I discovered beekeeping as a result of my involvement with the anti-GM campaigns of the 1990s. Since then, bees have come under increasing threat from agricultural pesticides and from what many regard as inappropriate treatments with synthetic medications, resulting in widespread 'disappearances'.

In 2007, I wrote The Barefoot Beekeeper - my vision of what is wrong and what needs to change in our attitude and approach to bees. Since then, bees and beekeeping have occupied a great deal of my time and energy, none of which I consider wasted.

I hope my writing will inspire you to take up 'natural beekeeping'.