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A customer asked if I sold propolis. As a hobby beekeeper with limited time I don’t but I had some in my freezer and she was delighted to receive it. She crushes the propolis in a blender and adds it to the odd jar of honey she buys from me. Made me think is there is experience out there of...

What will members charge for an 11 frame colony of bees this spring? With young (edit red ) marked 2023 mated queen , I’m estimating 7 frames of brood and rest of frames stores / drawn comb with good covering of bees Also thoughts on next seasons first 6 frame Nucs with this years green marked...

I made an impulse decision to travel 400 miles from Yorkshire to Bridgewater Somerset this weekend to attend the South West Asian hornet conference How inspirational and I’m relieved our fantastic NBU are so committed via monitoring, track and trace and gaining support from FERA science and...

Thought I’d share details of some courses Bibba have arranged in January. For newbies and also beekeepers considering expanding and potentially setting up a business. Here’s the link. I’ve paid to go on one of the latter courses. The link below gives more detail if you click onto either of the...

Received a glue gun for Xmas. Think a hint from hubbie to make up my own frames! Have seen over the years quite a few uses for glue guns on the forum and now reflecting and looking for inspiration what to use mine for 🤣 What do you use your glue gun for? Also do you use it for frames in...

I applied 2 Formic pro pads as per manufacturer instructions to 2 colonies for 7 days on 15 August - a large double brood colony and a single brood colony. I did a sugar shake on the one with the largest drops before I started the treatment and it showed 3% infestation. When I took the pads out...

Thornes not available til 2024. Beckys bees, Paynes, Beekeeping supplies, Wynne Jones all out of stock. Anyone know why Formic acid is not available in these formats, or know of a source?

I’ve swarm controlled a few colonies - this year by putting the queen into a Nuc. Sealed swarm cell about to emerge in the ‘parent’ colonies. Supers are getting full and need to add another. Ideally I’d like to get some new super frames drawn. I do have some wet supers but id prefer to save for...

For those beekeepers on or near the heather, what’s your gut feel re the crop this year? I’ve got to know my local gamekeeper recently. He reckons the last 2 years have cost him 50 years; local ‘politics’ means he can’t manage the moor as well through burning. There have been lots of...

Every season just when I thought I’d understood bee behaviour something happens that surprises me. It’s still early in the season and despite the fact that many of my colonies are up to 10-12 frames brood no swarm preps, yet. However, I found 5 cells in a double Nuc this week. Look just like...

For those who repeat sublimation, at what varroa drop do you decide to stop? For example if 35 mites dropped after a vape would you stop at this time of year? What would the drop need to be for you to decide to stop and not repeat?

It’s that time of year to get creative and each year i try to think of a new wax project. Especially if I can give as presents for Xmas. Usually start when the pressure gets on early Dec! I’ve been thinking about luminaires and how I’d make them. Then at the National honey show I saw one, wow...

Made some beeswax tea lights and aromatherapy melts, to get ahead for Xmas gifts and nights by the logfire (since our old electric Aga is banned from going on this year!). Have you got any beeswax projects planned? Elaine

Today is the first National honey day. I’ve just promoted on my Facebook feed. Feel free to copy using my words below, add pics of your fabulous honey and spread the word! You deserve more sales after all your hard work this season! “Honey is a lovely taste of sunshine captured in a jar ready...

I love a good piece of analysis, especially when it leads to a new insight about bees! So I particularly enjoyed Steve Donohoe’s blog this week on queen laying rates and how he uses the data to keep ahead of his bees. Link below. Whilst I can’t claim to have Steve’s Excel prowess, I do enjoy...

Our association has invested in some good kit but we’re struggling to find members with spare storage space to house it. Any ideas for safe and cost effective storage solutions for equipment, you don’t have space at home for?

Has anyone experience of making Beeswax votive candles? I've been looking at votive moulds and wicks on Fourcandles and wondering which NT wick size to buy from the options? Also how do the votive pins work, or do you just use the pre-made wicks with sustainer, like tea lights? Bit confused...

Got a v nice flow in all my apiaries at the moment in this hot weather. Been observing one colony at home that has been bearding most of the week. Big ‘drops’ of bees hanging from the landing board and some on the corners underneath the hive legs and also on the floor on front of the hive. It’s...

Just listening to Radio 4 news and 2 pieces of fake news already this morning. First, 1 in 4 swimming pools have closed in last 3 years, example sited was Halifax, pool is temporarily closed whilst they build a new one and the nearest one is also relatively new only 2-3 miles away in Sowerby...

What are you ‘professional’ heather go-ers, doing over the next couple of weeks to prepare for the heather? My flow over last 3 years has started on 14-15 august and usually lasts 2-3 weeks max depending on the weather. Most of the crop comes in on a specific week. Colonies fly direct to the...