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November 2026
5 videos
What to look for on a first inspection
Opening a hive for the first time: what to check, what to leave alone and when to close it up.
Lighting and using a smoker
A handful of dry fuel, a few puffs and a calm hand. How I light it and keep it going.
Setting up a hive on a slope
Levelling a hive on uneven ground, and where to put it so the bees fly clear of the path.
Planting for bees all year round
The flowers my bees visit most, and how to leave something in bloom through every month.
Reading the entrance of a hive
What the traffic at the door tells you before you open anything.
October 2026
1 video
Making hive bars from plain timber
Cutting, planing and fitting a set of bars on a workbench with a few hand tools.
Newsletter
Hive Notes
A short letter every Sunday from the apiary: one thing I saw, one tip and one job to do this week.
“The one email I open the day it lands.”