Category Archives: bees

Three Little Birds

Posted on 28 May 2024 by rpg

I’ve said elsewhere that our garden is a wildlife paradise. Turns out that the house is, too. I often see our family of robins just outside the kitchen door, by the hen house. I’ve taken to shaking the hen feeder … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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We need medicine

Posted on 13 May 2024 by rpg

I caught up with Wanda on Friday. She’d managed to inspect the captured swarm the day before, and all seemed hunky-dory. No eggs yet, but you can expect to wait a couple of weeks before a newly mated queen will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in bees, nature, neem, science, witchdoctor | Comments Off on We need medicine

Learning to fly

Posted on 5 May 2024 by rpg

I’ve written at length about our hens. What I may not have mentioned is that last year we got a hive, and some bees to go in it.  The bees did what bees do, and we had a few jars … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Disturbing the natural order – the case of neonicotinoid insecticides and farmland birds

Posted on 23 July 2014 by Philip Strange

A swift   One of my favourite nature writers is Mark Cocker who has the ability to capture a scene or an idea in a few hundred words. Despite his immense knowledge he never loses his sense of awe and … Continue reading →

Posted in bees, birds, center for food safety, conservation, farmland birds, George Monbiot, Guest posts, imidacloprid, insectivorous birds, Kenneth Allsop, mark cocker, neonicotinoids, netherlands, radboud university, swift, yellow wagtail | Comments Off on Disturbing the natural order – the case of neonicotinoid insecticides and farmland birds

The Flying Squad*

Posted on 21 June 2014 by Philip Strange

An imposing, white-painted beehive stood in the middle of the room. Emblazoned across the front in large black letters was one word – POLICE. The police keep bees?

Posted in agri environment schemes, bee hive, bees, flower rich hay meadows, Flying Squad, Guest posts, higher level stewardship, honeybees, Margaret Couvillon, nature reserves, pollinators, Thomas Thwaites, waggle dance | Comments Off on The Flying Squad*

Those poor beleaguered bees! Now they’re being confused by diesel fumes. Or are they?

Posted on 4 November 2013 by Philip Strange

Bees are having a hard time. Pathogens, insecticides and loss of habitat are all thought to be contributing to a decline in their numbers. Now a potential new threat has been added to the “perfect storm” threatening these insects. A group at … Continue reading →

Posted in bee decline, bee numbers, bees, bumblebees, city bees, diesel fumes, Guest posts, honeybees, oilseed rape, southampton university | Comments Off on Those poor beleaguered bees! Now they’re being confused by diesel fumes. Or are they?

City bees – the ultimate urban idyll or a middle class guilt trip?

Posted on 22 July 2013 by Philip Strange

Beekeeping in a busy city centre? It doesn’t sound right to me, but there’s a growing trend to put beehives on the vacant roofs of city centre shops and museums. I recently had a chance to find out what’s behind … Continue reading →

Posted in bees, city bees, Exeter, farmers' markets, Fortnum and Mason, Guest posts, honeybees, Palais Garnier, Princesshay, Steven Poole | Comments Off on City bees – the ultimate urban idyll or a middle class guilt trip?

The March of the Beekeepers

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Philip Strange

In Parliament Square in London today a diverse group of beekeepers and environmentalists are gathering; some will be wearing beekeeping suits, some will be dressed as bees, some will be carrying fruit or vegetables and you may even spot Winnie-the-Pooh … Continue reading →

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The truth about pesticides and bees?

Posted on 17 December 2012 by Philip Strange

Each week Riverford Organic delivers a vegetable box to our door. Nestling among the mosaic of vegetables is a newsletter from the Riverford boss, Guy Watson.  This summer he has moaned, justifiably, about the state of the weather and the … Continue reading →

Posted in agrochemical, bees, buglife, bumblebees, companies, environmental audit committee, friends of the earth, honeybees, insecticides, insects, neonicotinoids, Science policy, soil association | Comments Off on The truth about pesticides and bees?