Hive Alive

Chris Packham and Martha Kearney reveal the mysteries of that iconic insect of the British countryside, the honeybee. Mid-summer is a critical time for bees, when they must gather enough food for the winter. So, with the help of Professor Adam Hart, Chris and Martha are on a quest to find out how the bees do it. Using a specially designed hive, with a formidable arsenal of cutting-edge technology to monitor the bees, we enter the bees' miniature world. Chris and Martha also put to the test the very latest scientific findings about bees, to discover why they are one of the most incredible creatures on our planet.

Chris Packham and Martha Kearney reveal the mysteries of that iconic insect of the British countryside, the honeybee. Chris and Martha discover which of our tagged bees have survived over the mid summer week - a frenetic nectar and pollen gathering period - and if they have collected enough food at this critical time to see them through the winter. With the help of Prof Adam Hart they will also explore the Queen's remarkably deadly mating ritual and look at how bees can help us medically and how we can help them