I love Honey. Not only does it taste divine, but it apparently has unbelievable amounts of health giving properties too. From boosting our immune system to reducing the symptoms for hay fever suffers. And with the winter months upon us, a spoonful of Honey in hot water, lemon juice and a dram of whisky does wonders at holding a cold at bay.

So if you are wanting some Honey, please try and buy local Honey, even supermarkets now stock locally produced Honey from small Honey producers and sometimes individual Beekeepers too - the fabulous taste of locally produced Honey far, far outweighs the little extra one has to pay for it.

Or look out for your local Beekeeper selling their Honey on the sde of the road.

Also try contacting your local Beekeeping Association to find out if you have a beekeeper near you.

I've just stumbled upon this fascinating website called 'WhatWow' that "collects unconventional examples of construction techniques, material use, typologies, programs etc. invented today or centuries ago that expand your possibilities beyond the building-as-usual."

And in this article it features Beeswax as a 'Phase Change Material' due to its ability to be able to melt and solidify and in doing so be able to slow release energy in the form of heat - http://whatwow.org/phase-change-material/

Image from Academic Dictionaries

There is an astonishing array of beautifully designed and quirkily built 'Bee Boles & Bee Houses' throughout the UK, many in public spaces, but more often than not, they are tucked away within the grounds of some of Britain's finest architectural masterpieces; just waiting to be discovered! So much so that someone at a small independent publisher (Shire Library) has produced the definiative guide to these wonderous constructions from a bygone era.

Bee Boles & Bee Houses - http://www.shirebooks.co.uk/store/Bee-Boles-and-Bee-Houses_9780852639030

Photo by Geoff Wood

Find out more about the diversity of Bees that belong to the family 'Apidae'. The BBC's revamped section on Bees has a wealth of information for your to explore - www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/apidae

Ever wondered which type of Bumblebee that was that just bumbled past you? Did it have a black body with a red bum? Here are two of our Bumblebee Identification Charts for the most common British Bumblebees.

The BIG 6 Most Common British Bumblebees

Other Less Common British Bumblebees

Find out more about identifying British Bumblesbees in your area and download our free Bumblebee Identification Charts HERE - http-::www.helpsavebees.co.uk:bumblebee-family-chart.html

Val's work explores over 20 British Solitary bees and Bumblebees, their peculiarities and habitat, through her paintings, drawings and photography: an exquisite collection and insight into one of our most precious of insects.

The Lumen Gallery, 88 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9RS London   

Exhibition is open 1st  - 26th June
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm & on Sundays 2.15 - 6.15pm

See some of Val Littlewood’s work on her blog Pencil & Leaf

Or follow her on Twitter @Val_Littlewood