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Dr Caroline Beardsmore becomes the only Master Beekeeper in the county.

Dr Caroline Beardsmore, from our Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, has a unique place in Leicestershire - as the only Master Beekeeper in the county.

She started her journey simply by watching bees visiting flowers in her garden in Gaulby – and the bug bit.

What started as an interest turned into a passion and has led Caroline through years of study and exams to become an accomplished apiarist with six colonies and –at the height of summer - some three hundred thousand (300,000) bees.

And she has transmitted her enthusiasm to her students – a final year undergraduate analytical project in Biological Sciences has seen excellent projects on bee-related topics – from which Caroline herself continues to learn.

Caroline said: “I've always been interested in natural history, and I watched bees in my garden, visiting the flowers and foraging for pollen and nectar, and decided to find out a bit more. I joined Leicestershire and Rutland Beekeepers Association and did their Beginners Course, and acquired my first bees in 2001. It's a fascinating hobby. It leads to a heightened awareness of what is happening in the natural world - what is in flower, what the weather is doing, as well as what each colony is doing at different times of the year.

“There is a lot to learn when starting beekeeping. As with so many things, the more one learns, the more fascinating it becomes. I find it fulfilling to study and practice different aspects of beekeeping. I think it has made me a better bee keeper. At the University of Leicester we encourage our students to become lifelong learners and I have been putting it into practice!”

Caroline said she felt her work was also important given the threats to the future of bees, which face many perils, ranging from pests to pesticides.

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