Category Archives: Bee-keeping

And they still don’t…

Posted on July 30, 2017 by james

Hoping that 9pm would be late enough for the bees not to be interested in leaving the hives I went out and started mowing again, only to find them pouring out onto the front faces of the hives almost immediately. … Continue reading →

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Honey bees don’t like suede

Posted on July 30, 2017 by james

Or so it would appear… This afternoon I’ve been mowing the grass where I walk into the apiary. I always wear my bee suit when I do this just in case, though I’ve never had a major issue with the … Continue reading →

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Super pleased

Posted on May 1, 2017 by admin

After a number of false starts I finally got supers on the last of my hives today. It was my intention to do this a while back but then the weather turned quite cold (we went from shorts weather to … Continue reading →

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The Man Who Picked The Hornet’s Nest

Posted on January 22, 2017 by james

I had some empty hives stacked up in the apiary and when I was working there one day noticed a hornet flying about. It disappeared inside one of the empty hives where it had been knocked aside slightly (probably by … Continue reading →

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Strange year for swarms

Posted on August 14, 2014 by james

This year I had my first call about a swarm in mid-April, probably a month before I usually start to get any.  It’s very much prompted me to wonder what’s going on with the bees.  I think those in towns … Continue reading →

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A swarm in May is worth a bale of hay…

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon. So the saying goes. This was my first of the year, on 31st May. I reckon that counts as June 🙂 It was a fairly large swarm, too. Now safely tucked … Continue reading →

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Just Give Me a Buzz

Posted on August 20, 2012 by james

I received a phone call from BT last week. “Oh dear, what have they broken now” I thought. But no, it transpired that an engineer had been out to visit a “green cabinet” in a local hamlet and had to … Continue reading →

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A Very Late Swarm

Posted on July 23, 2012 by james

Yesterday (22nd July) morning I received a phone call about a bee swarm in a local garden. The swarm was in a holly bush right next to the path to the front door of the house and the owners have … Continue reading →

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New Apiary Progress

Posted on January 22, 2012 by james

I found time this weekend to get out into the new apiary area and clear up the mess from felling the trees last time, including cutting one of them up into shorter lengths to dry out this year. That allowed … Continue reading →

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Paynes Polystyrene Brood Boxes

Posted on January 12, 2012 by james

Along with my poly nuc boxes I ordered some of Payne’s poly brood boxes, intending to use them this year with my own floors and supers. As with the nuc boxes, first impressions are good. Other reports on these had … Continue reading →

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