Broodnest In The Cold
Source: Randy Oliver Not many beekeepers pull brood frames out of their hives in the middle of winter. Whilst this is not surprising, given the risks, it does mean that we tend to imagine what's going on inside the hive.…
Choosing A Hive Type
Houses for bees Every year, about now in my part of the world, a new intake of future beekeepers starts evening classes run by their local beekeeping association. These courses are generally excellent from what I've seen. Beginner classes are…
Dessie and Fish
Desert Orchid at Sandown Park Last Friday, I attended the National Honey Show at Sandown Park Racecourse. The last time I'd been there was to watch Desert Orchid romp home in the 1987 Gainsborough Limited Handicap Chase. Dessie was one…
Learning from Nature
Source: American Bee Journal At the recent autumn convention of Cheshire Beekeepers' Association, Professor Tom Seeley talked about 'Darwinian beekeeping'. I had doubts but wanted to hear the great man speak. His many years of studying honey bees, particularly those…
Whatever Floats Your Boat
Floating boats Countless beekeepers are offering their thoughts and opinions on all manner of things (I'm one of them). There are books galore, not to mention Facebook and YouTube. Hence, as with so much modern life, the challenge is information…
It’s About People
My Parents in 1961 I gave a talk to South Clywd Beekeeping Association the other day. It was a presentation that I've done five or six times before, about my travels to meet and learn from beekeepers worldwide. My favourite…
Four Apiaries and a Wedding
Mr Jowls of Jowlstown I feel pretty good about how things have gone as I head towards the end of my beekeeping season. There have been some ups and downs, but I've learned new things and made progress as both…
Survival Rate of New Queens
I'm going to be dipping into some research by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation in Australia in 2003. You can get the research paper here. It's by Rhodes and Somerville and has some clues that should help with…
Peter Little Has Died
Peter Little - sadly no longer with us Within the past week, the community of beekeepers lost a great man. Peter Little of Exmoor Bees and Beehives moved on to the great apiary in the sky. I'm sure they welcomed…
They Fly?!
Photo by Boba Jaglicic on Unsplash Raising queens has helped my beekeeping enormously. I have been able to compare hives headed by home bred queens with 'self-made' queens. The latter tends to occur when bees swarm or when I make a 'walk away…
Laws of Physics
Queen cells not far from emerging I may have discovered some laws of physics hitherto hidden from me. The obvious one that I have suspected for some time is that the weather will always turn rubbish when lime trees flower. It's…
Summertime, and the living is…
It's a busy time for bees and beekeepers in my little corner of Cheshire. Here's a quick update from the Walrus Honey apiaries.