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I have already lost over 50% and fear more to come. No common denominator. Plenty of stores, no sign of disease/varroa infestation and all hives well insulated. We did have a good and late ivy flow, but ivy is not poisonous to bees. Fluctuating temperatures causing clusters to break up? All a...

This is what I love about beekeeping. A simple post with a useful and instructive purpose immediately turned into a battleground for argument, conflicting views and downright idiocy! Mind you, it would have been useful if this questionnaire catered for the 10, 20 etc response

Fork every time

I had the same problem last year. One hive ferociously aggressive on first inspection. I covered them up quickly and eventually they all went back inside. A month later, after much anxious soul searching I opened them up again and they were as good as gold and stayed that way. So no extinction...

Try honeyframepackaging.co.uk

Near Boxford

I've tried the lot - dried rotten wood, cardboard, egg boxes. Now I just grab a handful of dry grass or weeds, double up so they fit in the smoker and light with a piece of newspaper. Dried grass produces a lovely smooth cool smoke and it doesn't go out. I don't use matches or a cigarette...

Yep, South Suffolk/North Essex plenty of ivy just starting to open. And rowan leaves turning yellow. Is this a sign of a long hard winter to come?

One of my colonies was pretty aggressive last autumn and carried on trying to ding me for a while even after the hive was closed up. It was a swarm I collected on 20 May 2020 without any trouble and gave 28lb of honey in August. It overwintered with a super under the brood box and is still...

My hive roofs all came with neat meshed ventilation slots. After insulating these were effectively covered over and so inoperative. My floors are omf and I always leave the boards in so I can check what's going on in the hive. I have never had condensation problems so have no reason to change....

Surely the main point is bravo to Tim for such a generous offer. I would be happy to up sticks for a purpose built apiary site next to a wild flower meadow, but fear resistance from family members. Good vehicle access is number one priority with security a close second. But good luck, Tim, I...

I assume if you use a heat gun you can't retrieve the cappings for melting and resale?

OK Foul brood. I thought we was talking varroa

Great picture. What are we looking at precisely that is causing a problem?

I bought a 6 frame manual to start with and all very exciting. Two years later and cranking the handle becomes a bit of a bore. Grandchildren no use. 30 seconds and they're gone. So I mounted an electric drill on top and now it spins frames dry in ten minutes. 6 frame radials are better than 10...

Day time temperatures moving into double figures most days so is it safe to start feeding with syrup as hives getting a bit light?

Ah. Now I understand!

40ft box. What variety is that.? Our boxes are knee high to a grasshopper! Still the bees are out on crocus, and bringing in pale creamy grey pollen - from willow? They also had a good go at stinking hellibore but that seems over now. Black thorn just starting to open and viburnum tinens.

Spent half an hour admiring the boxes I have been assembling over the past couple of weeks. Then realised one of the lower locking bars was fitted upside down. How can that be? I always pay extra attention. Must have been when SWMBA brought me a cup of tea. A moment's distraction. Her fault then.

On the basis of total ignorance and inexperience I wedged a piece of Celotex insulation board inside the roof of all my hives and leave the inspection trays under the omf all winter and summer too. No matches or holes drilled anywhere. The bees stay snug and have all successfully overwintered...