two poly nucs on a stand

Your First Honey Bees

Poly nucs in autumn. They move into hives next year. How do you get your first bees? The Intolerance of Humans Newcomers to beekeeping will soon discover that there are rival factions in our ranks. One might expect that we…
University graduates wearing mortar boards

Becoming A Master

Photo by Good Free Photos on Unsplash In the UK, we have something called a Master Beekeeper. It's a qualification in apiculture that requires years of studying, passing exams and practical beekeeping assessments. There are divergent views on the merits…
Langstroth bee hives

Choosing A Hive Type

Houses for bees Every year, about now in my part of the world, a new intake of future beekeepers starts evening classes run by their local beekeeping association. These courses are generally excellent from what I've seen. Beginner classes are…
Hollyhock in Ulta Violet light

Nine Years In

Hollyhock in Ulta Violet light I am coming to the end of my ninth beekeeping season. I started with two hives, and now I have nearly forty, including nucs. My journey has just begun, but at least I'm through the…
Steve Donohoe and Elaine Bousfield taking a break in Argyll

Give us a Break

Mr & Mrs W taking a break in Argyll Somebody asked me yesterday, "what makes a good beekeeper?" I don't know if I'm qualified to answer that, but what I said was, "If you can keep your bees alive from…
Hazel Catkins

Let’s Keep Some Perspective

Pollen even in Winter Losing sleep about bees Beekeepers, especially those new to the noble art, get anxious about a multitude of factors surrounding the keeping of their bees. I know this by looking at posts on beekeeping forums and letters in the…