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
Oil Seed Rape
This is the current view from my back gate: oil seed rape in full flower. I am an artist as well as a beekeeper and part of me is enthralled by the expanse of bright yellow right outside my back door - and fortunately I don't suffer with hay fever! Sadly though, this is a … Continue reading Oil Seed Rape
Starnash Farmhouse B&B…& Beekeeping
I am always keen to meet up with like-minded people, and I love using honeybees as a way of reconnecting people with our environment. I had a meeting last week with Vicky of Starnash Farmhouse B&B, and after coffee, walking and talking around the beautiful surroundings, it was obvious that it would be a perfect … Continue reading Starnash Farmhouse B&B…& Beekeeping
Feeding bees
People often ask me what "sustainable" beekeeping is, and one of the main tenets as far as I'm concerned is not giving bees sugar syrup. Ever. Feeding is generally done in the autumn in most beekeeping circles, as the bulk of the honey will have been removed for our consumption so of course the bees … Continue reading Feeding bees
National Trust Bees
I visited these bees with Paul a few weeks ago to see about removing them. The cottage is due to be renovated at some point, and as we wanted bees for the Marsh, it would be somewhere to relocate these bees before work began. Now is a good time to try and remove bees as … Continue reading National Trust Bees
Thermosolar Hive at Berwick Solar Farm
I was invited to be involved with this project at a solar farm near me, using a newly developed type of hive to help in the fight against varroa, a parasitic mite which can debilitate honeybee colonies and cause secondary viral infections. Currently the treatments available are chemically-based and have a harsh effect on the … Continue reading Thermosolar Hive at Berwick Solar Farm