Opening a hive for the first time: what to check, what to leave alone and when to close it up.

A handful of dry fuel, a few puffs and a calm hand. How I light it and keep it going.

Levelling a hive on uneven ground, and where to put it so the bees fly clear of the path.

The flowers my bees visit most, and how to leave something in bloom through every month.

What the traffic at the door tells you before you open anything.

Cutting, planing and fitting a set of bars on a workbench with a few hand tools.