Search results

Q: Best place to purchase fondant mail order/delivered (or for pick-up in North Yorkshire) please? Background: Been out of this for a couple of years, fortunately 4 swarms caught so far this year (zero last yr & winter before that lost my hives).

4th swarm in my bait hives this year, managed to capture this one on vid. Previous 3 were all prime and mid-late May. Swarm Arrival (secondary) 01-07-21

Afternoon all, after a forced medical lay-off of almost 4 years I am back to beekeeping. Like-new shoulder. Same supportive farmer, who has sorted me a new location with vehicle access and much less long distance carrying. 5 hives moved and ready for set up today (all empty at the moment). The...

This is probably my third season de-capping using a hot air gun. I find it quick, clean and highly effective (provided you remember you have a 'gun' hand and a 'frame' hand!) We've debated methods on the forum in the past, but to help those who have not tried out multiple methods; what...

A noticeable increase in wasp activity over the last two days in Yorks and earlier than I recall in recent years. I have been closing down entrances on a weak hive and x2 nuc's and setting some strategic wasp traps today. Time for the annual debate .... Protect your weak colonies as well you...

I recently posted a video of a swarm arrival at a bait hive (13-06), I re-set the bait hive the following day. Then followed a couple of days of bad weather; a couple of days of increasing scout activity and then yesterday (20-06), bingo. Fifth take on this bait hive so far this year and having...

They arrived home at the same time as me (and yes I know I still have race boots not wellies on - but then I'd have missed the arrival!). Third bait hive take this year, sadly weather has made maiting for previous two queens at best difficult. I looks like she has just started laying. You Tube...

Planning to build one this year, wont be processing loads of frames. Any design tips and nice to haves from those that have already built / used one appreciated. What is a good general purpose size? What to use as the main tray - old roasting tin? Tx R

I am in the fortunate position of having to combine down to my target hive count this year. I have never bought a bee, my bees are all from local mongrels. My first colony was, caught by accident by assembling my new hive and going out for the morning, my bait hive success has continued year in...

I normally leave a bait hive in the garden and let them build up through the summer and then ship out before the next season to the apiary (family like the interest). The exception would be if the blighters got bolshy of course. Request from the boss to make the hive 'look pretty' To save...

Anyone seen one of these? I particularly like the style of the sales blurb and the useful health and safety advice - "the pull cord at the bottom releases a puff of smoke to calm the colony while you collect honey, because filling your apartment with a few thousand p1ssed-off poisonous insects...

The one in the middle pic has to be right on the limit! These others seem rather more air worthy. Taken at RHS Harlow 17-08-11, the place was absolutely brimming over with insect activity, really brought the already impressive displays to life.

Was playing with the camera this morning and caught this greedy individual coming in for a heavy landing.

I need a couple more nuc boxes. I run 14x12. My current nucs are 5 frame, mesh floored. I am considering building 6 framers this time round to: Give a better build-up buffer <or> Allow a simpler split / swarm control (tgt is a couple of store frames, 3 frames of brood/bees and an expansion...

The requirement: combination of a dwindling queenless 14x12 single brood colony with a v strong 5 frame (std nat) nuc containing a laying 2011 queen. The complication: absolutely no brood boxes left and unwilling to buy another one! How would you unite in these circumstances? I know what I am...

Not the main thrust of the report but apparently we (or our little helpers) are worth a bob or two. Bees and other natural pollinators are calculated as making a £430m contribution to the UK economy. Just how that figure is arrived at is not clear but at least it's recognised as a positive not a...

I am not talking about 'static' or near static macro photography but high speed / in-flight subjects. The method I am using for on the wing definately has a very high proportion of luck involved and hence a low sucess rate. A few tolerable snaps but as far as getting good movement Macro's I have...

Okay, it's a kettle and its not boiling, but thats just detail. Moderate activity around the bait hive in my back garden this afternoon, but by 16:45 I figured it was too late for anything. Went inside. My wife comes home 20 minutes later to say "why is that hive in the back garden covered in...

I'm going soft! Had a call to remove some bees from a compost bin in a small garden within the village, young children, site very close to house and so had to go. When I got there I found the smallest of colonies hanging on for dear life, open to the elements, been there about a week and had...