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.

How to catch a swarm – advice from an expert beekeeper, Roger Patterson

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Emily Scott

A few weeks ago I listened into a zoom talk all about swarms by Roger Patterson. I last heard Roger speak in person almost a decade ago, back in 2012, when his talk was “Improve your bees and beekeeping – … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Swarms, Uncategorized | Tagged | 13 Comments

Second inspection of the year

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Emily Scott

It’s been a cold week, but today seemed to mark a turning point in the weather here. I took my coat and gloves back off; my gloves had been put away for the summer two weeks ago, only to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

First inspections of the spring

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Emily Scott

In sunny Cornwall I’ve just done my first inspections for 2021 inside the hives. It’s been warm enough for some people to walk about in just t-shirts and for me to wear a t-shirt and cardigan, so it was time. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Swarm collecting tips from Tamsin Harris

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Emily Scott

This week I listened into a great talk for the West Cornwall Beekeepers Association by their member Tamsin Harris, she is a very experienced commercial beekeeper. She came across as a practical person with a quick, dry sense of humour. … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Swarms | 13 Comments

Tom Seeley on Darwinian Beekeeping

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Emily Scott

I was very lucky last week as the Exeter Beekeeping Association had some spare spaces for a Zoom talk by Professor Tom Seeley. If you’re a beekeeper yourself you have probably heard of him – he’s well known for his … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony management, Events | 27 Comments

‘Honey – but not as we know it’

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Emily Scott

Recently my beekeeping club, the Cornwall Beekeepers Association (CBKA), has started running meetings via Zoom. I’m happy about this, as I can listen along curled up at home, without having to get lost among remote country lanes in the dark. … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Honey | 10 Comments

Midwinter beekeeping in a pandemic

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Emily Scott

At the weekend I did my winter oxalic acid anti-varroa trickling – about 2-3 weeks later than is often recommended. But I did it, which I’m pleased with. Having two children under 5 (and Holly’s birthday just before Christmas!) has … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Winter is coming: embracing the dark nights

Posted on October 25, 2020 by Emily Scott

As the days shorten, the bees are still managing to find yellow pollen – probably from ivy? On the warmer days, they zip frantically in and out, bringing home as much as they can. As increasingly darker, rainy days come, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Last flowers of summer

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Emily Scott

I’ve suddenly realised that summer has come to an end. The vibrant wildflowers below in my local park are now dying back. Berries have taken over in the hedgerows – shiny blackberries, dusky blue sloes, the red of hawthorn. Green … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

When will you be finished?

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Emily Scott

“When will you be finished?… The kids are getting hungry”… Drew’s voice reached me as I stood surrounded by bees, gingerly trying to put boxes back together as bees poured out from every direction. It hasn’t been easy to keep up … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony management | 15 Comments