Amanda Mason, practice manager at mydentist Formby, has worked in dentistry for over 30 years.
Starting her career as a dental nurse, she now manages a buzzing eight-surgery practice in Formby.
And the buzz doesn’t stop when she clocks off work as, outside of her day job, Amanda is an apiarist, supplying her practice with a healthy flow of honey from her hive of over 50,000 bees.
She said: “My children are now 27 and 22, so I can relax when at home, and I like to travel as much as possible.
“I am a keen gardener and forever elbows deep in compost and plants.
“Beekeeping is wonderful for my mental health. Getting back down to nature after a day of screens and tech really helps to ground me.”
It was Amanda’s daughter, Valentina, who introduced her to beekeeping.
When Valentina was studying at university, Amanda encouraged her to take up training in her spare time to keep her focused and, as a result, Valentina enrolled on a beekeeping course.
After a couple of years, she asked Amanda if she could have a hive at home, kickstarting her newfound passion.
Since then, Amanda’s hive has grown substantially – so much so, that she says: “It would be impossible to count all of our bees during the summer months, during which time the hive expands by adding more ‘floors’ to accommodate its growing numbers – not dissimilar to the growth our eight-surgery dental practice has seen!”
Just like in beekeeping, every member of our dental practice plays a crucial role in our success and seeing them enjoy their work is immensely rewarding
Amanda;s commitment to both her dental practice and beekeeping reflects her dedication to nurturing a thriving community, both in and outside of her workplace.
She said: “I truly believe that a happy team is a successful team.
“Just like in beekeeping, every member of our dental practice plays a crucial role in our success and seeing them enjoy their work is immensely rewarding.”
The parallels Amanda draws between beekeeping and practice management highlight the importance of teamwork and communication within her diverse team of nearly 50 individuals.
Just as the hive’s success depends on every bee playing a vital role, Amanda recognises the significance of each team member in the success of her team and colleagues at mydentist Formby.
A memorable moment in Amanda’s beekeeping journey was the first honey harvest a few years ago, on which Amanda reflects: “Harvesting honey is a messy, but incredibly-satisfying, process.
“It’s a reminder that hard work pays off, both in beekeeping and in managing a dental practice.”
And Amanda’s enthusiasm for beekeeping doesn't stop at her hive; she seamlessly integrates her passion into the workplace, and her colleagues enjoy seeing photo and video updates of her journey.
Amanda said: “I’m looking forward to continuing my journey, both in dentistry and beekeeping, and hope to provide our community with a healthy honey supply throughout the process.”