Keeping Bees in Towns and Cities

Excellent explanatory photos throughout. I've reviewed several beekeeping books in the last couple of years and this is the best so far....

... For anyone interested in beekeeping, but particularly those living in towns or cities who want to start out.

...a clear and practical account of managing a hive in the heart of London's Soho.

Urban beekeeping has specific challenges and needs, and this book by Luke Dixon not only highlights them but presents safe, legal and neighbour-friendly solutions to each one. It covers all the facts that urbanites need to know about beekeeping including how to select the right hive, harvest honey and prepare for winter.   

... full of practical advice, with case histories of urban beekeepers, including a primary school in south London and a garden by Liverpool airport. 

... both timely and welcome is the publication of Luke Dixon's 'Keeping Bees in Towns & Cities'... overall it's eminently practical- almost akin to a manual. Especially worthwhile are the summary 'top tips' at the end of each chapter. Straight-forwardly written, well illustrated, and including over 20 case studies from around the World of how beekeeping is influenced by different climates and cultures, this book is recommended.   

This well-written book takes urbanites through everything they'll need to set up their own beehives, whatever their space- garden, roof terrace or allotment. Nicely illustrated with pictures of hives in incongruous urban settings, and peppered with case histories.

How to manage a hive successfully, written by a man who keeps bees at the Natural History Museum. Very readable and very practical.

According to Luke Dixon, bees are like foxes and can thrive more or less anywhere; all they need is space, darkness and a tiny space to come and go. In other words they are perfectly suited to office life. There are also some great pictures of cool Beehaus hives, and a Spanish primitive cave painting depicting a figure climbing up to a bee's nest to steal honey. More work than runner beans- but more fun and tastier too. 

 From Hong Kong to Harvard, Kyoto to Los Angeles, Dixon has found beehives and bees, often with a distinct regional twist. A traditional Japanese beehive, for example, has an unmistakable flavour of the temple pagoda about it; one in Tucson, Arizona, a touch of Donald Judd. But all have one thread in common: the sheer delight of keeping bees.

... in describing extracting the honey, Dixon warns the beginner to expect to be covered in sticky stuff; which sounds more like an incitement than a warning, I feel... He clearly belongs to the new movement to engage the public much more in concern for the bees, and I think this book is a fine contribution to the cause.   

The presentation is excellent, with abundant and beautiful photographs throughout, illustrating the text. It is written in a clear and easy style, giving personal experiences as well as straightforward instructions, so that it is really a book which one can read with pleasure. I think it would be an ideal Christmas present for a beginner, as it provides encouragement and makes the whole subject quite enticing.