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
Category: West Rise
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
Bee Hotels and a New Hive for the School Apiary
With the Langney Marsh School Apiary Project, we are keen to include different groups and societies to maximise the reach and engagement with the bees. One element of this is to utilise the skills of the men and women who attend The Eastbourne Shed, a workshop organised by Age Concern Eastbourne. People can go along … Continue reading Bee Hotels and a New Hive for the School Apiary
Trees at West Rise School Apiary
We have been planning to increase the tree cover at the Marsh, to provide both shelter from the wind and better foraging opportunities for our small colony of honeybees. The black poplars were the first to go in, and all six seem to have rooted and survived the worst of the winter: The mulch seems … Continue reading Trees at West Rise School Apiary
Black poplars at West Rise School Apiary
This was our last visit to Langney Marsh for this year, and it was unsurprisingly cold, with the usual prevailing wind whistling across our faces. Within the apiary site, we have permission from the landowner (the Council) to plant trees. In a bid to increase the conservation potential and biodiversity, Paul contacted Fran Southgate of … Continue reading Black poplars at West Rise School Apiary
Winter Bee Check at West Rise School Apiary
A misty day on Langney Marsh for this month's bee check. The children were engaged in Forest School when myself and Paul arrived, and we were given a quick masterclass in the workings of a storm kettle as they waited patiently for bubbles to appear in the water for their hot drinks. We walked out … Continue reading Winter Bee Check at West Rise School Apiary
Hive check at West Rise School Apiary
It was another beautiful day at Langney Marsh when we went to check the bees: The weather has been very warm and dry recently and we were hoping that the bees would be foraging enthusiastically. We couldn't see a huge number of nectar sources in the immediate vicinity and the prevailing wind was doing its … Continue reading Hive check at West Rise School Apiary
Beeswax from West Rise School Apiary
Our plan following the last visit was to bring the redundant hive back and melt down the beeswax before the wax moths got to it. As the apiary is some distance from the car park, we used the quad bike to bring it back. Some of the combs still had pollen in the cells and … Continue reading Beeswax from West Rise School Apiary
Warre Hive visit
Paul and I visited the apiary site on Langney Marsh to see how the bees in the Warre were getting on. We had left them with a queenless but well-provisioned hive sited near them, and a block across the entrance to reduce the amount of policing required as the colony is still very small and … Continue reading Warre Hive visit
First Visit to West Rise Bee Sanctuary and School Apiary
I was invited to be involved with this project by the Head of the award-winning West Rise Junior School, Mike Fairclough, and Paul Youlten, bee enthusiast from Winchelsea. The apiary had been set up six years previously as a sanctuary for the native black honeybee, Apis mellifera mellifera but had sadly become rather neglected. The … Continue reading First Visit to West Rise Bee Sanctuary and School Apiary