Flood Rescue tomorrow

[Summerslease]

whilst on topic of flooded hives - does the panel have any advice about what to do with sodden matchsticks? obviously they'll have expanded with resulting increase in ventilation over and above that recommended by BBKA. should they be replaced with fresh dry ones or allowed to dry out naturally with the rest of the hive?

When they dry out they could be used to light the blue touch paper at the forum fireworks party.:rolleyes

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

All those steadfast bees, just holding on ...

Steadfast Is that the new strain of BA bee bred under licence ?
I thought all Chris's bees were either own bred or imported Buckfasts

 

[richardbees]

does the panel have any advice about what to do with sodden matchsticks

Actually, matchsticks are a bit "last year" as your local shops will now include a 99p Shop that sells bundles of kebab sticks - much better quality timber than matchwood......and already on the corners of my glazed hive!

 

[beebreeder]

I was thinking about this. Floating isn't the problem but stability is. Especially in summer - the previous bad floods were in July 2007 when full supers were on. (I didn't have that apiary then).
Maybe a modified pallet would do it. The all I'd have to worry about is retrieving them from the Bristol Channel.

Chris
Take a look at the video of the mobile homes at Evesham now on floating pontoons and chained to concrete blocks in the ground, a bit OTT for hives me thinks.
kev

 

[Chris Luck]

See my post http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=289866&postcount=44

Chris

 

[beebreeder]

Sorry, missed that

 

[Chris B]

The final tally.

I checked them on Sunday.
The 6 that remained on stands were fine.
Of the sailing hives, 3 looked reasonably okay so just gave extra fondant and hope for the best.
The remaining 3 looked too small (one I thought was totally dead did actually have a fistful of live bees to greet me). Not sure if they had queens or not but I made them into a treble brood and they can sort themselves out.

Net result I've lost 2 colonies.
A drop in the ocean really.
(sorry bad form to laugh at own rubbish jokes)

 

[richardbees]

Chris

Congrats, could have been a lot worse, as for A drop in the ocean really

- Well done! that's exactly the spirit shown by our trusty heroes in b/w ww2 films, mid Atlantic in a leaky lifeboat!

 

[margob99]

Look out - they're predicting floods again this weekend

 

[Queens59]

Hard luck Bates - Tewkesbury is my hometown - and I have webbed feet!!