HiveHaven

05/10/2026

Leave a patch of clover for the bees! ☘️

With summer just around the corner; the time has unfortunately come to crank up the lawn-mower.

To a bee - an endless sea of lawn looks like a vast green desert. There is nothing to forage on to sustain themselves; or a colony..

Our lawn is full of clover & looks messy to some; but to the many varieties of bees, insects & not to forget our resident wild ducks it looks just perfect!

26/09/2026

Bravo Glasshouse Country & Maleny News & Dean Bryant for highlighting the continued devestation of native bee populations. It breaks our heart to drive along Steve Irwin Way Sunshine Coast witnessing piles of fallen gum trees waiting to be chipped.

We, along with other beekeepers are receiving a record number of inquiries from people requesting commercial and domestic pollination services. In addition, due to high numbers, we’ve had to close our waiting list for people wishing to purchase a native beehive.

Let’s hope the proposed re-vegetation plantings are meaningful and not just a (TICK THE BOX) exercise. It is our understanding that TMR contractors only have to keep a percentage of the original plantings alive for 12mths. The line clearing has left an ugly scare on the landscape – it’s important that TMR is responsible for at least 10 years of quality re-vegetation accountability.

In closing - bees have a symbolic relationship with plants. They have evolved together and we have a responsibility to look after them both.

🚨 CRITICAL native bee colonies may have been lost during vegetation clearing for the Beerburrum to Nambour rail project, a Sunshine Coast beekeeper has warned, as the varroa mite crisis puts growing pressure on the region’s pollinators.

Brymac Native Bees owner Dean Bryant, who has worked with native stingless bees for 21 years, said demand for native hives had surged as European honeybees were hit by varroa mite.

Mr Bryant said he feared wild colonies nesting inside tree hollows may have been inadvertently destroyed during vegetation clearing along the Beerburrum to Beerwah rail corridor for Stage 1 of the Beerburrum to Nambour (B2N) Rail Upgrade.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) rejected suggestions native bee colonies had been overlooked, saying qualified ecologists conducted surveys before clearing and both native and European beehives were successfully relocated.

“The B2N Stage 1 project team works closely with ecologists to ensure all clearing activities are conducted in compliance with legislative requirements and with minimal impact on wildlife,” a TMR spokesperson said.

💬 Have you seen much destruction in the area?
👉 Visit our website for the full story
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23/09/2026

This season we've shaken things up a bit. We're working our way through splitting & budding our Hive Haven V9 hexegonal hives & our rectangle V10 hives.

We're seriously concentrating on building our colony numbers... after 3 of the worst years we can remember for both natives & honeybees.

This is one of our rectangle V10s budded to a hexagonal V9. We added sugar syrup & propolis 6 weeks ago.

Each budding hive we inspected today was amazing in the different formations the bees are crafting.. Some have spent time building & sealing with propolis; while others are on mission to build honey & pollen storage facilities.

01/08/2026

A SUPER busy couple of days at the '4th Australian Native Bee Conference'

Top-shelf line-up of speakers who certianly know the craft. Hot topics included -

✅️ Native bees for commercial pollination.
✅️ Stingless bee honey microbial diversity.
✅️ Antimicrobial & antioxidant activity of native bee propolis.
✅️ Bee behavior & Physiology.
✅️ Solitary bee nesting behaviour.
✅️ Native bees in education.
✅️ Pesticides that are killing our bees.

The 'Cairns Tanks' was an amazing venue - set amoungst the Cairns City 38-hectare tropical Cairns Botanic Gardens.The 'Tanks' were originally constructed as diesel & crude storage for the Royal Australian Navy in 1944 to provide fuel to naval ships WW2. Today they sit within the rainforest providing a community art & conference hub.

With thanks to the Australian Native Bee Association & the organising committee - we had a wonderful time thankyou!

Conference Sponsors -
Western Sydney University International
Wheen Bee Foundation
A Green Soul
Sugarbag Bees
Native Bee Hives - Hivecraft
Spicers Hollow Native Bees
Marquis Macadamias
Bee House Cottage - Native Bee Honey

06/07/2026

Today we checked in on the HiveHaven native bee hives at the QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Kelvin Grove.

This beautiful campus is located next to Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner north. The grounds are spectactular & we encourage you to take a look, if your keen to establish an 'year-round' measure of flowering native trees & shrubs.

20/05/2026

Today is ‘World Bee Day’ and so this afternoon we planted a full tray of paperbarks in and around our waterway. It was super muddy & wet, but well worth the effort!

As beekeepers we strive to achieve a 'symbiotic' relationship with our bees. They provide us with pollination, honey, propolis/wax and ‘good karma’. It’s our responsibility to protect their future and the best way we know - is to plant more trees!

Unfortunately, we’re contacted by quite a lot of people who are super keen to purchase a colony of stingless native bees from us; but they don’t understand that bees require a pollen and nectar source. And it’s not just bees… it’s the 1000s of insects, birds and native animals who rely on human ‘goodwill’ and 'respect'

For reference the term 'symbiotic' stems from ancient Greek for ‘living together’.

Let’s all strive for the balance – please plant a tree or two. Our wildlife will thankyou for it!

2026

01/03/2026

Paronella Park – Mena Creek North Qld 🌿

Such a treat to visit Paronella Park to see & talk all things native bees!

Paronella Park is a magical place with such an amazing history. Built in 1929 by Spanish immigrant José & Margarita Paronella. It featured an indoor venue for weddings, grand balls and movies. Outdoor attractions included hillside tunnels, tennis courts, swimming & row boats for hire.

During his lifetime, Jose planted 1000s of native & exotic trees to enhance the park, and despite three cyclones, most of the trees are still standing today. A beautiful heritage listed sanctuary for all those who visit! 💚💚💚

17/02/2026

The rain has cleared & our sunflowers are still standing yeh! We thought we'd try this old heritage variety ‘Evening Sun’ from Eden Seeds. Lots of different shapes, colours & sizes which has made the journey even more special. 🌻🌻🌻

It’s super critical that all species of bees have access to the pollen & nectar that old heritage varieties like this beauty provides. Please avoid any of the new pollen-free varieties that are emerging. They are hybrid plants engineered to be male-sterile, meaning they lack viable anthers to produce pollen. 🌻🌻🌻

BTW Sunflower paintings had a very special significance for Van Gogh: he believed they communicated 'gratitude' & me, we & our bees agree! 🌻🌻🌻

21/12/2025

Awesome to present at the BIEPA - Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association Inc. last meetup for the year!

Honestly I learnt sooooo much about Bribie Island & its fragile environment. BIEPA members undertake re-vegetation, turtle & bird monitoring just to name a few.

If you live on Bribie... this might be your tribe!

09/11/2025

Set up pics of today's 'City of Moreton Bay Eco Fest' at the University of the Sunshine Coast Petrie Campus.🐝

The rain held off, which was welcomed by a steady stream of visitors. 🐝

Lots of fun for us to deliver our native bee talks in the USC auditorium & the lab. An amazing facility thankyou! 🐝

Overall a crackerl day with thanks to Tasia & her team at the Moreton Bay Council. 🐝