Practical beekeeping, taught with care and experience
Bishops Bees is built around a simple idea: good beekeeping comes from understanding, not just instruction. Our work combines hands‑on experience with thoughtful teaching, supporting beekeepers at every stage — from those just starting out to those looking to deepen their skills through advanced study.
We are a small, independent operation, and we’ve chosen to stay that way. This allows us to focus on quality, clarity, and individual support rather than scale or volume.
How we work
Everything we teach is grounded in real, working practice. Our approach to beekeeping is shaped by daily experience in the apiary, long‑term observation, and a strong emphasis on bee welfare and decision‑making based on evidence rather than habit.
A significant part of our work focuses on queen rearing and instrumental insemination. This is not just an academic interest or a teaching subject for us — it is something we actively do. Teaching instrumental insemination, improving understanding of queen breeding, and refining practical methods sit at the core of our advanced work. The depth of this experience directly informs how we teach and advise others.
We believe beekeepers learn best when they understand why something is done, not just how. Rather than relying on rigid recipes, we encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence in adapting methods to real‑world conditions.
Education at the centre
Teaching is at the heart of Bishops Bees. We design our courses for:
- Beginners who want a calm, supportive introduction to beekeeping
- Intermediate beekeepers looking to build confidence and consistency
- Experienced beekeepers seeking depth, refinement, or specialist skills such as instrumental insemination
We often work with people who prefer a smaller, more personal learning environment, or who are looking for an alternative to large organisations and standardised teaching models. Our aim is not to tell people what to think, but to help them develop their own informed approach to beekeeping.
Experience beyond the classroom
Alongside education, we are actively involved in practical beekeeping. This includes queen rearing, instrumental insemination, equipment development, and maintaining working apiaries. We do not separate teaching from practice — the two inform each other continuously.
The equipment we supply and recommend is equipment we use ourselves. In many cases it has been adapted, refined, or developed through hands‑on use. Advice is given from direct experience, not from catalogues or specifications alone.
Our wider interests include forage, habitat, and land management. Meadow management and ecological context form an important part of how we think about beekeeping, recognising that colonies do not exist in isolation but as part of a wider system. This systems‑based view underpins both our practical work and our teaching.
Learning with Bishops Bees
If you are new to beekeeping, we aim to provide reassurance, clarity, and a solid foundation. For those who are more experienced, we aim to offer depth, challenge, and space to refine your practice.
If you’re unsure which course is right for you, you’re very welcome to get in touch — we’re always happy to talk things through.
