What We Do

Supporting bees can be achieved in several ways. These range from simply being more bee-aware in your garden, planting bee friendly plants and not using pesticides and poisons through to providing habitat and housing for bees by leaving areas of ground undisturbed, putting up ‘bee-hotels’ or maintaining a beehive.The group started in 2009 and meets regularly, at different venues, to learn about bees and their nature with thought and discussion about how best to care for them. Members are mainly from Hampshire, with others from Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset and Surrey as well as a few from Berkshire and Hertfordshire.We aim to learn about the nature of the bee and what practices promote good health. We also consider the implications of husbandry for the bee’s health rather than training in a particular husbandry or hive type. Members use a range of hives including vertical and horizontal top bar hives, straw skeps and framed hives as well as tree and trunk hives. Information is available from experienced beekeepers, conservationists, courses, websites and a growing number of books on a more natural approach to bee husbandry.We also seek to educate beekeepers about the needs of the bee. The study of wild colonies, regular observation at the hive entrance, as well as talking to experienced beekeepers, will enable followers to learn and understand different behaviours and recognise the health and development of the colony.The group communicates using a restricted forum administered by a volunteer. There are no subs or fees; all events are self-funding. If you are considering looking after bees yourself, why not contact us, come along and meet us and see what you think?

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What Is Natural Beekeeping

Natural beekeeping is essentially the husbandry which enables bee colonies to live close to the way they would in nature rather than to manipulate them to live in ways that suit us.Our primary interest is in assisting the Bee to survive and thrive as a wild creature rather than manipulating and controlling its behaviour to produce maximum honey.The general principles of our Bee-centric or near-natural beekeeping are:• Provide a well insulated hive made of natural chemical-free materials, which retain warmth and humidity at levels managed by the bees.• Work with local native or near-native bees, which have survived Natural Selection and adapted to local weather and forage. These Bees have adapted or have good potential to adapt to pathogens and pests.• Maintain a low density of colonies appropriate to local forage conditions with hives dispersed to reduce the risk of spreading any pests or disease.• Treat the bee colony as a single, complete organism. The super organism is not a box of parts to be swapped between different hives...• Allow bees to make their own comb using their own unpolluted wax with cell sizes of their own choosing and to raise as many drones as they wish.• Enable the colony to retain the pheromones and warmth in the nest environment; to optimize nest conditions and produce strong off spring..• Minimize intrusion into the hive; this is disruptive, damaging and stressful.• Allow bees to replace their own queens by supersedure or swarming and reproduce at their own impulse.• Leave sufficient honey for colonies to sustain themselves through winter and periods of dearth. Do not feed sugar which impairs the immune system and lacks the nourishment for the development of brood and young bees.• Avoid pesticide treatments and medications. Chemicals damage bees, kill beneficial microorganisms and disrupt the chemical balance in the nest. Their use breeds more virulent pathogens and delays the development of adaptation and resistance to pathogens and pests.• Maintain strong colonies. Cull weak or failing colonies to remove poor genetics as well as reduce risks of robbing and spread of disease. Do not prop up weak colonies which cannot defend or feed themselves.Bee-centric husbandry is practised in a range of hives including skeps, top-bar hives, framed hives and tree trunks. Management interventions are informed by the behaviour of the bees not performed as a routine activity.

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BooksBasic Biology and BotanyWinston, M. L. (1987) The Biology of the Honey Bee. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.Davis,C,F (2004) The Honey Bee Inside Out Bee Craft LtdTautz, J. (2008) The Buzz About Bees – Biology of a Super-organism Springer VerlagIngo Arndt & Jurgen Tautz (2021) Honey BeesGoulson Dave (2013) A Sting in the Tail - Biology of Bumblebees and Goulson's mission to protect them. Jonathan Cape LondonGoulson Dave (2014) A Buzz in the Meadow - Tales from the meadow and the rich tapestry of insect life therein. Jonathan Cape LondonSeeley Thomas D (2010) Honeybee DemocracySeeley Thomas D (2019) The Lives of Bees The untold story of the Honey Bee in the WildLars Chittka (2022) The Mind of a BeeMaureen Little (2011) The Bee Garden published by Spring HillKirk W.D.J. & Howes F.N (2012) Plants For Bees A guide to the Plants that benefit the Bees of the British IslesSteven Falk (2015) Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and IrelandBiology and BeekeepingWeiler, M. (2006) Bees & Honey from Flower to Jar, Floris Books, Edinburgh.Warré, É. (2010) Beekeeping for All. Northern Bee Books. Transl. by Heaf, D. J. & Heaf, P. A. from L’ Apiculture pour Tous 12th edition. (Saint-Symphorien, 1948).Beekeeping for All is also available as a free download at www.mygarden.me.uk/beekeepingforall.pdf.Heaf D.J. (2020)Treatment Free Beekeeping IBRA and Northern Bee Books 2020Bill Anderson (2019) The Idle Beekeeper, the Low-Effort, Natural Way to Raise BeesKim Flottum with Stephanie Bruneau (2021) Common Sense Natual BeekeepingB Cooper (1986) The Honeybees of the Bristish IslesNear Natural, Organic and Bee-friendly BeekeepingBerrevoets,E Wisdom of the Bees, principles for biodynamic beekeeping, Steiner BooksChandler, P. J. (2007) The Barefoot Beekeeper. Self published, available at www.biobees.com ; featuring horizontal top-bar hives.Hauk, G. (2002) Towards Saving the Honeybee. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, San Francisco.Heaf, D. J. (2010) The Bee-friendly Beekeeper. Northern Bee Books; featuring the Warré vertical top-bar hive.Paul Honigmann (2024) The Observant Beekeeper: A Practical Manual treatment free, low interventionLazutin,F (2013) Keeping Bees With a Smile. A vision and practice of natural apiculture; using horizontal hives with deep frames.Hive Makers and TimberTimber; planked to size: Martin Osborne, (WRC Timber) 12 Lower Road, Bratton, Wilts BA13 4RG
Tel: 01380 830128, Mob: 07749 399937,
e-mail: martinosborne_uk@yahoo.co.ukMatt Somerville : Tangley near Andover HantsWarré hives and associated parts. Modified 'Golden' Hive or 'Einraumbeute' and Log Hives
e-mail: workingwood@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 01264 730243The Polish website massivholz-tischler.pl http://massivholz-tischler.pl makes beehives . Search 'Warré' for a range of hives and parts at good pricesorder by phone and e-mail. Courier shipping or personal collection.Simon Kellam https://www.justbeeecohives.com/Thorne Beehives Ltd: Various Hives and Beekeeping Equipment http://www.thorne.co.uk/ Stockbridge branch 01264 810916Skep Making and straw for Skeps: Long stalk organic Rye straw. Contact Brock near Radstock in Somerset: badgerwrestler@mail.comSkep Making and Skep Beekeeping: At Watchfield near Swindon SN6 8TH Contact Chris Park http://www.acorneducation.com/homepage.html

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