Big country, different conditions

[enrico]

Having read on here about bees making winter preparations, taking honey into brood boxes, winding down etc please be aware that that may not apply to you. I have two hives making full swarm preparations. Summer isn't over yet, certainly not down here in the south.

 

[user 20297]

Having read on here about bees making winter preparations, taking honey into brood boxes, winding down etc please be aware that that may not apply to you. I have two hives making full swarm preparations. Summer isn't over yet, certainly not down here in the south.

.....nor up here in the North!

 

[Anduril]

We will have to wait for West and East to respond.

 

[JamezF]

Errrm, Summer... That's the one that's usually warm and rainy as opposed to cold and rainy, right?

James

 

[user 20297]

Errrm, Summer... That's the one that's usually warm and rainy as opposed to cold and rainy, right?

James

Warm? What's that? Up here, if it's dark outside, it's Winter, if it's light, it's Summer.

 

[enrico]

Errrm, Summer... That's the one that's usually warm and rainy as opposed to cold and rainy, right?

James

Rain?I wish. I have cracks in my vegetable garden big enough to get my are down..... In the soil before you comment

 

[Erichalfbee]

Mid West Wales bees still heading out at warp speed though not so many. Rain overnight and partly through a day has freshened everything up. Some white bees coming home. Clover and rosebay aplenty still.

 

[JamezF]

Rain?I wish. I have cracks in my vegetable garden big enough to get my are down...

Here too, hence I'm not actually sure what season this is

James

 

[RichardK]

I thought the UK was experiencing the hottest weather since the Ice Age...or something like that!?

 

[enrico]

I thought the UK was experiencing the hottest weather since the Ice Age...or something like that!?

We had one really really hot day but parts of us are in drought whilst others are not! You wouldn't believe the fuss over the 40⁰ that the TV made!

 

[blackcloud]

Today I saw big herds of drones on frames in a few hives.
Surely it's a bit early for marching orders?

 

[madasafish]

Lots of rain here : my greenhouse water barrel was nearly empty last Tuesday: now 70% full.

 

[JamezF]

Lots of rain here : my greenhouse water barrel was nearly empty last Tuesday: now 70% full.

The rain gauge on my weather station is playing up, but I'm pretty sure we've had no rain of any meaningful amount since April. The occasional shower or two, but barely enough to get anything properly wet.

In fact we have five one thousand litre IBCs that I fill from the well for watering the polytunnel. I filled them once in March and then tried to refill them a couple of weeks back, but the well ran dry when they were about three quarters full

I know of someone who has a large plastic heating oil tank that they're offering for free. I'm quite tempted to drag it back here on the trailer, clean it out and use it for more rainwater storage.

James

 

[Amari]

We had a deluge of rain early June but nothing measurable since. Lawn yellow, all garden and allotment plants suffering. We use our well for watering the garden via a submersible pump but now only 2' of water so no longer possible - surely an indication of severe reduction of ground-water level?. Three large rainwater tanks empty.
The worst drought in our 21 years here. Still no hosepipe ban!

 

[Ian48]

Your right, I’m in the South and the last good drop of rain was April!
I only said this evening “ I’m fed up of everything looking brown in the garden!”
We have a 2500 ltr oil tank I use for water, fed by the run off from the roof, this ran out by mid June, and our well which is 20ft has dropped a good 10ft, and that’s without taking any water from it.
I’m now thinking about 2 or 3 IBC tanks as a back up for next summer.
I love my Dahlias but they do like a good drink!

 

[JamezF]

Still no hosepipe ban!

It won't be too long unless the weather changes (which doesn't appear likely in the near future from the forecast), I reckon. I think I read that they already have one on the Isle of Man.

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

Anglia water we’re saying on the beeb today they had no plans for a hosepipe ban at present as their reservoirs were still reasonably full.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Anglia water we’re saying on the beeb today they had no plans for a hosepipe ban at present as their reservoirs were still reasonably full.

they'd only pinch it from Wales if they got a bit short anyway

 

[JamezF]

Anglia water we’re saying on the beeb today they had no plans for a hosepipe ban at present

Doesn't that usually happen about a week before they introduce a hosepipe ban

James

 

[enrico]

The rain gauge on my weather station is playing up, but I'm pretty sure we've had no rain of any meaningful amount since April. The occasional shower or two, but barely enough to get anything properly wet.

In fact we have five one thousand litre IBCs that I fill from the well for watering the polytunnel. I filled them once in March and then tried to refill them a couple of weeks back, but the well ran dry when they were about three quarters full

I know of someone who has a large plastic heating oil tank that they're offering for free. I'm quite tempted to drag it back here on the trailer, clean it out and use it for more rainwater storage.

James

my well is still running water but I am on the levels, it is at its lowest with about two meters of water left in it. It can get up to six!