The Urban Beekeeper – Book Review

I’ve just finished reading ‘The Urban Beekeeper’ a book all about Steve Benbow and his crusade to bring commercial beekeeping to London. It tracks his adventures, mishaps and business initiatives throughout the year and takes a look back at how he got into beekeeping in the first place.

I didn’t realise until I started reading it that he started bee-keeping with David Wainwright, a commercial beekeeper based locally in the Aberystwyth area – the China Garden take away in Machynlleth even gets a mention in the book!

Not being a ‘city boy’ I didn’t really know how I’d enjoy a book all about urban beekeeping, but I can highly recommend it. It’s well written, entertaining and for those who are new to beekeeping very educational too. Even if you know nothing about bees or beekeeping then you’ll find it interesting just from the entrepreneurial aspect of Steve Benbow’s crusade and the lengths he goes to to keep his bees happy and healthy on the streets of London.

Those with a little more beekeeping experience will also find it interesting as he writes not only about his philosophies as far as bees and beekeeping in the UK are concerned but also about the difference between hobbyist beekeeping and commercial beekeeping and the importance of developing a strong brand identity and a consistent quality product and of course relates some stories that all beekeepers will identify with all too easily.

All of this is interspersed with amusing anecdotes; driving across the country through the night, sleeping under the stars on London rooftops and of course the obligatory stories about stings in uncomfortable places. There are tips at the end of each chapter about what you should be doing in any given month of the year and best of all, some delicious sounding recipes dotted throughout the book.

In fact, before I put the book down I may just write a few of the recipes out so that we can try them soon.

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Alan Cole

Alan is a Freelance Website Designer, Sports & Exercise Science Lab Technician and full time Dad & husband with far too many hobbies: Triathlete, Swimming, Cycling, Running, MTBing, Surfing, Windsurfing, SUPing, Gardening, Photography.... The list goes on.

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