Ran two “Introduction to the honeybee and beekeeping” sessions recently to a local home education group. Based on the great feedback the children all enjoyed it, and the adults! It also helped to raise much needed funds for 101st scout group equipment.
Probably one of the more noticeable “June gaps” I’ve experienced in recent years. A June gap is known in beekeeping circles as the period when there’s very little for the bees to feed on between the spring flower nectar flow and the summer flower nectar flow. Often it’s barely noticeable, this year however after a bumper spring crop the gap has been severe, prompting he National Bee Unit (yes there is such a thing) to put out a starvation alert. I’ve heard of some smaller colonies locally starving to death. Apart from the nucs my bees didn’t need feeding, but there has been a noticeable use of honey stores and drop off in egg laying, some colonies came close to failure with only days worth of food left. It’s over now though, the summer nectar flow has started.
Thank you to everyone who bought a jar of the spring honey. It’s all been sold. Hopefully the summer will be good for the flowers and we’ll get a good nectar flow and thus a summer honey crop in September.
Spring honey now available, extracted end of May. £5 for 12oz (340g). Sold direct from the door.
Nearly ready...some of the supers are off the hives, there’s been a good spring nectar flow this year. Now to spin it out, filter and bottle it.