Jurassic Bees

Jurassic Bees High-quality British bees, raised with care in Dorset. Nucleus colonies & queens made without compromise.

14/06/2026

A year in the life of a Dorset beekeeper 🐝

We're delighted to be featured in this year's Country Matters magazine, produced by Symonds & Sampson, with a two page article sharing what goes on behind the scenes at Jurassic Bees throughout the beekeeping year.

From overwintering colonies and spring build up, through queen breeding, nucleus production, honey harvests, and preparing bees for winter once again, the article follows the seasonal journey of a working Dorset apiary.

A big thank you to Symonds & Sampson for the opportunity to share our story and help showcase the importance of honey bees, beekeeping, and the rural businesses that help support our countryside.

Have you picked up a copy yet?

JurassicCoast CountryMatters SymondsAndSampson BritishBeekeeping BeeKeeperLife DorsetBusiness SupportLocal

09/04/2026

This is one of the easiest times of year to spot disease.

Brood patterns are clear and there are fewer bees in the way.

Know what you are looking for and check properly.

08/04/2026

Swarming does not start when you see swarm cells.

It starts weeks before.

April is when pressure begins to build, so now is the time to plan.

07/04/2026

There is no value in opening a hive without a purpose.

Everyinspection should be be for a reason:
Brood
Queen status
Stores
Space
Disease

All valid reasons

06/04/2026

Feeding at this time of year needs to be controlled.

Too much and you clog the brood nest. Too early and you risk chilling the colony.

We are feeding small amounts of thin syrup to support, not force, growth.

05/04/2026

The biggest risk right now is not swarming.

It is starvation.

These colonies are brood heavy and demand is high. If there is not enough coming in, they will burn through stores quickly.

Always check food properly.

04/04/2026

Colonies look strong right now, but that can be misleading.

We had a warm spell in March and they expanded quickly. Now the weather has turned, and there is very little coming in.

That leaves us with a problem. High demand inside the hive, but no nectar outside.

This is where people get caught out.

Messy corners in the garden might be hiding the secret to more bees next springMessy corners in the garden are the secre...
02/04/2026

Messy corners in the garden might be hiding the secret to more bees next spring

Messy corners in the garden are the secret to more bees next spring.

The Orange tailed Mining Bee spends most of its life below ground. Females come out in March or April and nest in sunlit patches of bare earth. Each one lays a few eggs, leaving a ball of pollen and nectar from early wildflowers like dandelions for her young. After a few weeks of activity the adults disappear and the next generation grows quietly underground right through to the next spring.

Remove wildflowers and the bees miss out on their first and most important food. True resilience starts with letting some things grow where they will.

Leave wild patches for solitary bees and you will see the reward in bees next year.

Leave dandelions and wild patches so solitary bees have what they need next spring

Marking a queen is far simpler when there are fewer bees.Marking the queen during early spring inspections makes life mu...
27/03/2026

Marking a queen is far simpler when there are fewer bees.

Marking the queen during early spring inspections makes life much easier. With bee numbers still low, the queen stands out on the frame—no endless searching through packed boxes. Mark her while it is straightforward, and you will save time all season. It also makes it easier to spot changes in temperament, management needs, or age. Later in summer, a queen can vanish into the crowd in seconds. By getting the job done now, you make every hive check smoother and avoid stress down the line. Consistent spring marking sets you up for better control and clearer records every time you open the hive.

Mark the queen on your next spring inspection to make summer hive checks much faster and more accurate.

14/03/2026

March is one of the most important months for beekeepers.

Colonies are beginning to expand again, brood rearing is increasing, and the decisions you make now can determine how strong your colonies are for the rest of the year.

In this video I share ten practical things you should be doing with your bees in March including feeding, inspections, swarm preparation, apiary hygiene, and how to prepare if you are receiving a nucleus colony next month.

Useful guidance mentioned in the video

NBU Spring Inspection Guidance
https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/3_Resources_for_beekeepers/Best_practice_guidelines/BPG_6_Spring_Checks_2018.pdf

NBU Apiary Hygiene Guidance
https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/3_Resources_for_beekeepers/Best_practice_guidelines/BPG_3_Apiary_and_hive_hygiene_v4_Sept_2011.pdf

Queens discussed in the video
https://jurassicbees.co.uk/pages/queen-bees-for-sale-uk

Watch the full video here.

Address

Owermoigne
Dorchester

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

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