These guides cover the hands-on work: inspections, splits, swarm control and getting back on track after a loss, using the exact methods we use across our own apiaries.
- Written from real experience managing hundreds of colonies
- Step-by-step so you know exactly what to do and when
- Honest about what can go wrong and how to put it right
Every guide is free, practical, and based on how we actually manage our own bees.
Good colony management isn’t one clever trick. It’s a series of small, practical decisions made consistently through the season. The guides below cover the biggest colony management jobs you’ll face, from routine seasonal care to splitting hives, stopping swarms, and recovering after a loss.
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Starting over after hive losses
Lost a colony over winter? Here’s how to work out what went wrong, clean your kit properly and start over after hive losses the right way.
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How to Stop Bees Swarming
Swarming is the single biggest challenge most beekeepers face. Lose a swarm and you lose half your colony, and most likely your honey crop with it.
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How to split a beehive without finding the queen.
Splitting a hive is one of the best ways to grow your apiary and prevent swarming.
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How to look after your bees through the year
The ten seasonal jobs that keep your colony healthy, calm and productive, from spring build-up and swarm control to varroa, autumn prep and winter.
