, and […]
Honey share
I’m feeling very blessed today after completing an extraction of honey from two separate hives for a client. One colony, is in its third year since swarming into their Warre hive, and the other was a swarm caught last summer and placed into a WBC ( William Broughton Carr, traditional looking hive) . […]
Bees at Babylonstoren
My time with these beautiful insects was not long enough, and after five days with them I spent a quiet few moments alone saying farewell. As an integral part of both the gardens and restaurant at the Western Cape hotel, the bees are housed in a walled bee garden and also in an apiary tucked […]
Bee stings & Histamine
I had been extremely lucky having received only 6 beestings in my 8 years of beekeeping. That was until last Wednesday when I received a whopping FOURTEEN stings on both my legs and ankles whilst trying to replace a base to a bait hive that had come away whilst we were moving it. I was […]
Honey bees in Oman
I have been lucky enough to have spent time in Oman last week where I was able to visit some traditional, and modern beekeepers in this beautiful Sultanate. Inspired from reading ‘Honey and Dust ‘by Piers Moore Ede ( given to me as a birthday gift in November) I decided to make the most […]
Honey Sensory Analysis Course, Part 2
I was grateful for another good night’s sleep and awoke early, again before my alarm, then decided that if I was going to walk to the Research centre, then today had to be the day.Excited by a third day of Honey Sensory Analysis in mind I was quick to get myself up and out, […]
Upside down bees
Last week I was informed by a farmer that one of my hives at an orchard had been blown over. We’d had some particularly strong and bitter winds the previous night and although I’d checked all my other colonies, I had neglected to travel further afield to check on this ‘wilder’ hive. This colony was […]
Honey Sensory Analysis Course, Part 1.
Last month I took an impulsive trip to Bologna, Italy, to take part in the first English speaking Honey Sensory Analysis Course. I had heard about it following being given a newspaper cutting from the FT written by ‘Spoonfuls of honey‘ author Hattie Ellis. She had briefly mentioned that the first course to be held […]
Moving bees
Although the winter months are quiet for the bees with the temperatures too cold to fly, and little or no pollen or nectar available, you may think that it means a quiet time also for beekeepers. Not so! Winter is the time for moving bees, cleaning tools and empty hives whilst preparing for the next […]
Art in Action 2016
Sat amongst the climbing roses with the distant rumble of the M40, and a closer ringing of zen bells, I’m enjoying a place of stillness amidst all the ‘art in action’ at Waterperry House, Oxfordshire. I am a volunteer here for their 40th event, and very sadly, the last. On arrival yesterday morning I met […]