Really sorry to hear of your loss of hives. I am also from the Durham area. Any identifying features or markings on your hives that I can keep an eye out for?
sorry if this has already been discussed previously but following Finmans recipe, what should the consistency be of the final product. Mine seems a lot more sloppy than patties I have seen on YouTube videos.
spray them with a mist sprayer and a solution of sugar syrup. when wet and sticky they dont fly about as much for a few mins until they have had time to clean thenselves. this gives you time to brush / scoop them into a box and hopefully the queen too.
good luck
if the boards are made from plywood it is a good idea to seal the cut edges by puting a thin layer of wood glue ovr them and leting this dry. this stops any damp affecting the bonding between the sheets. just a thought :)
bee-smillie