The end of the honey harvest is not really an ending. In our Scottish apiary, autumn changes the work from gathering to guarding, from abundance to enough.

A reflection from Paisley Honey on learning beekeeping through a complete Scottish season, and the old tradition of passing a first colony onwards.

Traditional sign painter Hana of Bungo Sign Co spent two unhurried days painting Ben Seillean in honey-gold lettering above our door at Paisley Honey.

Watch Sibyl Dana Reynolds’ reflection on bees, wool, Paisley ancestry, prayer, and sacred making, shared as a guest piece for Paisley Honey.

The garden is not solemn. It is not holding back out of respect for human sorrow. The nasturtiums are moving in the breeze. The flowers are opening. The green things are reaching over edges and filling spaces. The bees are working with their usual impossible urgency, and in the apiary, colonies are dividing and beginning again.

Bees are far more varied than many of us realise. When we say “bee”, most people picture either the familiar honey bee or a soft, stripy bumblebee moving sleepily from flower to flower. But the bee world is much wider than that. There are mining bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees, furrow bees, carpenter bees, flower bees, nomad bees and many more. Some live in hives. Many do not. Some nest in the ground, some in hollow stems, some in old walls, and some cut perfect little circ

At Paisley Honey, we know that ordering handcrafted treasures and raw Scottish honey from overseas can sometimes feel daunting — especially when it comes to customs, tariffs, and hidden fees. That’s why we’ve made it simple: We prepay all U.S. customs, tariffs, and duties for you.When you place your order, the price you see is the price you pay — nothing more, nothing unexpected. Why We Do It We’re passionate about sharing our Scottish heritage, handcrafted rosaries, and pure

Fuel your workout with nature’s best-kept secret. 🐝 Why Raw Honey Is a Game-Changer for Fitness When it comes to performance and recovery, serious athletes are paying more attention to what they put into their bodies. That means cutting down on synthetic supplements and processed sugars — and turning toward natural, nutrient-dense alternatives. One of the best-kept secrets making its way from the kitchen to the gym bag? Raw honey. This golden, unprocessed fuel has become a s

This Saturday (November 2nd 2024), from 10 am to 4 pm, stop by Browns Lane Market in Paisley to visit a local stall featuring our small-batch raw honey. Carefully produced from our local hives, this honey is triple filtered and unpasteurised, preserving all its natural enzymes, nutrients, and flavours. Perfect for health-conscious shoppers or anyone seeking a sweet treat with a distinct, authentic taste, this honey reflects the unique floral notes of Paisley. The Browns Lane

A practical UK guide to winter oxalic-acid treatment: monitor Varroa, confirm brood conditions, use an authorised product and follow its label exactly.

How honey bee colonies regulate heat, what hive insulation changes, and why moisture, stores, health and local winter conditions still matter.

Learn how hive scales help Scottish beekeepers track stores, nectar flow and swarming signals, with safe interpretation, records and inspection limits.

In the symphony of nature's orchestra, the humble bee plays an indispensable role, orchestrating the pollination of plants that sustains our global food web. In recent years, however, the harmonious hum of these essential pollinators has faced discord due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and other human-induced challenges. The need of the hour is to transform our gardens into sanctuaries of support, where the buzz of bees is not only welcomed but celebrated. Embarking on

“Let your heart be like the bee, taking only the best from all the flowers.” Saint Ambrose- Ecclesiasticus 24:20-22 Beekeeping is an important practice that has been around for centuries. It involves raising honeybees for their honey and other products, such as beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly. Throughout history, beekeeping has been associated with several saints, including Saint Ambrose and Saint Valentine. However, there is some confusion regarding which of these two sai

Beekeeping, a timeless art intertwined with the rhythms of nature, embraces a seemingly arcane practice—smoking hives. This age-old technique, reminiscent of alchemical rituals, raises the curtain on a secret world of symbiosis between humans and bees. This blog post unveils the enigma, delving into the reasons behind beekeepers' use of smoke, a practice deeply embedded in the tapestry of apicultural stewardship. Smoke's Dual Role: A Paradigm Shift The act of introducing smok

Honey bees are fascinating creatures that are known for their remarkable ability to travel long distances in search of food. Did you know that a single honey bee colony can travel up to 6 km (3.7 miles) from its hive to collect food? But the real question is, how do these tiny insects navigate such long distances and find their way back home? Let's start with the "waggle dance." This is a special dance performed by foraging bees that communicates the location, distance, and q

Nature holds an abundance of medicinal treasures, and one such gem is St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Revered for centuries for its healing properties, this vibrant yellow flower has long been used in traditional medicine. In this blog post, we delve into the remarkable health benefits of St. John's Wort. From its potential as a natural antidepressant to its soothing effects on the skin, St. John's Wort proves to be a versatile and valuable herbal remedy. Join us as w

While beekeeping gives us an opportunity to connect with nature and find a more sustainable path through life, there are some important opportunities on the horizon.Technology can help us to better help our bees! Beekeeping plays a vital role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting global food production. As the world faces challenges such as climate change and the decline of pollinators, innovative solutions are necessary to ensure the well-being of honey bees. In this blog

Last year we said goodbye to our dog Angus. Angus was in our lives for over 15 years. Through highs and lows. Libby Smillie, a friend and Civil Celebrant, helped us to say goodbye the right way. We gathered together with friends and family in the garden, shared stories, broke bread and planted flowers and a tree so that we could remember him. Libby shared some words and led us in ceremony of remembrance of our own design. In In times of grief and loss, finding solace and wa

July is an important month for Scottish beekeepers, as the bees continue to thrive and produce honey. Here are some of the tasks and activities that beekeepers should be carrying out in July: Check for disease: As the weather becomes warmer, the risk of disease increases. Beekeepers should be vigilant in checking for signs of disease, such as deformed wing virus, foulbrood, and nosema, and take action if necessary to prevent the spread of disease. "A swarm of bees in May is w