Thank you to everyone who purchased a spring crop jar of Read Apiary honey, it’s been very popular and we’ve sold out!
However the good news it’s that a friend and fellow beekeeper keeps his hive at the same location as some of our hives, and he has some of his honey available, which we’re selling for him - same price. His honey is also available from our front door, so same easy to collect and pay address.
Spring crop being extracted today, should be bottled by Tuesday latest. Same price as last year - £5 for 12oz / 340g.
Two swarms collected yesterday, now both safely in their new home at one of my apiaries.
If you see a swarm the best approach to get help is to visit the website below, confirm they are honeybees, and type your postcode into the “find a local swarm collector” box. This will give you a list of Beekeepers in the area (me included) who are happy to collect swarms if they can do so safely. You’ll also know they are trained experienced Beekeepers. Just try each number until someone answers, as we’re all volunteers.
www.bbka.org.uk/swarm?fbclid=IwAR3zRLhNTU4Nocbp7E6cswMau9jD51cZ23UzAsIDkwPgaVtRO1HmLZ5ZxZY
www.bbka.org.uk
Beekeepers are often approached about winged, flying creatures, especially in the spring and summer period, when they are their most active simply working and are no cause for alarm. We can only help if they are honeybees.Beekeeping season very much underway. First inspection of the year last weekend and the colonies have all started rearing brood, rates will increase now up to 2000 new bees a day. Swarming will start soon. Bait boxes have gone out to ‘catch’ any passing swarms (see picture). Beekeeper’s have started weekly inspections and will be on the look out for swarm preparations. In these unusual times minimising swarming is more important than ever.
Still too cold for full inspections, but out checking the hives today (under the current movement restrictions we are allowed to check bees as they are livestock, while still maintaining social distancing). Most of the colonies are getting very low on stores but have made it through the winter. We gave them some top up sugar to tide them over. Roll on spring and the spring flowers. Unfortunately one colony hadn’t made it.