In recent years there has been a significant increase in beekeeping in urban and sub-urban areas of many countries. Alongside this trend has been the establishment of agro-chemicals as an integral part of modem farming systems. It is, therefore, timely to review the law relating to honeybees and beekeepers and to consider their social obligation. This article, whilst it is concerned directly with the situation in England and Wales, should prove of value to readers in many countries, particularly Common Law countries.