Any Archers listeners here? (reference to colony collapse)

[BeeJuice]

On Sunday's episode (you can listed again on the iPlayer) there was the following dialogue:

Jill Archer: I've had colony collapse in one of my hives

Kirsty: oh no. Any idea why?

Jill: I was a bit worried about it going into winter. I should have given them more sugery feed...... When I opened up the hive yesterday most of the colony was dead.

Kirsty: and there's nothing you can do about it?

Jill: Not without a Queen. I've transferred the few surviving workers over to another hive.


I don't want to be pedantic but is this colony collapse? I thought that was a US term? Is it to do with feeding in the Autumn? Would that explain the absence of the Queen?

What would the forum advise Jill to do?!

 

[Fritillary]

Find a mentor I should think!
(Which could have been a good idea before writing the script?)

 

[B+.]

What would the forum advise Jill to do?!

Learn something about bees before making damned silly statements on radio.

 

[Anduril]

On Sunday's episode (you can listed again on the iPlayer) there was the following dialogue:

Jill Archer: I've had colony collapse in one of my hives

Kirsty: oh no. Any idea why?

Jill: I was a bit worried about it going into winter. I should have given them more sugery feed...... When I opened up the hive yesterday most of the colony was dead.

Kirsty: and there's nothing you can do about it?

Jill: Not without a Queen. I've transferred the few surviving workers over to another hive.


I don't want to be pedantic but is this colony collapse? I thought that was a US term? Is it to do with feeding in the Autumn? Would that explain the absence of the Queen?

What would the forum advise Jill to do?!

Send the dead bees to NBU, do not add the remaining bees to another hive. Treat with acetic acid. Move to Cornwall.

 

[BeeJuice]

Find a mentor I should think!
(Which could have been a good idea before writing the script?)

Lol

For those people who don't know, Jill is a lady in here 80s who is an expert bee keeper in Ambridge. Later on in the episode she invites Kirsty to join her for an inspection. It looks like Jill will be mentoring Kirsty as her grandson (former helper with the bees) has lost interest in the beekeeping.

 

[Anduril]

But, if it is CCD from Cornwall? She may not be familiar with it.

 

[bingevader]

She seemed to be using CCD as some overarching, catch-all condition that could account for starvation, queenlessness or disease.
If they were diseased, she's now spread it to another colony anyway.
Maybe this is how the farming community feels on a daily basis when they hear the goings on at various Ambridge farms?

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Maybe this is how the farming community feels on a daily basis when they hear the goings on at various Ambridge farms?

Bwah hah hah

 

[For want of a better word]

No wish to dissolution anyone but like Corrie, East Enders and all the other Soaps The Archers is FICTION !

Overheard in the Bunratty Arms in Schull... sorry Mick we can not come to your party.. have a nasty case of Archers here.... Do not worry, bring it over anyway, we will drink anything here!

Yeghes da

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Maybe this is how the farming community feels on a daily basis when they hear the goings on at various Ambridge farms?

A school friend and small farmer used to swear by The Archers when deciding the right time to start up the combine harvester suggesting they have some good agricultural advice. Maybe less so in apiculture.

. .. . Ben

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Beejuice - when you heard this dialogue on BBC Radio 4, did she pronounce "colony collapse" with capital letters at the start of each word? I had a colony collapse during the winter but I'm pretty sure it was not Colony Collapse Disorder! - more likely to be something to do with about 6000 mites dropped between July and October after 4 oxalic-based treatments and four thymol-based treatments but I suspect the associated viruses got the better of the bees. Maybe the Archers' colony collapsed because it ran out of food - who knows?

CVB

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I don't want to be pedantic but is this colony collapse?

To be pedantic yes - she has a colony and it has collapsed. The stuff the yanks have created for themselves is Colony Collapse Disorder or to give it its proper name - Sudden Colony collapse Disorder

<oops - just noticed CVB's reply >

 

[BeeJuice]

Beejuice - when you heard this dialogue on BBC Radio 4, did she pronounce "colony collapse" with capital letters at the start of each word?
CVB

She just said colony collapse - not colony collapse disorder. and yes, I suppose her colony did collapse.

I was wondering whether we were meant to conclude the colony collapsed because she neglected to feed the bees or whether it was because the hive was queenless. I suppose it could be a combination of both.

The general public may have heard of colony collapse disorder and the program may have mislead them into thinking that's now an issue here in the UK (in Ambridge, Borsetshire!)

Never mind, as has been said. It is a fictional program. I'm not getting on my high horse ranting about how the BBC wastes my licence fee. But there could have been a better dialogue to explain the death of the bees.

I have a good friend who is a deer farmer and he used to consult with the program when they referred to the deer herd. I imagine they have someone doing a similar role who is a beekeeper. Whoever he or she is, i think they could do better.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

That particular colony was probably out of contract with the BBC and was killed off accordingly - more money pinching ideas from the beancounters I say!