- Joined
- Mar 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2,725
- Reaction score
- 1,507
- Location
- Various
- Hive Type
- Smith
- Number of Hives
- >4000
Just an update to all those who have been concerned and caring enough to reply in private to the predicament of the 43 colonies washed away in the flood of 23rd December.
Finally, today, 31st, two of us, by wading up to our belly buttons through the water, got into the little forest where most of the hives had been washed.
Some hives (3 actually) had been recovered earlier when a change of wind blew them across the floodwaters to another place a mile and a half away. Today we got to the rest and lifted them up out of the water although there is still some gear in water too deep to reach.
The final upshot is that out of the 43 colonies it looks like ALL the gear has either been recovered to higher ground, or is accounted for and will be reached as soon as water levels permit. Of the 43, 31 are very much alive and look in reasonable order for having been bobbing around in a flood for 8 days with no roof on in torrential rain and even snow. 3 look so so. 4 had tipped over and the combs were scattered. 3 were dead from the cold and wet. 2 had been drone layers and it looks as if they had petered out even before the flood though they have been found intact. No hive that had remained upright and on its floor, and had been alive before the flood, seems to have been lost. Shudder to think what it would have been like had these been wooden hives.
For now it all has the look of having somewhat got away with it, though will not be counting any chickens until April.
Finally, today, 31st, two of us, by wading up to our belly buttons through the water, got into the little forest where most of the hives had been washed.
Some hives (3 actually) had been recovered earlier when a change of wind blew them across the floodwaters to another place a mile and a half away. Today we got to the rest and lifted them up out of the water although there is still some gear in water too deep to reach.
The final upshot is that out of the 43 colonies it looks like ALL the gear has either been recovered to higher ground, or is accounted for and will be reached as soon as water levels permit. Of the 43, 31 are very much alive and look in reasonable order for having been bobbing around in a flood for 8 days with no roof on in torrential rain and even snow. 3 look so so. 4 had tipped over and the combs were scattered. 3 were dead from the cold and wet. 2 had been drone layers and it looks as if they had petered out even before the flood though they have been found intact. No hive that had remained upright and on its floor, and had been alive before the flood, seems to have been lost. Shudder to think what it would have been like had these been wooden hives.
For now it all has the look of having somewhat got away with it, though will not be counting any chickens until April.
