The Healthy Hive Guide

A superb reference book for both beginner and experienced beekeepers.

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The Healthy Hive Guideby Dan Basterfield, Ivor Davis and Roger Cullum KenyonPublished jointly by: The International Bee Research Association and Northern Bee Books; 2019(and in conjunction with the British Beekeepers Association)This small guidebook on how to maintain healthy beehives is the second edition of a book that was first published in 2009. Quite rightly, the first edition was awarded a Gold Medal at the Apimondia World Beekeeping Congress in France. New research and scientific developments have prompted the authors and publishers to update the guidebook. The first edition proved to be an invaluable resource for beekeepers, and this new edition is undoubtedly bound to be similarly a great asset to beekeepers – whether they are new to the craft or are experienced beekeepers with many years’ experience. The guide’s handy size means that it can easily be kept in a pocket or in the beekeeper’s work box, to be readily available for consultation when working in the apiary.The intentions of both authors and publishers can be clearly seen in the Contents page of the guide: only eight pages are used to describe the life cycle of the honeybee, and eight pages to describe various types of hives - whereas there are 38 pages devoted to the diseases and disorders of the honeybee and a further 30 pages outlining various hygiene and management methods. The whole emphasis throughout the guide is not about bee diseases and disorders, but rather how spot trouble quickly and how to maintain healthy colonies and hives.In comparison to many other beekeeping books currently on the market – the layout and design of this guide has much to commend it. Straightforward and clear text and explanation on left-hand pages, and on the right-hand page, clear and helpful accompanying photographs and illustrations.Three subjects particularly caught the reviewer’s eye; firstly, the importance of hive hygiene is stressed throughout the guide and the text contains the salutary words that ‘the beekeeper can be the major factor in disease spread within the apiary’. The second noteworthy section deals with the cleaning of polystyrene hives. This reviewer has kept bees for nearly 40 years in wooden hives and is well versed in the use of acetic acid and the blow torch to achieve hive and frame cleanliness He now has a few polystyrene hives in addition to his wooden ones, and they suit his climatic conditions very well. Many new beekeepers (and some commercial beekeepers also) are opting to use poly hives. But poly hives require a completely different hygiene regime to wooden hives – and this guide provides clear guidance and advice. A third noteworthy section contains very timely information about the identification of the Asian hornet Vespa velutina. This insect poses a very serious threat to British beekeeping and the guidebook provides the clearest possible illustrations to assist with identification.The guide concludes with a list of contacts of various beekeeping Associations, some Bee Book Suppliers, an excellent index of the contents and finally a useful glossary of terms used in the guide.So why the need for this handy-sized guide? Surely there are many other suitable books currently in print that cover the same ground. There are indeed many beekeeping books available for the beekeeper, but none as comprehensive and authoritative, and in such a compact size and accessible style, as this guidebook. This guide really is a pocket-sized little gem (just 104 pages) - that all beekeepers should possess and keep handy during actual beekeeping operations, as they seek to maintain healthy bees and healthy hives. The authors, contributors and publishers are to be congratulated on providing the beekeeping world with such a useful resource.Dr Stephen PalmerAberdeenshire

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