My passion for bees began over 28 years ago in an unexpected way. One afternoon, as I sat in my kitchen with friends, a swarm of bees suddenly flew in. My friends, understandably startled, dashed through the door, leaving me inside with the swarm. Fortunately, I had been taught as a child that the best way to handle a swarm of bees is to remain calm, lie flat on the floor, and stay still. Despite knowing these African bees were infamous for their aggressive nature, I remained composed.

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I called out to my friends to contact a work colleague who kept bees in the wild. When they managed to reach him, he advised them to place some cane sugar in a cardboard box, as bees are naturally attracted to it. As the bees slowly made their way into the box, I carefully closed it and placed it high up in a tree. The bees stayed there for nearly three months before swarming again. It was during this experience that I was struck by the sight of the queen bee, much larger than the worker bees. This sparked my fascination, and I began reading and learning more about these incredible creatures.

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Over time, I spent many hours with my colleague at his apiary, observing his calm and careful approach to beekeeping. I learned the importance of gentle movements around the hives and was amazed by how rarely he was stung by such aggressive bees (there were no triple layered bee suits back then). He allowed me to watch, but never to touch his hives. It was during this time that I met my wife, and I shared with her my dream of one day keeping bees. Her response was, “No, that’s not going to happen with me.” (Sixteen years later I began my beekeeping journey with my wife still by my side, giving me her full support.)

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Twelve years ago, I took a beekeeping course, and within a year, I started keeping bees in Guildford. Over time, my wife learned that bees, like people, will leave you bee if you leave them bee. Today, she confidently walks around the hives without a bee suit and enjoys having them in our garden.

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Five years ago, I took an improver course with my beekeeping mentor, who told me I was a “natural!” Through all of this, I've come to understand that beekeeping is about more than just managing hives. It’s about treating bees with respect, gentleness, and care, ensuring their health and well-being are always prioritised.

As you join me on this journey, you will discover the challenges bees face, despite being essential to our very existence. Bees are more than just fascinating creatures; they are a vital part of the life source that sustains us all.