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 …
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 …
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 …
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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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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Wayward Bee 