Some photos from the courses last year I have some new chickens - particularly pretty ones - so I am looking forward to running these courses in the summer. I run an art class in London every week and it always amazes me how people think they can't draw and very quickly discover that in … Continue reading Sketching Chickens in the Garden
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
New course dates
It's that time of year! I will be offering both an Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping, and an Intermediate course. The introductory course is for those who are interested in learning the principles of beekeeping in a way which is sympathetic to the bees' natural instincts. It is a good course too for those who are … Continue reading New course dates
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
Refresher/intermediate beekeeping course
This course is designed for people who have either attended the Introductory course and would like more information, or those who already keep bees and need to understand more advanced management techniques and methods, but within the ethical/sustainable framework. This course is also aimed at those who have been keeping bees conventionally but would like … Continue reading Refresher/intermediate beekeeping course
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
Cross comb
It has been uncharacteristically hot and sunny here for weeks now and the bees have been making honey. I'm a bit mindful that we desperately need some rain otherwise the plants will reduce their nectar reward in order to conserve moisture, so the bees will need their stores. However, they are still producing prodigiously at … Continue reading Cross comb