bee inspector

[The Apprentices]

Hi Doc

Last autumn the hedgerows were bursting along my commute - inc. loads of apples i'd never noticed before, perhaps the winter tyres won't be necessary this year.

We live at 250 feet ASL and last night plumetted to around 8 our freinds live 750 ASL and they got just over 5, it is definately getting cooler towards the end of summer and warmer in the spring like this year, as if the seasons have moved forward a few weeks.

The hazlenuts are already heavy on the trees and the swifts are grouping ready to leave again for Africa same as last year, in previous years it was the end of August before they were gathering.

Our apple and pear trees are already hanging down their laden branches, we are in for an early and long winter I would say by many years of Observations.

Nature always knows best not man who has lost his scense of Earth time.

On the all weather tyres, buy them now before they double in price like last winter

 

[Hivemaker.]

Nature always knows best not man who has lost his scense of Earth time.


Sounds like the bees have lost it as well.

 

[The Apprentices]

Nature always knows best not man who has lost his scense of Earth time.


Sounds like the bees have lost it as well.

The bees, they have always survived, if we give them what they want.

If the weather does get much cooler as I predict then we could end up similar to Canada where nothing beelike can adapt to or survive that kind of climate.

What is a paying hobby could very well turn into a truly disposable income if we don't try to breed more locally adaptable bees and or suitable equipment to suit the ever changing climates.

Just saying.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Aye,keep them in big air conditioned sheds in winter.

 

[tonybloke]

"On a closing note, they say that when we have laden fruit trees we are in for another cold winter, take a look at them this year, cooling I would bet on, snows not if its too cold."

agree - last autumn the hedgerows were bursting along my commute - inc. loads of apples i'd never noticed before.

perhaps the winter tyres won't be necessary this year.

erm, don't plants react to weather, not guess what the weather is going to do?

 

[The Apprentices]

erm, don't plants react to weather, not guess what the weather is going to do?

Plants certainly do react, my peas are already starting to die off/brown and an odd few brocolli have gone to seed.

I was out with the dog yesterday and walking under the beaches we are being showered with beach casts/nuts, many of the trees are already changing colour.

All the natural signs as one would suspect as autum aproaches, this year its early which normally means only one thing.

Down to 3.8 last night even with slight cloud cover.

 

[region2]

Has the OP, Pete in Wilts, got insurance cover?

R2

 

[richardbees]

region,

Who knows? we've gone a bit off topic, I'm still floundering through shingle from Apprentice's beach!

 

[peteinwilts]

Has the OP, Pete in Wilts, got insurance cover?

R2

house insurance, health insurance, driving insurance, travel insurance, bird insurance, bird public liability insurance, horse insurance ... almost every bl**dy insurance! no bee insurance though.

why do you ask?

public liability - my bees are nowhere near people, houses, roads or public footpaths. I can't see that I really need it.

theft - my bees are not impossible, but difficult to get to and someone would be easily trapped if caught (most of my apiarys are at the end of dead ends). I am a tall fit young-middle aged chap with an extreme dislike to thieves. If caught, I would 'encourage' them to practice naked beekeeping...
Worst case scenario. I would lose an apiary. It would be crap, and hopefully the cameras would catch them, but would not be the end of the world.

disease insurance - I have my bees in multiple apiarys, so 'if' my bees were unlucky enough to have a disease that meant they had to be put down, then I would hope I have limited the damage to hopefully only one apiary.
I am a fair distance away from other beekeepers, and as far as I am aware, there are no notifable diseases in my area.

I catch swarms, but are placed in an outlaying apiary to keep them away from my stock until considered safe.

If I lose half a dozen colonys to disease, it would be pretty crap, but would not cost a fortune to set back up. I make my own equipment and breed the majority of my own stock. Beekeeping is not an expensive hobby.

If one of my birds or horses were to fall ill, it may cost several thousand pounds to put it right so insurance is worth it. If the bees fall ill, treating them does not cost a fortune (and certainly will not have many thousands of pounds vets bills!)

I can't give myself a good argument to acquire bee insurance!?!

 

[region2]

OMG - that's the old I've never had a crash so don't need car insurance argument.

R2

 

[peteinwilts]

OMG - that's the old I've never had a crash so don't need car insurance argument.

R2

explain.... what am i insuring against!?!

 

[steve1958]

Exciting News

I am off to spend the morning with the Local Bee Inspector this week.
Hopefully all will go well, and I will learn lots.

 

[greatbritishhoney]

explain.... what am i insuring against!?!

Someone turns up to steal your hives and gets stung to death....you're liable!

 

[peteinwilts]

Someone turns up to steal your hives and gets stung to death....you're liable!

So is the same as someone breaking in attempting to steal a dog and getting bitten. I'd be happy to fight that one in court!

 

[greatbritishhoney]

. I'd be happy to fight that one in court!

Ermmm.....that's what insurance is for - so you can fight it in court without having to pay very expensive legal bills.

A dog bite is one thing, but death through anaphylaxis would be a wee bit more costly to defend.

 

[peteinwilts]

Ermmm.....that's what insurance is for - so you can fight it in court without having to pay very expensive legal bills.

'regular' people do not have 'dog-biting to burglar' insurance.

has there been any court cases regarding theives being stung whilst stealing bee hives?

it sounds very much of insurance for insurance sake...

 

[greatbritishhoney]

'regular' people do not have 'dog-biting to burglar' insurance.

No, that's why they have to pay legal bills when someone sues them.

If your assertion is that you don't need insurance because "it'll never happen to me" then I think you may be missing the very point of insurance.
When you are the keeper of a potentially lethal animal the argument that you didn't want to pay the £20 a year insurance will look a little short-sighted if it all goes wrong.

 

[peteinwilts]

Ermmm.....that's what insurance is for - so you can fight it in court without having to pay very expensive legal bills.

A dog bite is one thing, but death through anaphylaxis would be a wee bit more costly to defend.

A cat bite or scratch can, among other things, cause septicemia, as can a dog bite (nasty things live in cat saliva).

Technically I am sure I can get hauled to court if i go on holiday and a burglar eats some ham that is out of it's sell by date....

I am pretty sure house insurance will not cover that either, although I am sure an insurance salesman would be very happy to take your money if you so wanted to include it. (but will not include ecoli from not washing the salad!)

 

[greatbritishhoney]

A cat bite or scratch can, among other things, cause septicemia, as can a dog bite (nasty things live in cat saliva).

Technically I am sure I can get hauled to court if i go on holiday and a burglar eats some ham that is out of it's sell by date....

I am pretty sure house insurance will not cover that either, although I am sure an insurance salesman would be very happy to take your money if you so wanted to include it. (but will not include ecoli from not washing the salad!)

I hope you don't plan to defend yourself in court
Next case!

 

[greatbritishhoney]

Also just noticed Pete that you "collect swarms" - without insurance.

I don't think I'm the only one who would think you are taking unnecessary risks for the sake of saving a few quid / an anti-insurance principle.