Mrs T’s Bees

18/03/2026

Such a glorious day!!! The girls are busy collecting pollen, looks like crocus and willow from the colour…☀️🐝☀️

13/03/2026

Please share…

As some of you may know the Yellow legged hornet is a highly aggressive predator the poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators.

Originally from Asia, the species was accidentally introduced into France where it has spread rapidly.

In 2016 the first sightings were recorded in the UK.

In February this year we have had the first credible sighting in Doncaster.

If you see one of these insects please take a photo and report it via the Asian Hornet App.

18/12/2025

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🎁🥂

Thank you to those who have purchased our honey this year, and to those yet to do so, what are you waiting for?!

Local, unprocessed honey, just as nature intended. Each crop tastes different depending on what the bees have been foraging on (even the honey from each hive is different!)

We still have a few jars left from 2025 if you are searching for a last minute Christmas present for a loved one (or yourself!!) 🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯

03/12/2025

Love this! 🐝🎅🎄🐝

🧺🐝 ’Twas the Night Before Christmas… Beekeeper Edition By Sweet Stingers Honey 🍯🎄

’Twas the night before Christmas,
And out in the yard,
Not a creature was stirring—
Not even the guards.
The colonies sat there in silent, wrapped snug in their hives,
Bees clustered tight for a long winter’s nap.

The smokers were hung by the shed door with care,
In hopes that warm springtime soon would be there.
Our veils and our jackets were cleaned and hung right,
For I’d checked the bees earlier—
all tucked in for the night.

But just as I settled with cocoa in hand,
I heard a faint buzzing roll over the land.
I stepped to the window and peered through the frost—
What could it be, a forager that was lost?

Then out in the moonlight, so gentle and bright,
A sleigh dipped and drifted like a drone in mid-flight.
With a beekeeper driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a heartbeat—it must be St. Ambrosia!

His suit wasn’t red but a fine canvas tan,
Smoke curls in the air from the torch in his hand.
He landed so softly near Hive Number Three,
Whispered, “Easy now girls… it’s only just me.”

He checked all the entrances, cleared out the dead bees,
Tapped gently on boxes and brushed off the leaves.
He lifted each lid with a seasoned-hand sway,
Not like any beekeeper but one of careful ways.

He chuckled, “Strong clusters you keep
Good weight on these hives.
You’ve done well this season keeper
these girls will survive.”

He sprinkled a dusting of magic bee treats,
They shimmered like snowflakes and smelled so sweet.
He left pollen patties all shaped like little bows,
And a tiny mite board with a ribbon of rose.

Then back to his sleigh, with a twirl and a glide,
He rose like a swarm on a warm springtime tide.
I heard him call out as he flew out of sight—

“Merry Christmas, dear keepers,
and to all a good night!
May your queens stay healthy
and your honey flow bright!”

13/11/2025

Last night at the Sheffield Beekeepers’ Association AGM, I was presented with my certificates for passing the Basic Cerificate with Distinction and Module 1 Honey Bee Management. Chuffed is an understatement!
And what beautiful certificates they are too!!!
Now I just need to find somewhere to display them!! 🐝🐝🐝

21/10/2025

Today is National Honey Day!!! 🍯
We still have a few jars of our summer honey for sale from our hard working girls on Ringer Lane, £5 for an 8oz/227g jar…
Cheap honey isn’t real, Real honey isn’t cheap… 🍯🐝🍯

30/08/2025

What is the True Cost of Honey?

Honey is not simply a sweet treat, it is the result of a long and slow process. Each jar represents months of work from the bees and countless hours of dedication from the beekeeper. From tending hives to ensuring the health of colonies, producing honey is a demanding craft.

Beekeepers often invest hundreds of pounds in equipment such as hives, protective clothing, and tools, not to mention the ongoing costs of maintaining healthy bees. Beyond the financial side, they dedicate significant time and effort, often working evenings and weekends, to nurture their colonies and secure a honey harvest.

Unlike much of the honey found on supermarket shelves, which can be blended and processed, local honey is full of natural flavour and beneficial properties. Supporting your local beekeeper not only ensures you enjoy a pure product but also helps sustain small businesses and local projects by using their profits locallt.

Recently, I've been told of two beekeepers selling their honey for £15 to £20 per pound jar. Even selling 200 jars at that price does not reflect a fair hourly rate for the beekeeper’s labour. Behind every jar is a story of dedication—so please support your local beekeeper.

For those who already buy direct from their beekkeeper, THANK YOU. For those that don't give them a shout.

25/08/2025

A little light reading in preparation for BBKA - The British Beekeepers Association 🐝🐝🐝

21/08/2025

I’ve been looking for this queen all season! She is a new queen this year and so has be difficult to spot (for me anyway!) I managed to mark her in this years colour so she will be easier to find in the future.
We have five colours for marking queens - white, yellow, red, green and blue, each year has a different colour, so not only does it make them easier to find, you can tell how old they are.
Just managed to get the photo just as she was scurrying down between the frames. 🐝🐝🐝

15/08/2025

UK bee and other pollinator populations are dropping rapidly. This is partly due to how many pesticides we use – but it doesn’t have to be this way. France has banned pesticides from towns and cities, and many other European nations are trying to do the same. Even though insects are so small, they have a huge impact and we need to protect them. Join me and tell the UK Government to follow in their footsteps and protect our pollinators:

The UK’s pollinator numbers are dropping heavily - we need the UK government to step in and protect them.

13/08/2025

Just look at the difference between the honey from the same hive! In the first picture, on the left we have last years summer runny honey which was mainly Field Bean and Sweet Chestnut honey, and on the right is this springs honey, mainly Oil Seed R**e, which was stirred to produce a smooth and creamy soft set honey. If we don’t stir the OSR honey regularly for a few minutes a day for a few days it will crystallise and set rock solid. The stirring reduces the size of the crystals to give it the smooth, spreadable texture.
The second photo is this years summer runny honey, much lighter than last years but still as delicious and still available to buy! 🍯🐝🍯