Recommend a beekeeping book for my Mum!

[hamamelis]

My Mum just told me she's getting bees next summer- my parents run a wildlife park, and someone from the local beekeeping group has agreed to set up a display hive there, at least for the summer, and teach Mum how to look after them- possibly with another hive somewhere on site.

She's always a bit tricky to buy Christmas presents for, but I thought a really good bee book would be a good plan. But what is a good bee book? I've got the Collins Bee Bible, which is pretty informative, (so far as I know, as I'm only on theory yet myself), but is there something better, as a good reference book out there?

Any suggestions appreciated- I might get a copy for myself too!

[VirginVegGrower]

Have you tried the BBKA website - British BeeKeepers Association?
We would love to keep them. Omlet website might have something too as they do a DVD I think on bee keeping.
Good luck searching...

[VirginVegGrower]

Aside from the BeeKeepers Bible, which I think you have, there looks to be one called Bees at the Bottom of the garden, favourably reviewed.

[hamamelis]

I'm terribly envious myself- I was hoping to get bees myself, mentioned the possibility to Mum, and now she's getting them, and I'm not for at least another year! And yep, it is the Beekeeper's bible that I have (not the bee bible- bees can't read), I'll probably get her that unless anyone can suggest anything really good. I think that's one's a pretty decent reference guide, but as I don't keep them myself yet, it's a bit hard to judge...

[veggiechicken]

When we had bees we were recommended to use "Guide to Bees and Honey" by Ted Hooper. We also used "The Beekeepers Manual" by L A Stephens-Potter. They may not be in print now but we used to refer to them frequently. If you have the Beekeepers Bible (I don't know that one) why don't you get something different for your Mum. Then you can read both ! Sometimes one version will be more understandable than the other.

[hamamelis]

Mum lives in Cumbria- I live in Bristol, and only visit a few times a year, so I probably won't really get to read both. (Or play with her bees, worse luck ) I'll look both of those up though, thanks!

The one I got was only published last year, I think.

[Alison]

Apparently the National Trust one is quite good but as I don't keep bees I can't guarantee this is correct