Fascinated by the history of bee keeping at Buckfast Abbey, I was excited to capture Clare working on the modern Apiaries earlier this year. While the department has changed a lot since Brother Adams, the Benedictine monk famous for rebuilding the Buckfast colonies through cross-breeding bees, they continue to harvest honey and educate the public on a more organic, gentle practice. 

Clare and Martin encourage ‘respectful and mindful’ bee-keeping and offer fellow beekeepers support with issues they may encounter, such as parasite control and starvation, and teach to respond to seasonal and environmental changes. For more information on their work & the history of Buckfast Apiaries visit The Buckfast Abbey.