Author Archives: Emily Scott

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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.

Snowy days, snowy bees

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Emily Scott

We have in Ealing what I’m sure Phillip and his bees over at the Mud Songs blog in Newfoundland, Canada would think of as a light dusting of snow, a mere icing sugar like sprinkling. Personally I am enjoying it. … Continue reading →

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National Bee Unit annual report 2011

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Emily Scott

Found via the Ealing Association’s Secretary Andy Pedley, who does a very good e-newsletter for us all. The report is available online from the Beebase News page. The National Bee Unit inspectors are funded by the UK government to provide a … Continue reading →

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6th Honey bee Management revision post: the year’s work in the apiary (July to December)

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Emily Scott

Continued from my 5th revision post for the British Beekeeping Association’s Module 1 exam, which covered apiary work from January to June. Timings based on the Greater London area. “The Candidate shall be able to give a detailed account of:- the … Continue reading →

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More signs of spring

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Emily Scott

They’re finding pollen now!  A sign that the queen is likely to be laying, as pollen is used to feed brood (as well as being eaten by young adult bees). They should have some pollen stores in the frames but … Continue reading →

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January apiary visit

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Emily Scott

Visited the apiary for a quick check on the hives today. I also found something else I have been waiting for… Snowdrop shoots peeking out from the ground. I also saw crocus leaves. Spring is coming! There was not much … Continue reading →

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5th Honey bee Management revision post: the year’s work in the apiary (January to June)

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Emily Scott

A 5th revision post for the British Beekeeping Association’s Module 1 exam, Honey bee Management, which I’m taking in March. Onto 1.12 on the syllabus: “The Candidate shall be able to give a detailed account of:- the year’s work in the apiary and … Continue reading →

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Bee ‘macro’ photos

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Emily Scott

I follow a lot of blogs by extremely good nature photographers (Garden Walk Garden Talk springs to mind; there are many others). This makes me very conscious that I am not among them. However, here are a few bee macro … Continue reading →

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4th Honey bee Management revision post: good apiary hygiene

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Emily Scott

A 4th revision post for the British Beekeeping Association’s Module 1 exam, Honey bee Management, which I’m taking in March. Skipping forward a little again, onto 1.9 on the syllabus: “The Candidate shall be able to give a detailed account of:- 1.9: good apiary … Continue reading →

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Drizzling oxalic acid on bees

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Emily Scott

Not a cookery recipe but an anti-varroa treatment commonly used in the UK during December or January whilst the bees are clustering and little or no brood is present. The reason for doing the oxalic acid treatment at this time … Continue reading →

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3rd Honey bee Management revision post: the criteria used in the selection of apiary sites

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Emily Scott

A 3rd revision post for the British Beekeeping Association’s Module 1 exam, Honey bee Management, which I’m taking in March. Onto 1.7 on the syllabus: “The Candidate shall be able to give a detailed account of:- 1.7: the criteria used in the selection of … Continue reading →

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