MartinL
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2,328
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- Warwickshire
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 9
There are some abandoned hives < a mile away from mine.
The hives have been there around 4-5 years, (at least since we noticed them). there was a visible worn path through the grass to an old field gate & beyond that were the hives in a corner of the field.
Over a year ago (2 winters), we noticed that one was on it's side on the ground.
Then a few weeks back, (after locals were looking to me as the source of several swarms in the village) I decided to have a closer look. Cut back the brambles & hedge that had closed over the field gate.
There were still bees in one hive, the other (on its side in separate parts, roof buried in the soil, upside down & full of two years worth of leaves.
The remaining good hive was overgrown with brambles so I cleared the entrance and lifted the roof, still visible on the top super of the hive was a name & local phone number so I called the number.
Answer came that;
"oh yes they were vandalised. some kids kicked them over" !
So why didn't the keeper put them back upright?
Or was it that he just couldn't be assed?
Well I told him that I'd put the "vandalised" hive back together. Didn't seem that concerned, or appreciative.
Anyway, last week I went to see if anything had changed.
No signs of anyone else visiting, long grass with no disturbance, vegetation not been cut back etc.
Roof on the "vandalised hive was still in the same position I had left it, (on top but on an angle so that it sat on the crown-board & didn't sit down over the hive.
However, now there are bees inside!
Opened the crown-board and there was a swarm clinging to the underside of the board.
They'd only just started to build combe so must have been there less than 24 hours.
Question is;
do I tell the "Beekeeper" about the swarm?
Should I drop an old super on top of the established colony to give them a bit more room?
The hives have been there around 4-5 years, (at least since we noticed them). there was a visible worn path through the grass to an old field gate & beyond that were the hives in a corner of the field.
Over a year ago (2 winters), we noticed that one was on it's side on the ground.
Then a few weeks back, (after locals were looking to me as the source of several swarms in the village) I decided to have a closer look. Cut back the brambles & hedge that had closed over the field gate.
There were still bees in one hive, the other (on its side in separate parts, roof buried in the soil, upside down & full of two years worth of leaves.
The remaining good hive was overgrown with brambles so I cleared the entrance and lifted the roof, still visible on the top super of the hive was a name & local phone number so I called the number.
Answer came that;
"oh yes they were vandalised. some kids kicked them over" !
So why didn't the keeper put them back upright?
Or was it that he just couldn't be assed?
Well I told him that I'd put the "vandalised" hive back together. Didn't seem that concerned, or appreciative.
Anyway, last week I went to see if anything had changed.
No signs of anyone else visiting, long grass with no disturbance, vegetation not been cut back etc.
Roof on the "vandalised hive was still in the same position I had left it, (on top but on an angle so that it sat on the crown-board & didn't sit down over the hive.
However, now there are bees inside!
Opened the crown-board and there was a swarm clinging to the underside of the board.
They'd only just started to build combe so must have been there less than 24 hours.
Question is;
do I tell the "Beekeeper" about the swarm?
Should I drop an old super on top of the established colony to give them a bit more room?