Hi, I’m Emma, a London-based beekeeper, aromatherapist and blogger. I blog (mostly) about bees and aromatherapy. I also like nature and wildlife, photography and travel, books and good housekeeping, country life and stripes (bees are stripy).

Miss Apis Mellifera is from the Latin name for the European honeybee, Apis mellifera, and ‘Miss’ because most honeybees are ladies. My blog was famously Freshly Pressed in 2012 by a post about a monkey-fish, not bees.

Seven years a beekeeper since 2010 and I have a lot to learn. I keep bees at Ealing & District Beekeepers Association apiary with my lovely hive partner Emily Scott of Adventures in Beeland. My blog shares the ups and downs of our hives, with lots of bee fun, tea and cake thrown in. I’ve also been lucky to have been mentored by amazing beekeepers like John Chapple (the Royal Beekeeper), Andy Pedley, Pat Turner, Ian Allkins, and Alan Gibbs and supported by fantastic beekeepers like Thomas Bickerdike, Llyr Jones, and more.

I became an aromatherapist in 2005 after completing my diploma in Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Science with Neal’s Yard Remedies in Covent Garden, London. I studied the chemical profiles of over 70 essential oils, including their use in anatomy and physiology.

I blog about other things too, so here’s a useful index to find it all.

I live with my gorgeous husband John Maund, five goldfish, a colony of mason bees, and lots of garden birds. John is very understanding about “all those insects you always think about”. He documented my favourite beekeeping adventure in Iceland.

Creating a buzz on my blog

I’m a Londoner born and bred, but I love the country life too. For around 18 years I worked in publishing and communications in the city. My work included writing articles for bestselling magazines, editing prestigious books and journals, blogging for high-profile people, creating content for specialist audiences, and managing corporate social media accounts. You can find out more about my work and the freelance services I can offer at The honeyed word. I have also written a few books.

My blog has taken me on an incredible journey over the years. I have been interviewed by podcasters Kiwimana and by PhD students, met international beekeepers like Deborah DeLong, Hjalmar Jonsson and Berry the Beeman, been sent books to review, asked to write for local newsletters, got various blog awards, and even featured in magazines (below).

Why do I care about bees? Because I want mine and John’s wonderful nieces and nephews to enjoy seeing the first bumble bee pop out of a daffodil in spring, to find solitary bees nesting in their gardens, and to experience wildflower meadows buzzing with honeybees and other pollinators all summer long.