The oak tree bees were very busy when we last visited Knockhatch Adventure Park, and according to the staff, the bees had swarmed on Wednesday 15th, but nobody had seen where they went. We checked our bait boxes: the one nearest the colony had bees! We weren't sure whether they were the swarm from the … Continue reading Knockhatch Swarm
School Apiary Update
A beautiful day at the Marsh to check the bees. We had asked Oscar at The Shed to make us a new Warré box for our hive, and he had commissioned Jim and Dino to do so, which they did - out of a former church pew: We wanted to get the next box on … Continue reading School Apiary Update
A Weekend of Workshops
For me, keeping bees is about education: they are the most amazing ambassadors for insects, pollinators, the local environment, and relate to the current global situation regarding extinctions, climate change and other sobering issues. Sustainable beekeeping is about not only about how we keep bees, but also using them to regenerate and encourage other wildlife … Continue reading A Weekend of Workshops
Tree Bees at Knockhatch
Last year, Paul was tipped off about some bees in an aged oak at Knockhatch Adventure Park and yesterday we went to see them, and hear about their history from Colin, the Managing Director of the family-owned Park. The colony currently resides in the trunk of the tree, but originally they were in a branch … Continue reading Tree Bees at Knockhatch
Bees, and Reptiles
The bees in the Warré hive at theWest Rise School Apiary at Langney Marsh have done extremely well, considering they got through the winter in one box, and have had no supplementary feeding. Paul noticed that they had filled the previously unoccupied lower box so a new addition was needed urgently! This has taken us … Continue reading Bees, and Reptiles
Forest Garden Bees
In 2015 I helped set up a community apiary with Andy Durling in Westham, East Sussex, with sustainable beekeeping at its core. The difficulty with setting up community bee activities is that there is often generous funding to establish the apiary - hives, bees, beesuits, smokers, extractors - but no money to fund the ongoing … Continue reading Forest Garden Bees
National Trust update
Today I went to Winchelsea for a meeting about the Swift Town plans, and also to check on the bees in the cottage which we tried unsuccessfully to remove a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful day, and the blossom and oil seed rape was out in force. Following the attempted removal at our … Continue reading National Trust update
Warré hive
At my introductory beekeeping courses, I always recommend using a British National hive, or its cousin the WBC, as they are readily available, and provide beginners with large boxes and robust, well-proportioned frames with which to handle the bees. Just because they are used commercially doesn't mean one has to manage one's bees in that … Continue reading Warré hive
Intermediate Beekeeping Course…and some thoughts
It was great to welcome 4 people to this follow-on course: Tracy, Tracy, John and Jan so I had a sporting chance of remembering names! Jan had been on my intro course, but the others were new to the ways of wayward beekeeping, so it was great to hear their experiences and share mine. I … Continue reading Intermediate Beekeeping Course…and some thoughts
Spring Visit to the School Apiary
I've not been down to check the bees at the Marsh since February, although Paul has dropped by to see how they are getting on. There was a chilly breeze and we were pleased to see the bees flying in with pollen. It's amazing to see that they've survived the winter in one Warré box … Continue reading Spring Visit to the School Apiary