Bee(ing) natural

Natural beekeeping is gradually becoming more accepted and popular within UK beekeeping circles. In the first of a new series, Nicola Bradbear, director of charity Bees For Development, explains what the bee-focussed term really means

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Many experienced and knowledgeable beekeepers will scoff at the concept of natural beekeeping and say that they “have always practised natural beekeeping”. This may well be true. It is certainly possible to practise bee-welfare focussed beekeeping using conventional equipment. However, there are major differences between bee-focussed and intensive output-focussed beekeeping, and in the months ahead I will draw out these differences. If you are thinking of beginning beekeeping next spring, then these articles will help you to understand the options available to you, and which route you might choose.

BACKGROUND

Research on honey bees over the last 70 years has revealed to us the wonderfully sophisticated behaviour that enables a honey bee colony to survive and to adapt to changing circumstances. We are learning how the colony runs itself and ensures essential raising of young and housekeeping activities, manages supply and demand for nutrients and their good storage, regulates its nest temperature and humidity, endeavours to cope with toxins, pests and predators, and deals with other external threats to its existence.

We now know that bees achieve this by communicating in a variety of ways — including with scents (pheromones), vibrations and other special behaviours and ‘dances’.

We appreciate more about the sophisticated architecture of the beeswax comb within a honey bee colony, and the type of space that bees choose to occupy in nature. We know that when seeking a new home for a swarm, the honey bee colony, like any house hunter, considers the vacant options available and reaches consensus on which to choose.