Beekeeping - Short and Sweet
Episodes
Episode 373: Boiling Frames or Not?
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I’ve spent a bit of time at the workshop sorting through old super frames and trying to decide what’s the best way fo...
Episode 372: Rescuing a Colony?
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The colder weather is upon us and it now feels like it should in November! I’ve been out and about around our apiaries ...
Episode 371: Storm Claudia
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Storm Claudia hits and it feels like the rain will never stop. I’ve been having a go at building a hive and still haven...
Episode 370: Honeybee Pests and Diseases - Part 3
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Having discussed the more serious pests and diseases that can affect our colonies, it’s time to finish off our Varroa c...
Episode 369: Pests and Diseases - Part 3
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: With Autumn slipping away and Winter on the horizon my thoughts continue to be filled with helping our colonies survive t...
Episode 368: Pests and Diseases - Part 1
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: After sharing my recent experiences with Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus I’ve had a number of requests to discuss, more wi...
Episode 367: Destruction of a Honeybee Colony
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It’s a bit of a somber mood in the office today as it’s been a rather sad end to the week. I’ve carried out the col...
Episode 366: Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: After a year of seeing colonies relatively disease and pest free, our final checks of the season have revealed one colony...
Episode 365: Treatment Removal and More Microscopy
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It’s been a busy week removing treatments from all of our hives now that we’ve reached the end of that particular pha...
Episode 364: Apiary Slowdown and Microscopes
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: As we fast approach the end of September, feeding for some hives continues but others are weighty enough. With everything...
Episode 363: Under Supering for Winter
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: With treatments almost ready to come out of our hives, it’s time for me to start under supering, this technique, althou...
Episode 362: Asian Hornet Discussion
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined by beekeeper Chris Farrell who is currently battling the Asian Hornet alongside other beekeepers in Kent ...
Episode 361: Beekeeping Season Finale
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I was watching a TV Series recently and the last episode was called “The Season Finale”, well, rest assured, this isn...
Episode 360: Autumn Feeding
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: As we carry out final inspections of the year, my thoughts turn to autumn feeding, the recent emergency feeding and how I...
episode 359: H.I.H.M.S. Part 3
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: This week, It’s the turn of my workshop to be scrutinised using my Honeybee Integrated Health Management System and my ...
358: Starving Bees & H.I.H.M.S. Part 2
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Are your bees starving? Reports across the UK of colonies under attack from wasps and running out of food have been frequ...
Episode 357: Integrated Pest Management Systems
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: So it’s Varroa Treatment time once more, that is for many beekeepers around the UK. And it falls within the umbrella of...
Episode 356: Other Varroa Treatments
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: With so many Varroa mite treatments out there it can be quite confusing, and not just for the beginner beekeeper. Today I...
Episode 355: Autumn Treatments for Varroa
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The borage has been swathed, somewhat earlier this year than previously, so it’s time to bring home the honey crop and ...
Episode 354: Wasps and Borage
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Flying in to the UK after my break it was noticeable just how dry the countryside looks, we need some rain. My immediate ...
Episode 353: Bees to Borage 2025
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The heatwaves continue and that magical date for taking our bees to the borage pollination has arrived. Listen in to hear...
Episode 352: Heatwave!
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The UK is set for it’s first heatwave of the year and with it comes the Summer nectar flow with our borage crop looking...
Episode 351: Thunderstorms!
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The brambles are in full flower and the nectar is flowing. I always get a little more excited at this time of the year as...
Episode 350: Beekeepers Need Patience!
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Patience, all beekeepers need it, whether it’s waiting on a honey crop, producing queen cells or waiting for a new quee...
Episode 349: Queen Rearing 2025
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Buying queens for replacement or increase can be a very expensive pastime, why not instead, consider raising a few home g...
Episode 348: A Busy Week in the Apiary
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Are you letting your colonies starve as you take off the Spring honey crop? Now’s the time to check. Also, Drone laying...
Episode 347: Hive Five Multi Guard
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined by Natalie Armstrong, Inventor and Designer of the awardwinning Hive-Five Multiguard Bee hive Entrance to...
Episode 346: Swarm Cells
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I’ve seen plenty of queen cells over the last week, but there are some that look different to the others. I’m referri...
Episode 345: A Week Of Swarm Management
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: How often do you inspect your honeybee colonies, weekly, every ten days because you’ve clipped the queens? How about ev...
Episode 344: First Signs of Swarming
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I’ve seen the first signs of this seasons swarming activity and we’ve even had a couple of colonies throw up queen ce...
Episode 343: Honeybees in Spring
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Happy Easter everyone, Spring has sprung and our colonies are developing nicely. Brood nest areas are growing and, if you...
Episode 342: BBKA Spring Convention 2025
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I’m back after my visit to the Harper Adams University in Shropshire for the annual British Beekeepers Association, Spr...
Episode 341: On Your Marks, Get Set, GO!
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It’s on your marks, get set, and Go! We’ve carried out our first brief, but important inspections along with some S...
Episode 340: Hivekeepers Micro Honey Harvester
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Today I’m joined by Simon Mildren, Founder and CEO of Hivekeepers and his Micro Honey Harvester to find out more about ...
Episode 339: The Queen Cell Finisher Colony
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Well it’s turned cold and I’m looking almost hourly at the long-range forecast for a glimmer of warmer weather, it’...
Episode 338: Queen Cell Builder Process
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Another warm week and the bees are out flying, it’s a delight to see. I’m still not carrying out inspections, it’s ...
Episode 337: Early Inspections and The Cloake Board
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's warm and I’ve no doubt that bee hives are going to be inspected all over the UK in the coming days, I have a ...
Episode 336: The Miller and Alley Methods of Queen Rearing
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: We’re having a strangely warm week and our bees are taking advantage without any delay. It’s great to have an opportu...
Episode 335: Nicot Queen Rearing System
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The weather’s warming up, if only for a week or so, and I’m thinking about the various queens rearing methods we migh...
Episode 334: Looking Forward To Spring
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's cold, damp and February! A beekeeper could easily get a little down at the thought of there being no end to thi...
Episode 333: February Deadouts
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: What do you do if you find your colony has died out over winter? Give up and start another hobby, or learn from the expe...
Episode 332: Blue Monday Beekeeping
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It seems that Monday of this past week has been dubbed “Blue Monday”, not a day for swearing profusely, but rather an...
Episode 331: Happy New Year 2025
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's 2025, and the New Year begins with some funny old weather. I've been out completing Oxalic Acid Treatments...
Episode 330: Honey Metagenomic DNA (MDA) Testing
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined by Lynne Ingram, Master Beekeeper and holder of the National Diploma in Beekeeping to discuss the results...
Episode 329: Windy Winter Storms
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's a windy old start to the Winter period with yet another storm blowing across the British Isles, battering coast...
Episode 328: Paul Horton Interview
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined by Bee Farmer, Paul Horton from Apidea Honey to discuss is incredible beekeeping season dubbed "The ...
Episode 327: Asian Hornet Alert Interview
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined by James Knights, current chair of Asian Hornet Alert to talk about their approach to this invasive speci...
Episode 326 Late Autumn Beekeeping Update
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: As most of you will know, I’ve had a couple of weeks away from the podcast and videos to recuperate after my recent vis...
Episode 325: Active Bees, Late Winter Starvation?
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It’s incredible to think that today, the 25th October 2024, the local temperature is hitting 19° Celsius, it all seems...
Episode 324: Warm October Sunshine
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The sun has been shining and we’ve experienced much warmer weather than we would normally expect at this time of the ye...
Episode 323: First Frost Autumn 2024
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It should have come as no real surprise, it is October after all. But this week I experienced my first frosty morning at ...
Episode 322: A Dead Colony
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Ongoing Autumn checks are continuing to reveal, for the most part, some very healthy colonies that are well provisioned f...
Episode 321: A Lucky Escape!
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It’s been rather cooler this past week, especially overnight. Not that I’ve seen any frost you understand but it feel...
Episode 320: Formic Pro Results
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I recently used some Formic Pro to treat a colony showing severe signs of Varroa damage, so much so I think they may have...
Episode 319: Mid-September Sunshine
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Well, the colonies have finally come back from their trip to the heather moors and it’s been a surprising trip, in ma...
Episode 318: The National Uncapper
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I’ve been very lucky to be sent a National Uncapper by the team at Bee cooperative.org It’s a newly designed uncapper...
Episode 317: Deformed Wing Virus
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Now that we’ve brought the colonies back from the clover fields to their overwintering apiaries, it’s given me a chan...
Episode 316: The Honey Room
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It’s been a good week, the nucs are growing very nicely and there are more drawn frames than foundation now, it’s l...
Episode 315: Moors, Sections and Cut Comb
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The bees finally made it to the heather moors, without a fuss or any drama, a nice feeling for a change! We now have most...
Episode 314: Coaching Plus Chat
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Our Coaching Plus Group meets once a month to chat and ask/answer questions about all things beekeeping. First however, I...
Episode 313: Drone Brood Removal
25 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: A funny thing happened in the apiaries last week and it got me thinking about what might be going on. We were removing th...
Episode 312: Heather Moors
18 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I recently visited the site I intend to use for our heather honey adventure. It’s pretty bleak high up on the moors a...
Episode 311: Cut Comb and Sections
11 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Summer has finally arrived, if only for a few days and it all feels a little too late for any kind of honey crop bragging...
Episode 310: Summer, What Summer?
04 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Another week and more rain! I did however, manage to dodge the showers, and checked out swarm colony that we have been co...
Episode 309: A Swarm In July!
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The plans for the week changed considerably because of the rubbish weather, it’s been cold and wet and yet we found our...
Episode 308: Borage Moving Day
21 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: We’ve had a mini heatwave, timed to perfection on the day we planned to move our bees to the borage, so we delayed, as ...
Episode 307: A Most Difficult Early Season
14 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I’ve been speaking to a number of other beekeepers over the last couple of weeks, and all agree it’s been one of the ...
Episode 306: Borage and Cut Comb
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It still doesn’t feel like we’ve really got started with our beekeeping season yet in the next couple of weeks Borage...
Episode 305: Introducing New Queens
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Introducing new queens into queenless colonies can sometimes be a tricky job especially for the inexperienced beekeeper. ...
Episode 304: Unsettled Weather, Unsettled Bees
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, it’s raining again. The bees don’t like it, I certainly don’t like i...
Episode 303: More Late May Rain
16 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It’s raining again, the Spring crop is ready for the taking and I’m turning my attention to preparing colonies for sp...
Episode 302 The Shook Swarm Absconded!
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: At this time of the year there's just no let up. It's a huge growth period for our colonies, we're still t...
Episode 301: Why I Choose Langstroth Hives
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Another crazy week of beekeeping, More swarms, Stings through my bee suit veil and some thoughts on why I have finally se...
Episode 300: Sunshine, Rain and Swarms!
26 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Who would have thought it, Episode 300 and what a week we've had. Intense Spring Sunshine, temperatures up to 20 De...
Episode 299: Bailey Comb Change
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Well, it looks like the weather might finally be turning a little warmer, it's not too different from last year wit...
Episode 298 BBKA Spring Convention 2024
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm just back from the BBKA Spring Convention 2024 and have to say I had a really great time. If you've not bee...
Episode 297: Beginner Beekeeper Chat
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Beginner beekeeper Nick Bunker joins me for a chat about his beekeeping journey and hopefully get some answers to some of...
Episode 296: Drones, Drones, Drones
21 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: We've spotted drones in a few colonies, food stores are being replenished in most and it looks like the weather is w...
Episode 295: A Spring Chill
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: With Spring progressing there's a temptation to stack supers on your hives for an early Spring crop but that might n...
Episode 294: Busy Bees Cosmetics
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Want to sell lip balms, hand creams and other cosmetic products but don't have the time or finances to go through th...
Episode 293: Asian Hornet Spring Update
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Asian Hornet is a real and present danger here in the UK, today I'm joined once again by Jackie Thomas to discuss th...
Episode 292: March Beekeeping Update
24 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm Back, Still struggling with the healthissues but glad to be talking beekeeping once more, and it's March al...
Episode 291: The Beekeeping Show 2024
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined in conversation by Rob Nickless, Co-Organiser of The Beekeeping Show here in the UK to discuss some of th...
Episode 290: Modern Beekeeping
18 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined in conversation by Paul Beardmore from Modern Beekeeping and Happy Valley Honey to discuss his beekeeping...
Episode 289 Northumberland Honey
11 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm joined in conversation by Luke Hutchinson from Northumberland Honey to talk about Mead, Honey and Queen RearingH...
Episode 288: Healthy Bees, Heavy Hives
04 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Happy New Year, It's interview time! I'm joined by Steve Donohoe and Paul Horton to discuss their new book, Hea...
Episode 287: Merry Christmas 2023
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Planning for the new season, it's a big part of my winter, it helps me focus, it gets everything in it's place ...
Episode 286: Asian Hornet Chat
31 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Something slightly different, Today I'm chatting with Jackie Thomas, Master Beekeeper, Training Officer for the Dove...
Episode 285: Freezing Bees and Spring Plans
24 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: What a very cold week we've just had, minus 5 degrees celsius overnight and it's left me shivering. No movement...
Episode 284: The Winter Chill Arrives
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's getting colder and our colonies are all set for the long winter ahead, actually, not really, listen in for ye...
Episode 283: Emergency Hive Interventions
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Most beekeepers will have packed away their hive tools and smoker for the Winter by now, but what if you've been ...
Episode 282: Scraping Frames and Muderous Swans!
03 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's been an interesting week to say the least! I've been unboxing new equipment, scraping and pressing heather...
Episode 281: November Floods
26 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: November begins and the rain is unrelenting. The fishing lakes apiaries are surrounded by water, it is a fishing lake aft...
Episode 280: In Conversation with Bees Abroad
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: A Change to my normal podcast, as I sit down with Niki Backes and Kristina Prokopiou from the charity Bees Abroad to hear...
Episode 279: CBPV Once Again
12 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: The very heavy rain we've had this week has rather forced me into the honey room to start the Big Autumn Clean Up. M...
Episode 278: The Pumpkin Patch
05 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: I'm just back from picking a giant pumpkin with my grandchildren, it's nice to know that somewhere in Essex oth...
Episode 277: Hampshire BKA Convention
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's October and the unseasonably warm weather persists. Our bees continue to forage the remaining Ivy flowers, and ...
Episode 276: Honey Press Ups and Downs!
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: Warm weather continues here in Norfolk and our colonies are working hard on the Ivy that's now in full flower. It is...
Episode 275: Honey Room Havoc
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: This last week has been one of trying to regain control of the honey room once more. The weather remains warm, the Ivy i...
Episode 274: First Heather Honey Crop
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Podcast: It's been an interesting week to say the least. We're in the middle of an Autumn Heatwave and I've had my ...