If your honey tastes the same all year round… it probably isn’t real. That might sound bold – but it’s one of the biggest clues we see when people first try proper, local Yorkshire honey. Because real honey, the kind…
The Queen Honey Bee
The queen honey bee is the cornerstone of a honey bee colony. Despite her regal title, the queen is not a monarch in the traditional sense—she doesn’t govern or make decisions for the colony. Instead, her primary role is as…
Honey Bee Genetics
In the ever-evolving field of apiculture, the significance of genetics in the management and preservation of honey bee populations cannot be overstated. At the forefront of this discussion is a lecture delivered by John Chambers at the National Honey Show.…
Epigenetics and Its Importance to Genetic Stability in Honey Bee Populations
When we talk about keeping our honey bees healthy and happy, there’s something really special we need to think about, and it’s called “epigenetics.” It might sound complicated, but it’s actually a fascinating part of science that helps us understand…
Sponsor a Hive
Helping bees while not being able to have a beehive of your own! This is the perfect package for individuals as well as company sponsorship. A unique gift for a nature enthusiast, or an option for you if you love bees…
What’s Comb Honey?
As beekeepers we provide a frame with a thin sheet of wax foundation. The bees draw this out and fill it with nectar which they ripen into honey and seal with a wax capping. In cut comb honey, instead of…
Nectar-Rich Seeds to Feed Native Bees
Why these? Well, they are cost-effective, easy to grow, suppresses weeds, provides good cover all year round, and are hardy plants. They are all self-seeding as well, meaning that your patch will continue feeding bees for years to come. Find…
Is your honey raw?
No jarred honey, in our opinion, is ‘raw’. The only way to enjoy ‘raw’ honey is to eat it directly from the combs. To our mind, ‘raw’ honey is exactly what it sounds like – honey that is raw, unprocessed,…
How can I help pollinators?
Bees are essential to our ecosystems. I often get asked how people can help pollinators. My answer is simple: plant for pollinators. Planting for bees entails developing a habitat that gives bees the food and protection they require to survive.…
What are Apis mellifera mellifera (Amm)?
This article is taken from the BIBBA.com website. Native Honey Bees The Dark European Honey Bee – Apis mellifera mellifera (Amm) It is fairly certain that the Dark European Honey Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, has been native to mainland Britain…
Honey Adulteration
Honeygar: The elixir of life?
Honeygar is a mix of honey and vinegar. What’s Inside? Organic apple cider vinegar With the ‘Mother’ Unadulterated Yorkshire honey from our own bees Propolis extract Our honey is gathered by the bees from the Yorkshire trees, hedgrows and gardens…
Propolis: bee medication?
What is propolis? Propolis is plant resin, sometimes mixed with beeswax. Plants when they are stressed or diseased, will produce resin from the bark, leaf buds and sometimes, the flowers (in Europe, mostly conifer and populus trees). The resins that…
What beekeeping equipment do you need?
Personally, when it comes to equipment, I think beginners should stay away from “Beginner’s Kits”. Mainly because of the stuff you don’t need and secondly because of the dubious quality of some kits where they try and give you all…
So you want to keep bees?
Beginner Beekeeping Advice Thinking About Keeping Bees? Read This First. I’m often asked how to get started in beekeeping. Before you buy your first hive, here are the things I believe every new beekeeper should know. If your goal is…
How is Soft Set Honey Made?
Enjoyed on toast all over the UK, soft set honey (or creamed honey) is favoured for its spreadable consistency and created through a process called “seeding”. All good quality honey granulates over time- it’s a natural process. Depending on the…