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 […]
Swarms in the Grass
The past few weeks has been extraordinary with bees swarming. I am noticing that bees tend to swarm around lunch time, in heavy hot weather, preceding a storm. It didn’t appear to be any of my current colonies swarming, but new bees arriving and unusually settling not on a branch of a tree. These bees […]
Bumble bees need help too!
Yesterday I attended part of a fabulous free workshop run by The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, at Frogmary Green Farm near South Petherton. I’ve been working with Daisy and the Trust , gaining information on bumble bees on behalf of my work with clients around the area. It is interesting that initially I was focussed on […]
When dreams come true…
Vivid dream Twenty eight years ago I awoke from a very vivid dream where I was sat in a small plane next to my mother. I was looking out of the window down on a tropical island. Young ‘hippies’ were sitting on rocks dangling their feet into the crystal blue waters as coconut palms shaded […]
Trees for Bees
Since working with bees, I seem to be noticing more and more nature around me. Each year a new herb, wildflower and tree seems to leap out at me. Last year it was Lime Trees and valerian. This year it’s sycamore and laurel. Sycamore blossom Noticing some incredible blossom on a grand ancient tree a […]
Swarms
The past few days, many beekeepers have been on call for the first of the season’s swarms. We are often filled with wonder and a dash fear when thinking about a swarm of bees. Many of us have seen those images of people covered in bees or wearing a bee beard that’s not something I’ve […]
Lilac Honey
We grow used to associating certain plants with months or days of the year, our powder blue flag irises flower on my eldest son’s birthday, mid May. Memories A favourite rose bush flowered at the end of May, sealed in my memory bank as my parents helped me unload a van with my paintings at midnight […]
Honey judging
This week began with me being one of the judges for the London International Honey Awards. Ten of us, led by Dr Gian Luigi Marcazzan and Raffaele Dal’Olio spent a long full day tasting samples sent to London from around the globe. We met together on Sunday in London’s Hilton Doubletree Riverside Hotel, a short […]
Beekeeping, first steps, which hive?
Sometimes the hive comes with a property, or way before any thought of bees or beekeeping. If you are able to plan , and chose the hive best suited to your, and the bees’ needs, you will all be happier! I shall discuss the various types and their purpose. Hives for honey National Hive If […]
So, you want bees in your garden?
As Spring approaches, many of us begin to notice more of the wildlife in our gardens. The many birds nesting and the reassuring buzz around all the new flowers bursting into bloom. It is also the time that I get many enquiries about bees, and beehives. So why would you want to have a beehive? […]