Recent content by sunshinemedic

If you have a Langstroth nuc or colony you wish to sell in the SW London,Surrey or Sussex area, do let me know. :) Thanks.

So I keep telling SWMBO.. Now I have proof!

Lol.. Looks like I can now justify the spare boxes I have lying around!

Having lost a colony at the end of last season (Varroa probably), I got a nuc ordered nice and early. I get the call yesterday telling me the nuc is ready for collection and I tidy up the hive in preparation for the new arrivals. Popped into the apiary this afternoon and found what looked like...

First Lime wave of flowers open here. Hives are beginning to hum after the late May/June gap we get locally. :)

Bit of a problem. A neighbour and fellow beekeeper looks like he is in over his head. Whilst I have kept to my 2 hives which I can manage given the time available, my neighbour's just keep expanding in number. I've lost track of how many he actually has. Problem is, he has obviously been busy...

Maybe they are waiting for the weather to clear a bit?

I reckon the new queen was a supercedure. The main issue in my opinion is whether there are enough drones and fine enough conditions for mating, especially with the spring we've had.

Just wanted to know if he could give me an idea when the Queens I had ordered and paid for last year might be arriving. Not too stupid a question?

Thanks all. I was beginning to fear the worst....

Anyone know if Kemble Bees at Brede Valley are still in business? Not heard from them despite a few attempts and the website looks unchanged from last year.

Conditions just good enough for a quick inspection of my stronger hive. Nice and warm but on the breezy side. Bees across 10 frames, brood across 2. Pollen and honey stores ok. Did not open my weaker hive cos I reckon they need all the warmth they can get.

Hi all, Looks like the colony in my National Hive is not going to survive. Anyone with a nuc available? Harold

Happy New Year all! The days are slowly getting longer and I hope the Beekeeping season will be a fruitful one for everyone.

Not so around my area. The numbers of hives and beeks have gone through the roof in the last 5 years.