The Rose Hive Method: Challenging Conventional Beekeeping by Tim Rowe invites beekeepers to question standard practices and embrace a simpler, more bee-centred approach. As Rowe notes, “ordinary beekeepers… are part of the problem” contributing to global honeybee decline—despite their best intentions 

Drawing from his experience managing around 100 hives in West Cork, Ireland, he proposes the Rose Hive: a single-box hive paired with a new, streamlined management philosophy that prioritises bee health and resilience.

Rather than layering complex interventions, Rowe advocates working with the bees—simplifying structures, reducing intrusions, and fostering genetic diversity and natural disease resistance. This method offers a refreshing alternative for sustainable, low-input beekeeping rooted in ecological harmony.

The Buzz about Bees by Jürgen Tautz is a fascinating deep dive into the inner workings of the honey bee colony, exploring it not just as a collection of individual insects, but as a single, complex superorganism. Drawing on cutting-edge research, Tautz reveals how bees communicate, regulate their environment, defend the hive, and work together with astonishing precision.

Beautifully illustrated with stunning close-up photography and detailed diagrams, the book blends scientific insight with visual storytelling, making complex biology accessible and engaging. Tautz explains how temperature control, food storage, brood care, and foraging are all part of an intricate system that keeps the colony alive and thriving—often in ways that still amaze scientists. This isn’t a beekeeping “how-to” guide, but rather a celebration and explanation of the remarkable social structure and behaviour of honey bees. It will leave you with a deeper respect for the species we care for and a greater understanding of why healthy colonies are so resilient—and why they sometimes fail.

This practical and easy-to-follow guide is a must-read for any beekeeper keen to boost their honey harvest without compromising the health of their bees. Healthy Bees, Heavy Hives is all about smart, sustainable beekeeping. It takes you through the key principles of colony health, timing, and good management, showing how strong, well-nourished bees are the foundation of a bumper crop. From pre-season preparation to optimal supering, you’ll find plenty of tried-and-tested advice to help you get the best from your bees.

Whether you’re a new beekeeper aiming to get your first real crop, or more experienced and hoping for heavier hives this year, this book will give you practical insights and confidence to work with your bees more effectively. Available now from the LLEBKA library – a sweet read for anyone hoping for a successful season! 

If you’ve ever thought about keeping bees but weren’t sure where to start, Keeping Bees – Looking After an Apiary by Vivian Head is the perfect companion to guide you through your first steps. Warm, accessible, and beautifully illustrated, this book offers a clear and practical introduction to the world of beekeeping — ideal for beginners or anyone considering setting up their first hive.

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Vivian Head explains everything from choosing the right location for your apiary to understanding the structure and rhythm of a colony. The book covers seasonal hive management, basic bee biology, swarm prevention, and harvesting honey, all presented in a way that feels friendly and achievable. There’s also helpful advice on equipment, bee-friendly plants, and the importance of supporting local bees and biodiversity — a message that resonates strongly with our association’s ethos.

What sets this book apart is its focus on care and responsibility. Head doesn’t just show how to keep bees, but how to look after them well, encouraging readers to work with the bees’ natural instincts and understand their behaviour throughout the year.

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Whether you’re a new beekeeper preparing for your first season or simply curious about what’s involved, Keeping Bees – Looking After an Apiary offers a thoughtful, confidence-building guide that celebrates both the art and science of beekeeping.

Reflections on Beekeeping by W. S. Robson is a thoughtful and quietly inspiring read that will appeal to beekeepers who enjoy pausing to reflect on the deeper rhythms of their craft. Rather than a step-by-step manual, this book is a collection of observations, musings, and experiences drawn from a lifetime spent with bees.

Robson writes with warmth and humility, exploring not just the practical aspects of beekeeping, but the philosophy behind it — patience, attentiveness, and learning to work with the bees rather than imposing rigid methods upon them. His reflections touch on seasonal changes, colony behaviour, and the emotional rewards and frustrations that every beekeeper comes to recognise.

The strength of this book lies in its ability to slow the reader down, encouraging careful observation and thoughtful decision-making. It’s a reminder that good beekeeping is as much about mindset as technique.

Perfect winter reading, Reflections on Beekeeping is ideal for beekeepers of any experience level who enjoy reflective writing and learning from long-earned wisdom. Available to borrow from the LLEBKA library — a gentle, enriching read for a quiet evening by the fire.

A landmark volume that blends original research with practical wisdom, making it a vital resource for both aspiring and experienced beekeepers. Unlike many guides, this book is built almost entirely on original studies, offering methods and insights not found in other beekeeping texts. Deans places strong emphasis on the most effective techniques for breeding bees, alongside detailed methods for producing and handling clover and heather honey. Particularly notable is his introduction of an innovative and highly reliable approach to swarm control, which promises to be a game-changer for hive management.

The book also explores queen introduction and rearing with remarkable clarity, providing step-by-step guidance that both simplifies and refines these essential practices. Beyond hive management, Deans includes detailed laboratory protocols for diagnosing bee diseases, supported by thorough explanations of microtechniques. His coverage extends to pollen analysis and the chemical study of honey, equipping readers with both practical and scientific tools. Designed as an essential textbook, Beekeeping Techniques is particularly valuable for those preparing for the National Diploma in Beekeeping. Clear, authoritative, and deeply practical, this book is both a study guide and a lifelong reference for anyone serious about mastering the art and science of beekeeping.

Widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and reliable guides to the craft, Practical Beekeeping by Clive de Bruyn is an essential read for both new and experienced beekeepers. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience and teaching, de Bruyn covers every aspect of beekeeping in the UK—from understanding bee biology and seasonal hive management, to swarm control, queen rearing, and honey harvesting.

What makes this book stand out is its practical, down-to-earth approach. Each topic is explained clearly and thoroughly, with helpful diagrams, photographs, and step-by-step instructions. It doesn’t shy away from the realities of beekeeping—both the challenges and the rewards—and provides realistic advice that works in our climate and conditions.

De Bruyn also addresses modern issues facing beekeepers, such as managing pests and diseases, and the importance of maintaining healthy, locally adapted bees. Whether you’re keeping a single hive in the garden or managing a larger apiary, this book offers invaluable guidance to help you work with your bees efficiently, effectively, and with confidence.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your beekeeping knowledge, The Complete Guide to Beekeeping by Jeremy Evans is a comprehensive, accessible resource that covers all the essentials. From setting up your first hive to managing pests and diseases, this guide walks you through each step of the beekeeping year with clear explanations and practical tips.

Evans combines scientific understanding with hands-on experience, making this book both informative and easy to follow. Topics include bee biology, equipment choices, seasonal hive management, and harvesting honey—everything you need to feel confident in your beekeeping journey.

It’s a fantastic all-rounder for new and returning beekeepers alike, and a solid addition to any shed-side library. Borrow it now from the LLEBKA library and get inspired to work with your bees in a way that’s productive, rewarding, and rooted in best practice. 

Bottom-Up Beekeeping by Ray Baxter takes an unusual but fascinating perspective on hive management — by literally starting at the bottom. In this insightful and thought-provoking book, Baxter invites readers to look closely at what most of us tend to sweep away without a second thought: the debris on the hive floor. From wax flakes and pollen crumbs to dropped brood cappings and the odd mite, the hive floor can tell an extraordinary story about what’s happening inside the colony.

Baxter combines his background in science and years of hands-on beekeeping to show how careful observation and interpretation of hive debris can give valuable clues about queen health, brood development, foraging patterns, and even early signs of disease or pest problems. His approach encourages beekeepers to become true observers — learning to “read” their bees through evidence rather than instinct alone.

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Far from being a dry technical manual, Bottom-Up Beekeeping is written with warmth, humour, and a genuine curiosity for the hidden life of the hive. It’s a reminder that good beekeeping isn’t just about interventions and inspections, but about paying attention to the subtle signs our bees leave behind.

Whether you’re an experienced beekeeper looking to deepen your understanding or a newcomer eager to observe more closely, this book offers a refreshingly different way to connect with your colonies.