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  • Published: 7 April 2016
  • ISBN: 9781783521654
  • Imprint: Unbound Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 208

Letters to a Beekeeper



A unique book by two high profile authors about the mysteries of beekeeping and how to make your garden bee-friendly.

This the story of how, over the course of a year, Alys, the Guardian gardening writer, learns how to keep bees; and Steve, the urban beekeeper, learns how to plant a pollinator-friendly garden.

Part beautifully designed coffee-table book, part manifesto, this collection of engaging letters, emails, texts, recipes, notes and glorious photos creates a record of the trials, tribulations, rewards and joys of working with, rather than against, nature. And along the way, you will pick up a wealth of advice, tips and ideas for growing food and keeping pollinators well fed.

Letters to a Beekeeper is for lazy gardeners, novice beekeepers and everyone in between. It is the best rule-breaking, wildlife-friendly, guerilla, urban gardening, insect-identifying, honey-tasting, wax-dripping, epistolary how-to book you could ever hope to own.

  • Published: 7 April 2016
  • ISBN: 9781783521654
  • Imprint: Unbound Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 208

About the authors

Alys Fowler

Gardeners' World's Alys Fowler trained at the Horticultural Society, the New York Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. After finishing her training, she worked as a journalist for the trade magazine, Horticulture Week, and then joined the Gardeners' World team as a horticultural researcher. The lure of the garden, however, proved too much and in 2006 Alys became Head Gardener at Gardeners' World's previous home, Berryfields. Alys is now one of the lead presenters of the programme and has presented a spin-off programme called The Edible Garden.

Steve Benbow

Steve Benbow is at the heart of the urban beekeeping revolution. With zero experience he built his first hive on his tower-block rooftop fourteen years ago. Today, he runs hives across London's greatest landmarks, including both Tate galleries, Fortnum & Mason, and The National Gallery, as well as hives in Shropshire and Salisbury. He supplies honey to Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols, the Savoy tearooms and Harrods, chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, and sells at local farmers markets and from his studio in Bermondsey. He also runs courses in beekeeping.

Praise for Letters to a Beekeeper

A heartwarming tale of perseverance and survival between bees, plants and those who want to lend a helping hand.

Gardens Illustrated

A love letter to bees and gardening, a lyrical romance over honey . . . Savour it.

Books of the Year, Observer