Recent content by eleanor20

I think I have probably learned more from you Finman than any other individual on this forum. I will miss your knowledge and experience, and your sense of humour. I spend a lot less time on this forum than I used to because if I have a problem and need advice I want helpful answers, not to be...

My topbar bees were just hanging around the entrance yesterday too. I too thought it was odd being just the top bar not the nationals!

You could take the full frames out of the brood super and replace them with empty frames. Just hope your stand is well build and stands on solid ground!

My chickens are around my hives too. Only problems I have had have been when inspecting bees, I now always take some corn to distract the hens while I work with the bees. Otherwise you take the roof off the hive and turn it over, place on the floor; turn back to the hive lift off super, turn to...

Early on last year I was offended by something that Finman said to me, but carried on reading his posts with interest. After a while I realised that he was not actually insulting me but what I had done (on advice from another 2-hive owner!lol!) and so I too have decided maybe this chap does know...

I first met members of our local association at an open day and the "we know so much more than you do" and "you must do a beginners course with us before you buy a hive/think about site/read any books" and "you cannot possibly keep bees in your garden at home" attitudes put me right off. I can...

My dad used to tuck his trousers into his socks to stop visitors up the leg, roll up his shirt sleeves and light a fag. He swore that the smoke from the ciggy kept the bees off his face. Only on rare occasions maybe a Q- hive he would put on a veil but I don't remember him ever wearing gloves...

In the Cotswolds this weekend I saw a beautiful field all red yellow and green. Never before have I seen OSR and poppies together!

I tend to swell in the immediate area, so when I was stung on the back of my hand the whole hand swelled, but it did not spread beyond the wrist. Mine tends to swell the following day and last about 3 days. Not really painful but hot and itchy. My hubby was stung for the first time ever a few...

I am a girl so naturally not good with distances. When I moved a hive earlier this year I did it about 10ish on a sunny morning - no idea how far but within sight. For a few hours there was a little cloud of bees hanging around the area where the hive had been but by sun-down they found their...

Does the 'local' bit on the label have to be accurate too? I live really close to a county boundary, can I label my honey as 'wiltshire honey' when there's a good chance some of it may be from Gloucestershire? Or is it enough that the hives are in Wiltshire? (This is of course assuming that we...

Ah, someone else using the colour scheme according to the Haynes manual!

My WBC hive that I thought was my best hope of honey this year, are doing all they can to avoid going into the super. However, my hive of buckfasts, that I was building up ready to split, are zooming away. Double brood and a super nearly filled! I think unless they show signs of trying to swarm...

Do they carry a clip board to make them look busy? I used to work with a few people that did that....

In previous years I thought I was safe here but whilst walking my dogs this morning I spotted 3 large fields turning yellow. I think that they would be max 2 miles from my hives. So, what I want to know is can I tell whether my bees are working it? Or do I just assume they probably are. How...