Caring for honey bees - top tips from an expert

David Milford has successfully kept honey bees for 15 years

Devon beekeeper David Milford has 20 honey bee hives, dotted around four locations in the west of the county.

Here, David offers some top tips on how you can help the honey bee thrive in your garden.

David, from Shaugh Prior, sells his own honey to local outlets in Ivybridge and Crapstone.

So, what is the secret to a successful hive? And, even if you don't have a hive, what can you do to help bees in your garden?

Meet our bee expert, David Milford

A tour of "Bee Heaven" at Buckland Abbey

Wearing the right gear is important

David has been keeping bees for some 15 years and is providing advice and practical help in the BBC/National Trust Bee Part of It season in 2010.

Two new hives at the trust's Buckland Abbey will be tended this summer, producing honey in July and August.

David, from Shaugh Prior, is confident that - as long as we have a good summer - the bees at Buckland will provide 50 jars of honey.

We will be following the progress of the two hives at Buckland Abbey throughout the summer - visit the pages which are linked on this page to find out more about Bee Part of It.

Here are some of David's tips.

• Fill your garden with bee-friendly species. "They love fruit - cherry trees, and all berries - raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries and blueberries - and other summer fruit like redcurrants and blackcurrants. All flowering plants are also good, as well as lavender and buddleia, which butterflies also like."

• Do not use pesticides in your garden - a complete 'no-no' for bees and other creatures.

• If you want to keep bees, the number one piece of advice is to join your local beekeepers association. "They will teach you how to become a good beekeeper and they have their own apiaries for training. You can't just put a bee hive out and hope for the best - to be a successful beekeeper, you need to know what you are doing and your local association will help you."

• Wear the right gear.

• Finally, don't forget your neighbours. "This can be an issue - you must consider your neighbours. Have a strain of bees which are docile and check that your neighbours do not have an allergy to them."