Matt Somerville’s fight to save Britain’s wild honeybees by building them natural homes.
If you care about biodiversity, conservation, or just want to see someone devote their life to bees in a truly hands-on way, watch this short film.
Shout out once again to Jason Kottke for putting this one on our radar.
Trailer for “The Hive Architect”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Somerville has hand-built and installed around 800 log hives across England, often lifting 80-kilo trunks into trees by himself.
- Beekeepers still argue wild honey bees don’t exist. Matt finds thriving, unmanaged colonies in tree hollows every year.
- He makes “hackles” (reed-thatched roofs for the hives) from chestnut and estuary reeds. Each one takes longer to make than hollowing the log itself.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Matt’s childhood fascination with catching frogs and butterflies led him to his first disastrous honey raid. He shoved a spoon tied to a stick into a wild hive and got “stung to bits.”
- Log hives are designed to mimic natural tree cavities. A hand-span wide hollow with small entrance holes, insulation on top, and removable bases so Matt can marvel at comb growth.
- His tools range from gouges forged by legendary blacksmith Hector Cole to chainsaws. Four logs a day is his personal limit before exhaustion sets in.
- Matt knocks back propolis tincture—an antimicrobial resin made by bees—like a daily immune booster shot.
- Every hive is oriented south-southeast, so the colony gets morning light during the cold months. This gives them a jump-start on spring foraging.
- Somerville believes bees are just the beginning. Once people notice them, they start planting trees, spotting fungi, and caring about the broader ecosystem.
Watch “The Hive Architect”
You can watch “The Hive Architect” free on Kottke.org or directly on YouTube.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: N/A (short film)
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: N/A
Director’s Note: The film directed by Max Weston plays like a love letter to craft, ecology, and stubborn independence. It’s quiet, patient, and deeply personal. It shot with the same care Matt brings to every hive.
Release Date: September 2025 (online premiere)
My Review of “The Hive Architect”
The Setup
Matt Somerville is a carpenter, boatbuilder, and conservationist who believes wild bees deserve a chance without human intervention. For 14 years, he’s spent winters carving log hives and summers installing them in farms and woodlands across England. The film follows his seasonal rhythm, from chainsawing logs in a barn to climbing trees with a compass in hand, aligning entrances just right for spring sunlight.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Matt learned hive thermodynamics the hard way. Logs must match cavity size for proper insulation, or colonies won’t last.
- His tally board (chalked numbers in his workshop) tracks each hackle he completes, just like sheep shearers track fleeces.
- Over decades, he’s shifted from luxury boat interiors to log hive “sculptures,” convinced beauty is what makes landowners invest in conservation.
- Despite critics saying he spreads disease, Matt insists evidence from the field shows the opposite: wild hives thrive naturally without chemical treatments.
Wrap Up:
“The Hive Architect” is about bees, yes—but it’s also about obsession, craftsmanship, and belief in nature’s resilience. A quiet but powerful watch.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Daily Doc