Rose Cottage : Natural Honeybee Links

Disclaimer

We have selected these links to things of interest, but we are not responsible for the content of them. In fact some of them have content or even reflect an approach that we don't agree with.

If you know of a useful resource we could add, please let us know.

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Websites about Natural Beekeeping

Phil Chandler's website. The Barefoot Beekeeper. Practical, balanced, natural beekeeping in topbar hives biobeesBio Bees – Phil Chandler's website
The Natural Beekeeping Trust. Sustainable beekeeping, determined by the essential needs of the Bee natural beekeeping trustNatural Beekeeping Trust
natural beekeeping trustOxford Natural Beekeeping Group
Les Petites Ruches Apiculture Écologique: quite a lot about natural beekeeping.
Newer than the dates suggest Les Petites RuchesJardin de Les Petites Ruches
Free Living Bees: about places bees choose to live in, unmanaged. Celebrating wild, free living honey bees in all their habitats free living beesFree Living Bees

Bee Info / Teaching Aids

‘Bees are sentient’: inside the stunning brains of nature's hardest workers sentient beetheGuardian: bees are sentient
Honey Has Numerous Health Benefits for Bees sentient beeSmithsonian Institute: honey for bees
Countryside Classroom: resources about the countryside for schools and educators countryside classroomCountryside Classroom: resources for educators
Downloadable educational leaflets from the Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects at the University of Sussex bee leaflets form Sussex UniversityBee Leaflets from Sussex University
The Magic School Bus in the Beehive, free lesson plans. Join Ms Frizzle for fun packed learning magic school bus in the beehiveMagic School Bus in the Beehive
Information about bees and pollination, with several links to other websites. An American viewpoint on the subject Ava's FlowersWhy Bees & Pollination Are So Important
Angie's List - bee identification from a householder's viewpoint Angies List Bee IdentificationBee identification from a householder's viewpoint
An interesting collection of 'videos for curious minds of ALL ages': this is the bees selection.
Click the words, not the images. the kid should see thisThe Kid Should See This
Information on bees and the important role they play in pollinating plants and flowers The Role Bees Play In PollinationThe Role Bees Play In Pollination

Websites for Children

Book and web-links on how to help bees help the bees book cover Usbourne Help the Bees
Lots of interesting facts and activities about bumblebees, including tips on how to spot bumblebees and identify different types bumble kids www.bumblebee​conservation.org
3 Super Easy Steps to Make a Seed Bomb: Rise Up, Guerrilla Gardeners! organic authoritywww.organic​authority.com
Seed, clay, compost and chilli in a ball. A simpler way to grow from seed seedballseedball.co.uk
Bee science starts at home! Buzz Club at the University of Sussex buzz clubThe Buzz Club
Learn about different bee species, their nests and lifecycles. Discover which plants will attract them to your garden, find out about conservation issues buzz about beesThe Buzz About Bees
An interesting collection of 'videos for curious minds of all ages': this is the bees selection.
Click the words, not the images. the kid should see thisThe Kid Should See This

Websites about Plants

Lots of information about organic bee friendly plants and seeds bee happyBee Happy Organic Bee Friendly Plants
Bees and Honey: Creating Pollinator Gardens. There are several links to other useful pages on related subjects. Well worth a look bottle storeCreating pollinator-friendly gardens
Illustrated list of bee friendly plants from Dave Goulson, Bee Scientist at Sussex University best flowers listList of the best garden flowers

Other Insects

An enjoyable course that teaches you how to identify and record the different types of bumblebee wasp life cycleWhat's That Buzz?
Identify Bumblebees
Join the Bumblebee Trust and help save the bees. Lots of information and activities bumble bee conservationBumblebee Conservation Trust
You may not like wasps very much but they are very useful and fascinating. Find out more about them here. You may end up liking them too! wasp life cycleWasp Lifecycle (for comparison)
Beautiful short film about Solitary Bees and their lives solitary beesSolitary bees film
Ants are social insects with similarities to honeybees. Interesting website with lots of facts about ants and their lives Ant ArkantARK Ant website
Termites are not native to UK but isolated cases are found. A social insect with similarities to bees and ants Ant ArkTermites – social insects
Not really an insect, but the Naked Mole Rat has many similarities to the social insects. What do you think? naked mole ratsNaked Mole Rat, a Social Mammal

Supplies

Specialist growers of British wild flower and wild grass seeds Emorsgate Wild SeedBritish wild flower and wild grass seed
A supplier of (hard to find) organic flower bulbs and seeds. Most garden centres cannot confirm that theirs are untreated natural bulbsNatural Bulbs: organic seeds and bulbs
Bud : one of the few garden centres that stock organic seeds. In Burnage, near Manchester Bud garden centreBud Garden Centre
We found this source of well-made top bar hives quite by chance. Alan makes them as a retirement hobby, not to make a profit. So they're good value! top bar hivesTop Bar Hives
If you decide to keep honeybees, you will occasionally need to wear a bee suit. This is where we got ours. Good value, good quality and many sizes bee suitsBee Suits
Bumblebee and Solitary Bee Nest Boxes "Inspired by nature, driven by science". Lots of other info too bee nest boxNurturing Nature Bee Nest Boxes
Supplier of lots of wildlife books and equipment, but no longer the Red Mason Bee nest shown here NHBS: Wildlife equipment
Supplier of organic seeds and nesting boxes organic seedsCJ Wildlife: Organic seeds & nestboxes

Local and Worldwide Projects

Make your garden an ARK: Acts of Restorative Kindness, How to transform your land to a sanctuary of diversity ARK logoARK: Acts of Restorative Kindness
Redacre Organic Growing Project in Mytholmroyd, is a real "growing community" with allotments, chickens, bees and community venue redacre growing projectRedacre Growing Project, Mytholmroyd
Bee Friendly Collective in Todmorden. Get in touch to find out more: they are more active than their website suggests bee friendly collectiveBee Friendly Collective Todmorden
The original Incredible Edible in Todmorden. Now a world-wide phenomenon. Featured in the film "Demain" incredible edible todmordenIncredible Edible Todmorden
Cheshire Wildlife Trust has wildlife projects all over Cheshire. This is their bees and wasps section Cheshire Wildlife Trust bees and waspsCheshire Wildlife Trust
Bees need trees, we all do. Tree planting in Burnley. If that is too far, then search for your nearest group of tree warriors trees for burnleyTrees for Burnley
Grow trees from seed using a set of simple instructions. Identify trees, collect seeds, sow and plant. Follow our tree-growing 'recipes' to success trees from seedThe Conservation Volunteers
Bees for Development promotes sustainable beekeeping to alleviate poverty and promote biodiversity around the world bees for developmentBees for development

Films

Documentary about the plight of bees worldwide
Contains some scenes which may be upsetting
Click here to pay to watch it on YouTube more than honeyMore Than Honey
 
Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? is a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis. Also available as a book queen of the sunQueen of the Sun
French made documentary about saving the world locally. Features Incredible Edible Todmorden! demain filmDemain
Beautifully-filmed documentary about saving a valley and restoring biodiversity to a Californian Valley. Bees play their part Biggest Little FarmBiggest Little Farm
A moving fictional film, not entirely about bees, but they do take a starring role. One of our favourites secret life of beesThe Secret Life of Bees
Jean-Claude Guillaume, a natural beekeeper in France, explains ecological beekeeping. (Short film in French; click the cc button for English subtitles) Jean-Claude GuillaumeEcological beekeeping
  Jean-Claude Guillaume
Jean-Claude Guillaume explains ecological beekeeping. (full video in French, no subtitles) Jean-Claude GuillaumeEcological beekeeping
  Jean-Claude Guillaume
Short (ten minute) french film about wild colonies of bees and the importance of letting bees live naturally demain filmWild bees
are pioneers!

Books for Children

Fun book where Ms Frizzle takes the children on a Magic School Bus trip to a beehive
magic school bus inside a beehiveThe Magic School Bus
Inside a Beehive
A large book full of interesting facts about bees and their history. Beautifully illustrated
book of beesThe Book of Bees
Piotr Socha
Full of facts about the life cycle of a honeybee. Clear photos. Suitable for younger children
life cycle of a honeybeeLife Cycle of a Honeybee
Barbara M Linde
The differences and similarities between bees and wasps for younger readers
bees and waspsBees and Wasps
Usborne Beginners
Good clear book about the life cycle of a honeybee. Well illustrated
life cycle of a honeybeeLife Cycle of a Honeybee
Bobbie Kalman
A book for younger readers. Full of bee information. Includes the bee calendar and bees in history. Lovely illustrations
the honeybee bookLife & Times of Honeybee
Charles Micucci
Good clear print. Lots of photos. Simple but informative
honeybee's hiveHoneybee's Hive
Clint Twist
Well illustrated book about bees and their lives
the honey makersThe Honey Makers
Gail Gibbons
Interesting and informative book about bees. Beautifully illustrated. Recommended by Adam at one of the workshops.
the bee bookThe Bee Book
Charlotte Milner
About small actions that will allow biodiversity to co-exist within a productive farming system : newsletter for farming kids protecting farmland pollinatorsProtecting Farmland Pollinators

Natural Beekeeping Books

The best book for the beginner top bar natural beekeeper. From the bee guru himself, Phil Chandler
barefoot beekeeperThe Barefoot Beekeeper
Phil Chandler
A more "in-depth" book about keeping bees naturally in a top bar hive. A follow-on to The Barefoot Beekeeper also by Phil Chandler
managing the top bar hiveManaging the Top Bar Hive
Phil Chandler
A nine page extract from Managing the Top Bar Hive. Download this for free from Lulu.com as an introduction to the longer book introduction to balanced beekeepingBalanced Beekeeping
Phil Chandler
How to build your own top bar hive with Phil Chandler's instructions. Free download available from Biobees building a top bar beehiveBuilding a Topbar Hive
Phil Chandler
Old book, available as a download. How you can learn a lot by watching the bees without opening their hive at the hive entranceAt the Hive Entrance
H Storch
Fedor Lazutin, a Russian natural beekeeper, explains how to keep bees in deep hives. keeping bees with a smileKeeping Bees + Smile
Fedor Lazutin

Background Books about Bees

A huge book by the World authority on bees, Eva Crane. A rare and expensive book, information about bees in a worldwide context. For bee enthusiasts!
world history of beekeeping and honey huntingBeekeeping & Honey Hunting – Eva Crane
"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left." Albert Einstein
a world without beesA World Without Bees
Benjamin & McCallum
Amazing scientific study of honeybees by world authority Thomas D Seeley
the wisdom of the hiveThe Wisdom of the Hive
Thomas D Seeley
Scientific study of how bees make decisions collectively. We can learn a lot from this. Thomas Seeley at his best
honeybee democracyHoneybee Democracy
Thomas D Seeley
Engaging book about bumblebees by bee scientist Dave Goulson from University of Sussex
sting in the taleA Sting in the Tale
Dave Goulson
About Dave Goulson's quest to create a wildlife friendly meadow in France. Goulson makes science accessible to all with his humorous style
buzz in the meadowA Buzz in the Meadow
Dave Goulson
Full of beautiful colour photographs. Jürgen Tautz provides a wonderful insight into bees as a super-organism
buzz in the meadowThe Buzz about Bees
Jürgen Tautz
Give these friendly, safe, solitary bees a helping hand. They will help improve pollination in your garden … and give your family a lot of pleasure.
red mason bee bookThe Red Mason Bee
Christopher O'Toole
A book about bees, wasps and hornets all over the world.
We haven't read this yet: recommended by a site visitor.
The web page is interesting too Bees, Hornets, and Wasps of the WorldBees, Wasps & Hornets
by Alan Bernau Jr
Give these friendly, safe, solitary bees a helping hand. They will help improve pollination in your garden … and give your family a lot of pleasure.
red mason bee bookThe Red Mason Bee
Christopher O'Toole

Bee Fiction

A fictional story from the deep south of America with bees as the background theme. See the film too! A favourite.
secret life of beesThe Secret Life of Bees
Sue Monk Kidd

Bee Music, Myths, Philosophy and Folklore

Songhive: a folk song project concerned with the current plight of our native bees.
Don't miss the links in their Archive section! SongHiveSongHive
An interesting blog site about bee stories past & present beeloreBeelore.com
Nine lectures by philosopher and educational theorist Rudolf Steiner Rudolf Steinernine Bee Lectures
Rudolf Steiner
Celtic myths and legends about bees and honey celtic lore of the honey beeCeltic Lore of the Honey Bee
Bio-dynamic book: 'group consciousness' of the hive & healing of the atmosphere in a spiritual-scientific manner. Organic earth hives and how to make them genius of the bees bookThe Genius of the Bees
Ralf Roessner