The vivid dream Twenty eight years ago I had a very vivid dream. It was such an extraordinary dream, that when I awoke I shared it with my then husband, mother and anyone else who would listen. It went like this: I was sat in the window seat of an aeroplane, next to my mother. […]
Do the Bees know it’s Christmas?
Torpor As I am busy preparing for the festivities, the bees get swifter visits in between more pressing activities. During the winter months, it’s not so necessary to check on bees daily as they are mostly in a state of torpor, closely clustered together deep inside the hive. The colder temperatures and rain prevent them […]
The gifts of 2019
I do get excited at this time of year, but not particularly because of the usual hype of the festive season. I really love saying ‘thank you’, and writing cards to those I have met over the years and think fondly of. This year, I have been able to make the time to make some […]
More imaginings coming true
Nine years ago, during the darkest times of being bedbound with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, I would pass the time imagining a future where I would be able to walk and partake in life. Grief I had a lot of grief with accepting that my career as an artist was over and so to try and […]
Bee Lady
Telling the bees Unfortunately, I had reason to tell my bees of a dear friend’s passing recently. The tradition of telling the bees goes back far longer than anyone can remember. As my learning about bees increases, the more sense all these traditions make. It feels as if we are all just remembering past wisdoms […]
Field Honey
Annual walk My former neighbour and long term friend, was staying in Swanage, so our annual meet up for a walk, swim and chat was due. We have one of those friendships that just carries on in between the sometimes lengthy breaks. Wendy is sporty and has had a long career in teaching sports and […]
Drone Congregation areas
It was when listening to Jacqueline Freeman’s book on my way to visiting Clare Denesley at Buckfast Abbey that I first heard about Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs), and I was absolutely fascinated. DCAs at Ancient Sites The thought that drones left their hives each day and gathered together with other neighbouring drones, simply hanging out […]
She shall have bees wherever she goes…
The past week Mr C and I were fully immersed in the local Contemporary Performing Arts festival, otherwise known as ‘Glastonbury festival’. Having grown up in this area, I still think of it as ‘Pilton pop festival’, yet only became a fan and actually attended two years ago. Thankfully, we were lucky to get tickets […]
Lime Trees and Bees
I only really got to recognise and truly see Lime Trees two years ago. One of my bee clients has an ancient Lime tree with wild bees living in it. There aren’t any living there at the moment, having died out earlier this Spring, but I’m hoping when the weather warms up a new swarm […]
Bee Garden Party
The Bees for Development Garden Party is a key event in the calendar for everyone who is anyone in the ‘bee world’. Numerous bee friendly celebrities attend at this major fundraising event for the worthy charity which helps establish beekeeping and pollinating businesses across the globe. Bees for development assist in farming and small business […]