I FIRST became interested in beekeeping when I was about 10, when I saw an observation hive at Cardiff Castle.

When I moved to Devon I decided to try beekeeping and became a member of Exeter Beekeepers, which has been a great source of advice and support.

Anxious to get going, in my first season I had four colonies but nearly gave up after being badly stung through my own stupidity. I received 46 stings, I did go to the doctor but was lucky, having very quickly taken anti-histamine.

Right from the outset, I joined the Exeter branch of the association and regularly attended the summer and winter meetings and learned from the more experienced beekeepers.

You would think that after nine years I would know it. You can read the books and, yes, the postman has over the years delivered many, but it is practical, hands-on experience that matters. Every time you open a hive, you see something new. You can open two hives next to each other, one after the other, and they will be different.

Two years ago I ran 11 colonies and supplied almost 250lbs of honey. Last year I really struggled and had enough for a few jars at Christmas.

What I have learned is that we are trying to manage a wild animal that is a quasi-organism. We must give the bees the best environment we can: their hive and its contents, access to good and varied forage and being meticulously careful with hive cleanness, bee health and watching for disease.

If you asked 10 beekeepers what the challenges are facing them, you will get 10 quite different answers. I consider the whole eco-system the bees live in — and it is the same for all wild animals, plants and organisms — is under threat and that we must help them to adapt.

Bees are hugely important to agriculture, our gardens, our environment, other animals and of course our diets. It has taken me a couple of years to recognise that the bee population is stressed. There are diseases and viruses threatening them all the time. Beekeepers are alert to these and work together and with the bee inspectors to mitigate their impact.

We have now had three poor summers, resulting in poorly- mated queen bees and weakened colonies. If the bee stock in the colony is weak, then it is susceptible to disease and ultimately failure.

What we really need is a good summer and, from healthy stocks, good-quality and well- mated queen bees and their supporting colonies to be bred.

The weather we can do little about, but there is a lot we can do with the bee habitation. Farmers should let hedges grow and cut periodically, allowing the verges to grow and avoid monoculture blocks of arable crop. Mix it up.

Gardeners should let the grass grow a little and allow the clover and the odd dandelion to poke through — even if you let the edges go a little rough.

Plant flowering plants, bushes and trees. Mix them up to have flowers from as early as possible until as late as you can. There are plenty of reference books; type 'bee-friendly plants' into a search engine, ask at the nursery, ask a friendly gardener or follow the link to www. devonbeekeepers.org.uk/bees7. html. Even better, come along to an Exeter Beekeepers event.

I decided to put myself forward as chairman of the branch three years ago, frustrated that it was stale and not rising to the needs of the clear local and national interest in beekeeping and the plight of the bees.

At that time we had 65 or so members and since then we have increased to 145. Membership is very varied, with all ages and backgrounds represented. I've made real friends and, of course, when the beesuit is zipped up we're no different from one another.

I am involved in beekeeping for three main reasons. My job involves a lot of travel and long hours. When tending to the bees I must shut everything out, which I find very relaxing, and good company when with others. The plants at home are well pollinated and so too the farmers' fields, and so the crop yields are bumper sized: and, finally, I adore pancakes with bananas covered in runny honey.

In February we had an introduction day which 45 attended and we have just picked up another 34 enquiries at the county show for training this coming winter.

Our facility at Lympstone is strained and we are urgently looking for a new apiary in or around Exeter to keep about eight to 10 hives on with somewhere to store kit in. The plot should be in a quiet spot, about the size of a tennis court or bigger, with parking nearby. We normally only need access on Saturdays, so it could easily be a company that is closed at the weekend and we park in the car park. If you can help, please call me on 07970 455343 or email Chairman@exeterbees.org.