Author Archives: Emily Scott

About Emily Scott

I am a UK beekeeper who has recently moved from London to windswept, wet Cornwall. I first started keeping bees in the Ealing Beekeepers Association’s local apiary in 2008, when I created this blog as a record for myself of my various beekeeping related disasters and - hopefully! - future successes.

What’s flowering now – Cornish clifftop

Posted on June 28, 2020

A trip to Chapel Porth on the north Cornish coast, where the wind batters anyone who meets it. Drew enjoyed the wild effect it had on his lockdown hair. I enjoyed the views but not the earache I got from … Continue reading →

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Book review: Interviews with Beekeepers by Steve Donohoe

Posted on June 18, 2020

Steve must have amazing persuasive powers, for somehow he got a book deal for travelling the world chatting to fellow beekeepers about their techniques. What beekeeper wouldn’t want to do that? The beekeepers Steve met are: Murray McGregor, Michael Palmer, … Continue reading →

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What’s flowering now in Cornwall: late May to early June

Posted on June 9, 2020

In a different lifetime – perhaps simpler, happier times – I used to walk the wild paths to find out what was flowering in Hanwell, my area of London. There was a surprising amount of green space there, connected up … Continue reading →

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A shortage of eggs

Posted on May 20, 2020

For weeks now both my hives have had no eggs or brood. So I’ve been reading about queenlessness and asking the advice of other beekeepers recently. People said things like ‘Be patient. Bees won’t deliberately make themselves queenless’. So, rather … Continue reading →

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An unpromising start

Posted on April 16, 2020

I inspected my two hives for the first time this year recently. The weather in Cornwall has been gorgeous since lockdown began, so I was expecting to find some brood and honey, maybe even brood boxes bursting with bees. Sadly, … Continue reading →

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The little bee that lost her way – book review

Posted on April 13, 2020

if you’re looking for a bee themed book to read to children, you can’t go wrong with The Little Bee That Lost Her Way by Paul Vagg. The charmingly illustrated worker bee – looking like a northern granny in her Pom … Continue reading →

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Beekeeping in isolation

Posted on March 24, 2020

Spring is showing her face; the rain has relented and some eager flowers have opened up their petals for the warmth of the sun. Around us pink and yellow primroses are sprinkled, their shapes like the classic flowers children draw. … Continue reading →

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Waiting for spring

Posted on February 26, 2020

Two storms have wailed past the bee hives. And still the Cornish winter continues, a rarely relenting fall of rain and hail, accompanied by a bitter wind. I don’t know how the bees feel about it, but I am certainly … Continue reading →

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A new queen arrives for Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2019

Happy Boxing Day/Day after Christmas everyone – was a busy one for us as we have a new Queen in the family. Holly Cariad Elowen arrived on Sunday. She doesn’t issue many commands yet but I have a feeling that … Continue reading →

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All tucked in for winter

Posted on December 11, 2019

A quick post on what I do to get my bees ready for winter. Here’s how the hives are looking right now. Over the years I’ve found this works for me: A thymol based anti-varroa treatment in late August – … Continue reading →

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