There are many folklore traditions regarding beekeeping, and you may have heard of this one. There is a tradition that beekeepers must inform their bees about significant events like births, deaths , marriages and other important life events.

Notably, the Royal Beekeeper was reported to have told the bees about the late Queens passing before the news was announced to the public, and rightly so. The tradition which has roots in Celtic mythology witnesses gentle bee folk treating their bees as an integral member of the family and it was thought that neglecting to tell the bees important news would bring bad luck, or misfortune and may even make the bees leave their hive or stop producing honey!

I often chat to my bees, and at times have been caught discussing current affairs or even singing to them, much to the amusement of anyone who may overhear. Although I’m not sure the resident sheep in the orchard are as interested in the news as my bees are.

There is method in my madness, talking to the bees helps regulate your own breathing, and as your own breathing calms, and deepens so the hum and vibration of the colony calms and resonates at a lovely melodic C pitch, which is believed to be beneficial for our nervous system. These little chats with the bees help to relieve stress, and anxiety and they reduces my painful tics and spasms caused by Long Covid and PTSD.

Because of this amazing relationship where I respect and care for my bees and in turn they heal me and bring me joy I find myself doing something far scarier than handling 60, 000 bees – creating a website and writing a blog. So, please bear with me whilst I bumble along – I suppose I’d better go and tell the bees all about it!!