Keeping it in the family
After the second solo inspection, I felt more confident. The hives were looking well with capped brood and stores. I wasn’t
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On gaining confidence
The bees arrived three weeks ago but I don’t feel like a beekeeper. When does the confidence kick in? After
Read moreFirst solo inspection
It still takes ages to get booted and suited. There must be an easy way to wear double nitrile gloves
Read morespotting the unmarked queen and learning to read a frame
During the transfer from nuc to hive, I’d only seen the pink queen. She was marked but the brown queen
Read moreTransferring bees from nucs to hives
Three days after the nucs arrived on the allotment, it was time to transfer the bees to their new homes,
Read moreBees arrive on the allotment…
The bees have arrived. Locked in their nuc boxes the previous night, they travelled a couple of miles to their
Read moreMeeting my bees for the first time…
I’ve met my bees! Two overwintered nucleus colonies are on a friend’s allotment. Booted, suited and masked, alongside keeping social
Read moreDIY hive building
I bought two flat-pack British Standard hives. How hard could it be? I soon found out that as a novice
Read moreCoronavirus and beekeeping
Beekeeping is both a solitary and a social activity. While tending hives is often done in isolation, there’s benefits from
Read moreClothing choices
You’re never going to make a fashion statement in a bee suit. Practical, rather than smart or classy, they’re essential
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