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 many honey bees are there? A 2019 update.

Posted on January 14, 2019

A year ago I wrote a post titled ‘How many honey bees are there?‘, after a question on Quora got me intrigued about whether any kind of data exists on worldwide honey bee numbers. Would anyone really have counted? Well, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 24 Comments

Tis the season to drizzle

Posted on December 27, 2018

The Mite Before Christmas – a beekeeper’s poem Twas nine days before Christmas, when all through the bee house Not a creature was stirring, (thanks to the mouse-guard) not even a mouse The roofs were lifted up with great care, … Continue reading →

Posted in Disease prevention | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Book review: The History of Bees by Maja Lunde

Posted on December 13, 2018

I haven’t written for a while because it’s been a difficult few weeks. My little boy, Tommy, was very ill, first diagnosed with pneumonia and then with pericardial effusion – excess fluid around the heart. He needed an emergency operation … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 35 Comments

My latest beekeeping bungle – and how I fixed it

Posted on October 24, 2018

This autumn I made the classic error of giving bees too much space. I put an eke on top of the brood box to do Apiguard treatment. Then I went on holiday. The first opportunity I got to inspect the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Notes from Cornwall ‘Bit of a do’ Beekeeping conference 2018 – Chris Park, Skep beekeeping (3.)

Posted on October 15, 2018

The final talk I’m going to write up from the joint Cornwall Beekeepers Association and West Cornwall Beekeepers Association ‘Bit of a do‘ day is Chris Park’s talk on skep beekeeping. Chris keeps bees on organic farmland around the Oxfordshire / … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Hive types | 10 Comments

Notes from Cornwall Beekeeping conference 2018 – Honey bee dances: new insights (2.)

Posted on September 27, 2018

Our first talk of last week’s conference was given by bee farmer Dan Basterfield and was all about honey bee dances and ‘The dance language controversy’. About Dan: Dan grew up with beekeeping around him and now helps to run … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee behaviour, Events | Tagged | 12 Comments

Notes from Cornwall Beekeeping conference talks – Bit of a Do 2018 (1.)

Posted on September 23, 2018

The two local Cornish associations (the Cornwall Beekeepers Association and West Cornwall Beekeepers Association) put on a great ‘Bit of a do‘ day of talks and trade stands. I’m going to write up Dan Basterfield’s talks on ‘Honey bee dance … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | Tagged | 8 Comments