Everything you need to know to get started keeping bees.

It's an environmentally-friendly hobby that takes you outdoors where you can explore the lives of these fascinating creatures and enjoy the honey that they produce. But to care for your bees responsibly you need to understand what is happening inside the colony.
Whether you're simply interested in bees, are about to start out as a beekeeper, or have already kept bees for a season, discover:
- The types of bees and where to get them
- How to handle bees and inspect a colony
- How to understand and care for your bees
- How to deal with a colony that swarms
- How to harvest honey
- How to create a bee-friendly garden

Roger Patterson started keeping bees in 1963 as a 15-year-old, soon after the hard winter of 1962/3. He became a committee member of his local Beekeepers' Association (BKA) at the age of 17, chairman at 23 and county chairman at 25. At one stage he kept 130 colonies. He is a practical beekeeper, concentrating on the basics and keeping things simple. He manages the local BKA apiary where there are usually 20-25 colonies for instruction. He has been a demonstrator and lecturer for well over 35 years, and believes beekeeping should be fun.