Recent content by Bearbees

Looking for colonies or nucs in Herefordshire or Worcestershire please. Sadly down to one colony over the winter, looking to build back up to three this year.

Very mild mannered :)

Like Bontbee has suggested, the first time I cut the grass immediately in front and around my new bees I wore my suit but they didn't seem to mind. Today I strimmed within ten yards and had no bother. I guess it's down to temperament among other variables.

Just an update for those of you who kindly offered advice: My initial panic subsided and I resolved to leave them a week or so to calm down before the next inspection. I duly sourced a mated queen to give me a backup if I couldn't find the queen by performing an A/S. The queen arrived and I...

Never underestimate your own stupidity, or the intelligence of your bees.

Still a newcomer myself; but I echo the comments already posted. Read - up, and then read again and make sure you have two of everything (enough for two hives when your first one shows swarm cells). My first inspection found a queen cell and no queen early in the season! Talk about panic!

Thanks for the advice. I think you've covered my main concerns. I contacted the vendor straight away and he was as surprised as me! I think it's just a quirk that I've experienced it now and not later down the line. I'm certain it was the only QC in the hive; either open or sealed. I checked...

This is my first 'proper' post on here, especially with regards to keeping bees and problem solving, so please be gentle :/ There seems to be a bit of a theme emerging with a couple of threads recently, so I thought I'd share my predicament and politely ask for some advice and thoughts on how...

You're not the only one to have commented on the quality of Margaret's course; Nige also attended last year and said it was the best £100 he'd spent on beekeeping to date. I'm looking forward to it!

I'm on Margaret's course up in Quarndon. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Wandered up to the woods to drop off a couple of hives which may be used as bait hives later in the spring. Thought I'd have a quick look as the weather was warming up and sunny. I wanted to check to see if they've started to draw comb in the super, which they have.

Boiled up thirty - odd assorted frames for use in supers, brood and bait hives. The resulting water was a whole new shade of brown I've never seen before!!

I'd be interested in following this thread as I too have a woodland the I want to use to keep a few hives. My main concern is Badgers though :/ Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

That is great Suzi. I was thinking of doing something similar myself and you've inspired me! Thanks Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

I planted twenty fruit trees on our plot when Aldi had them on offer. They seem to have done okay to date given the battering winds that have blown over the area. I used a sprinkling of Mycorrhizal fungi when planting which has done wonders for establishing trees on hedgerows for me in the past...