I confess.. I thought bees took care of themselves.

To a certain extent they do, but they also leave if the conditions aren’t right! I have discovered that in actual fact, they are hard work.

When a hive becomes productive and space becomes limited, they will send out scouts to look for a new home. And they’ll make new queen cells. And then a queen will leave, taking a portion of the bees with her.

Often they will break their journey to the new hive up with a rest in a nearby… well anything… Tree, lamppost, scaffolding poles.

I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time and I helped my gorgeous beekeeper recover a swarm. It was an amazing experience.