As you know, honey-bees are one of the most important species on the planet. They pollinate a huge range of flowering plants, which in turn are food for thousands of animal species (including us). Since the last Ice-Age they've been a key species in the Irish landscape, keeping it rich, healthy and beautiful - but, like bees everywhere, our bees are dying...
For the first time in their history, bees need people - and especially beekeepers. Our job has suddenly become crucial to the biodiversity and food security of this island. In fact, beekeeping is now one of the most important jobs anyone can do anywhere - because bees simply can't survive without our help to deal with parasites, bacteria, viruses, loss of habitat and pollution. Already we've lost many thousands of hives in Ireland and almost all of our 'wild' colonies.
This site is for anyone interested in bees and beekeeping in Ireland. Whether you're just starting out and looking for some help with your first swarm, or if you've been keeping bees for years, this is where you can find support, ideas and contacts. Or perhaps you're more interested in honey, or beeswax, or pollination, or a beekeeping-course; perhaps you're a student or a teacher, or just a concerned onlooker - whichever you are, there's plenty here for you, too..I'm starting things off by explaining the way I keep my 100-odd hives - in the following pages you'll see the bees I have; the hives I use and my management techniques for them, as well as my queen-rearing methods and how I process my honey and wax..
But you can contribute, too. Send in your experiences, ideas, questions, photos, articles, and if I like them I'll put them up..
Tim Rowe,
Ballylickey,
Bantry,
Co.Cork
For the first time in their history, bees need people - and especially beekeepers. Our job has suddenly become crucial to the biodiversity and food security of this island. In fact, beekeeping is now one of the most important jobs anyone can do anywhere - because bees simply can't survive without our help to deal with parasites, bacteria, viruses, loss of habitat and pollution. Already we've lost many thousands of hives in Ireland and almost all of our 'wild' colonies.
This site is for anyone interested in bees and beekeeping in Ireland. Whether you're just starting out and looking for some help with your first swarm, or if you've been keeping bees for years, this is where you can find support, ideas and contacts. Or perhaps you're more interested in honey, or beeswax, or pollination, or a beekeeping-course; perhaps you're a student or a teacher, or just a concerned onlooker - whichever you are, there's plenty here for you, too..I'm starting things off by explaining the way I keep my 100-odd hives - in the following pages you'll see the bees I have; the hives I use and my management techniques for them, as well as my queen-rearing methods and how I process my honey and wax..
But you can contribute, too. Send in your experiences, ideas, questions, photos, articles, and if I like them I'll put them up..
Tim Rowe,
Ballylickey,
Bantry,
Co.Cork
HONEY
TALKS and COURSES
WAX and CANDLES
SWARMS
HIVES
Rose Beehive
...
BEES
QUEENS
WHAT BEEKEEPERS DO..
