As recommended on BBC Radio Podcast Hour. Through an awe-inspiring audio journey, this podcast series brings to life the love of bees. It lifts the lid on a world of fascinating behaviours and wondrous endeavours. Who knew, for example, that to produce a pound of honey, a colony of honeybees must visit 2 million flowers? Or that a bumblebee with a full stomach is only ever 40 minutes away from starvation! We talk to people who are passionate about bees, from entomologists to botanists, scien ...
…
continue reading
1
A Bee C. Back to school with Jen Moore! Bees teach us so much about the world.
51:48
51:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:48
Jen first got into keeping bees more than 10 years ago and quickly realised: that real ecology is more complex than we can ever imagine, that everything fits together in remarkable and wonderful ways and that just keeping honeybees in hives is far from the answer. Now she talks to schools and young learners about the other 274 species of bee, about…
…
continue reading
1
Bees and Bears. The challenges of bee keeping and breeding in Finland.
44:22
44:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:22
Back in April 2021, we spoke to Markku P, an urban beekeeper living and working with bees in Finland. After a bit of a summer break, we can now share this wonderful interview with you. Marrku is passionate about bee genetics, and a particular supporter of the black honeybee (Apis Mellifera Mellifera), believed to be the indigeous bee of Western / N…
…
continue reading
1
Mead magic. Chris is our guide on the mystical journey of this truly ancient, medicinal drink.
41:44
41:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:44
Back in July 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, co-host Chris Park shared with us his huge experience in making mead. People have been dabbling with this fascinating brew for millenia. An alcoholic drink made from mixing honey and water (and sometimes herbs or fruit), it has a delicious effect on mind and body. In a mouth-tingling episode, we talk…
…
continue reading
1
“Honeybee’s” Journey. How bees inspired Rikk Smith to make a beautiful instrument
52:40
52:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:40
The talented Rikk Smith, aka. Shining Fox, makes Native American flutes. He tells us about his recent introduction to the honeybee and how this journey inspired him to make an instrument in the creature’s honour. Rikk also treats us to a song on this beautiful instrument. Rikk learned to make these instruments while in America and was taught the tr…
…
continue reading
1
Bee medicine. Stefan Stangaciu talks to LB about Apitherapy and its role in a new pandemic world
1:02:08
1:02:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:08
A matter of weeks before the release and roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccines, we spoke to leading Apitherapist, Stefan Stangaciu about the huge progress in research relating to honeybee medicines; particularly propolis. Apitherapy is all about the health that comes from bees (Apis) and the hive. Stefan has 29 years experience in this area. Our lives …
…
continue reading
1
Bee Beats. Bioni Samp on his amazing music inspired by the bees.
1:06:00
1:06:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:00
Get your dance shoes on! It's been very exciting for us to discover Bioni Samp. Well-known on the mainland-Europe dance club and festival circuit, the mysteriously named Bioni Samp is a fascinating blend of musician, beekeeper and environmentalist. He is passionate about bees and their vital place in our natural world. His aim is to enthuse, educat…
…
continue reading
1
Frontline Defence. James Fearnley of BeeVital explains the huge health benefits of propolis.
55:42
55:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:42
Many people will never have heard of propolis - the bees’ secret weapon against infection. Honeybees collect sticky tree resin, bring it back to the hive and manipulate it into a substance that lines the nest or coats foreign bodies (even dead mice!) to block out unwanted bacteria and infection. Humankind has long known of this product and used it …
…
continue reading
1
King Solomon. Gladstone Solomon, a bee farmer on the island of Tobago, tells us about his fascinating beekeeping career.
1:22:18
1:22:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:22:18
Gladstone manages c. 100 hives on the island of Tobago where the climate is very different with exotic foraging plants. Gladstone tells us all about the honey, the forage and the challenges for new beekeepers. We were also lucky enough to chat with Sharon, his wife; the other half of the family business who has found a niche for herself making soap…
…
continue reading
1
The Beekeepers. Chris comes to see Patrick’s hives on James’ land. Bees living in conventional hives, russian hives, and their natural home: a log.
36:28
36:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:28
It’s now 5 months since we launched our podcast. Despite lockdown and the continuing global pandemic, the bees have been as busy as ever. They are the great survivors. This year we’ve seen plentiful swarms and a good excess of honey. Patrick is keen to show Chris his hives on James’ land nearby in Wiltshire. At the end of the beekeeping season, it’…
…
continue reading
1
Uninvited Guests 2. More from Sam Day. Some of the solutions that might slow the spread of the Asian Hornet.
1:06:30
1:06:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:30
Following on from episode 10, we learn about some of the tracking methods being used in Jersey. The island already has asian hornet nests but the situation would be much worse without the intervention thus far. The mainland can learn much from Jersey about how to control this new invasive species. There’s some amazing inventions and ideas coming on…
…
continue reading
1
Uninvited Guests. Sam Day returns from Jersey where she’s been helping to track and research the Asian Hornet.
57:10
57:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:10
It’s Asian Hornet Week and Sam Day is back from a busy visit to Jersey. The island is already experiencing the spread of this insect from the French mainland. Able to hibernate in imported plants and foods and with a potentially voracious appetite for bees and other insects, it has the potential to have a significant effect on our indigenous fauna …
…
continue reading
1
Gentle Giants. Living Beeing talks to Nikki Gammans of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust about her work protecting bumblebees.
50:34
50:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:34
We talk to Nikki Gammans, “Project Manager of the Short-Haired Bumblebee Project” for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BCT) during Bees' Needs Week in July. Nikki developed a passion for insects from a young age. She now helps to protect the humble bumblebee species which are under continued stress and strain from climate change and loss of habita…
…
continue reading
1
The Drone Whisperer. Stephen Fleming guides us up the zig-zag path to find where the boy honeybees hang out.
55:16
55:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:16
We follow in the footsteps of the renowned Gilbert White - naturalist, ecologist and ornithologist - on our first location recording in Gilbert’s hometown of Selborne, almost exactly 300 years after his birth. On a glorious summer’s day in July, our guide, Stephen Fleming (AKA. Drone Whisperer and co-editor of Bee Craft magazine: www.bee-craft.com)…
…
continue reading
1
Confessions of a beekeeper. David Charles on a lifetime of keeping bees.
50:00
50:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:00
David Charles has been keeping bees since 1962. Before bee suits David and his fellow beekeepers tended to their bees armed only with some net curtains and a pair of bicycle clips. And what characters there were in those days! What are the best plants for bees? Did beekeepers really use sulphur to kill their bees to get the honey? What happens when…
…
continue reading
1
A sting in the tale. Dr Gerry Brierley tells Chris and Patrick about her long-term enthusiasm for Apitherapy
46:20
46:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:20
Apitherapy is a practice that uses the healing powers of honeybees. Gerry first came across it by accident when she became very ill with Lyme disease - a debilitating condition caused by tick bites. Treatment for this disease, in Gerry’s case, involved a lengthy course of bee stings! Her ongoing research has led to further interest in other apither…
…
continue reading
1
Buzz world. Living Beeing talks to Nicola Bradbear from Bees for Development.
47:12
47:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:12
Nicola tells us about her passion for bees and Bees for Development which helps people in extreme poverty to build a livelihood from beekeeping; bringing health to communities and helping to support biodiversity. A low cost activity, it also allows people time to support families and continue farming. For many it’s a life-saver. She tells us about …
…
continue reading
1
Man and bee. A heartfelt chat with bee scientist Norman Carreck about the wonderful resilience of bees - and other stories
1:16:24
1:16:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:16:24
Chris and Patrick talk to Norman Carreck - a well-known bee scientist - about his love and passion for bees; both as a beekeeper and a scientist. Sensitive to the needs of bees, Norman gives us his opinion on a whole raft of topics: what constitutes indigenous or alien species, the wonderful adaptability of bees, asian hornet, successful species of…
…
continue reading
1
Soap box. Dr Sara Robb talks to us about cosmetic science, potions made from bee products and mystical recipes.
1:05:36
1:05:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:36
Sara grew up in Iowa and lost her home in a tornado - but that’s another story! Sara teaches and exhibits at the National Honey Show every year - well worth a visit. A fascinating exploration of the health benefits of wax, honey and propolis; soaps and serates and a magical journey back in time to the mystical history of recipes and pharmacopia.…
…
continue reading
1
Good vibrations. Martin Bencsik is discovering more about how bees on the comb communicate.
53:20
53:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:20
We talk to Dr Martin Bencsik about the wonder of bees, their sensitivities to vibration and communication through sound. Martin’s father kept bees but the young Martin disliked beekeeping and remembers his fear of being stung! Ironically, today much of Martin’s research work as a scientist involves studying bees and how they cooperate in the hive s…
…
continue reading
1
Nectarholics. How to identify plants that will do well for bees.. Verity talks to Brigit Strawbridge.
34:14
34:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:14
Brigit Strawbridge talks to Verity on her allotment.. A fascinating insight into the diverse foraging habits of many different species of bee and how the gardener might plant to support bees and attract them to the garden Her delightful enthusiasm for bees is infectious. A must-listen for any keen gardener or nature lover. Brigit is a British envir…
…
continue reading