A bee farmer and a native bee advocate argue over honey bee breeding: local adaptation, drone control, genetics and the evidence. You decide who wins.

Why do bee farmers treat for varroa, buy queens and move hives? The arithmetic, the evidence, and why hobbyists and bee farmers are on the same side.

Our best honey yield yet, but still not enough to take on new customers. A bee farmer's 2026 season review: numbers, queen mating failures and winter prep.

White labelling isn't what's wrong with British honey. A bee farmer on origin labelling, local honey, and why the UK produces just 14% of what it eats.

A July pollen gap damages brood and nurses. The same gap in September triggers winter bees. Why feeding protein helps in one case and hinders in the other.

In recent times, beekeeping seasons have changed for me. Only ten years ago, the idea of swarming in April was preposterous, whereas now it’s normal. The so-called ‘June gap’, a period of little fo…

Explore the delicate balance of timing and fortune in beekeeping, from queen rearing to honey production insights and personal anecdotes.

The bees already know how to raise queens — you just need to help them along. Simple methods for UK beekeepers, from easy splits to grafting with a double-nuc cell builder.

Old timers say queens aren't what they used to be. The science suggests they're right — and explains exactly why, and what you can do about it.

Even a short pollen shortage can weaken honey bee colonies weeks later. Research shows how nutrition affects brood, foraging ability, and colony health.

Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! Nature’s Timing By: Becky Masterman & Bridget Mendel Phenology is …

Discover effective strategies to recover from high colony losses and enhance beekeeping productivity following challenging seasons.

Explore how evolving science impacts beekeeping advice, uncovering stressors and methods that shape the future of hive management.

Explore the complexities of local bees in UK beekeeping and discover if they truly outperform imported queens for successful hive management.

Explore the challenges of treatment-free beekeeping and the complexities of achieving varroa resistance in honey bees.

Discover the intricate world of honey bee colonies, their roles, and how beekeepers manage queen changes to ensure hive health.

Explore the challenges of treatment-free beekeeping (TFBK) and its potential impacts on honey bee health and sustainability.

After the hard work of harvesting and extracting the summer honey crop, followed by tidying up the resulting sticky mess, it is rather pleasant to have a little break from beekeeping. We add the pu…

Explore the nuances of bee breeding and improvement with insights from BIBBA, focusing on native honey bees and their conservation.

Discover why wild honey bees in the EU are now labeled as endangered and the implications for their conservation and biodiversity.

Discover the insights from Randy Oliver on pollen substitutes for bees and the importance of sterols and amino acids for colony health.

Explore the contrasts in beekeeping philosophies, from sustainable practices to breeding, in this insightful article on bee management.

Explore the alarming trend of beekeepers opting out of varroa treatments, and understand the implications for bee welfare and farm productivity.

Podcast Episode · The Walrus and the Honey Bee · 24/09/2025 · 41m

A recently published article in Scientific Reports suggests yet another way in which varroa mites are bad for honey bees. Varroa reduces bees’ surface antimicrobial defences. Apparently, many social insects do something called “venom bathing”, which basically involves coating their bodies with venom from sting glands. The main component of bee venom is melittin, which is antiseptic, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial.

A walrus studying beekeeping theory For those who start beekeeping, probably as a hobby, or to save the world, some will become obsessed for the rest of their lives, and many will give up within three years. When reality crashes into idealism, there are casualties. That’s actually a good thing; it makes sense to keep looking until you find your ‘happy place’ - the activity that brings you purpose and joy.

YouTube video by Steve Donohoe

Podcast Episode · The Walrus and the Honey Bee · 17/07/2025 · 53m

YouTube video by Steve Donohoe

YouTube video by Steve Donohoe

Explore the challenges of honey bee queen mating, including success rates and factors influencing effective reproduction in beekeeping.

Daughter of an II carniolan queen that has been introduced to Buckfast workers (Photo: Andy Sweet) It should be fairly straightforward, shouldn’t it? A colony makes several virgin queens, eventually whittles them down to one, and she flies off on several mating flights. She returns to the welcoming embrace of her workers, and begins the long process of laying hundreds or thousands of eggs every day during the summer, autumn, and spring.

YouTube video by Steve Donohoe

Podcast Episode · The Walrus and the Honey Bee · 18/06/2025 · 14m

Discover the ups and downs of beekeeping as a seasoned keeper shares lessons from queen rearing to hive management mishaps.

YouTube video by Steve Donohoe

Learn essential steps for processing honey as a beekeeper, from clearing supers to extraction, ensuring a bountiful harvest!

Podcast Episode · The Walrus and the Honey Bee · 29/05/2025 · 37m

Uncover the truth behind common beekeeping myths, including the misattribution of Einstein on bee extinction and honey production.

Podcast Episode · The Walrus and the Honey Bee · 18/05/2025 · 12m

Explore the intriguing world of beekeeping with unexpected events like queen returns and colony behaviors. Discover tips and insights!

Podcast Episode · The Walrus and the Honey Bee · 04/05/2025 · 11m

Discover the impact of swarming on your honey crop and learn effective strategies to mitigate honey loss in your beekeeping practice.

YouTube video by Steve Donohoe

YouTube video by Steve Donohoe