Breaking up the hive, once I knew I had lost them, I saw many dead bees on the mesh floor. Some frames had sealed brood and surrounding the brood were bees, their heads firmly set inside cells. This to me is an indication of starvation, with the bees heads deep in cells searching for food. See photo.

Why were they searching for food ? Only 2 inches above them was a full super of honey, near on 20lbs of honey I had left on the hive. And above that was a good lump of fondant. Only a week ago they were eating the fondant, so can only guess that with the cold weather the cluster moved down deeper into the hive and wouldn’t/couldn’t move up to feed themselves.
But why had bees in other hives in same location moved up on to the fondant ? Bees are high intelligent but at times totally stupid. Baffling !!

Hopefully this is the last week of cold easterlies and forecast is for 13-15c temperatures next week. About time as spring is a month late now. Only hope remaining colonies survive this week and warmer weather will give them a good kick start.

I have heard reports of many losses during this winter, starvation being a prime reason. At least I don’t feel guilty that I didn’t give them a chance, as I left plenty of honey in place and have placed over 3kg of fondant per hive this winter.

Roll on spring !!

Dead bees on wire mesh floor

Bees died even though 10 frames of honey in place

Some brood, but many dead bees with heads firmly in cells

With the help of Andrew and Jason on the farm, we rachet strapped each hive, gaffer taping the entrances and lifted them on to a low flat bed trailor. Slowly driving them through the farm, we placed them on a grass margin alongside a 55 acre OSR field. The hives have a wood behind them to protect them from cold northerly winds and a dyke for their water supply. Andrew who does the spraying on the farm, said he would inform me in advance of any spraying of the OSR. If he can, he will spray early morning before bees are out or I can seal hives the evening before and then re-open a few hours after crop has been sprayed. The hives have 10+ yards of pheasant cover in front of them, so this will help with any spray drift as it grows to about 4 feet high.

In winter, the rule: moving 3ft or 3miles – nothing in between does not apply. I have kept an eye on these hives and the bees have not left them for over a week due to the weather. So orientation for the bees is not a problem, so moving them now was an ideal time. The move went smoothly on a beautiful sunny crisp morning. I had built a new double hive stand and we placed 2 of the hives on to this. I do like hives on high stands, one it is good for ventilation and two: good for my back.

Selection of photos of the move

The 3 day ” Hands-on” course will give you the confidence to get your first colony. Within the course you will also get your first hive, I will teach you to build it from a Thornes National hive kit, so you don’t make an expensive mistake. At the end of course you take the hive and frames home with you to finish off the contruction.

The Taster days will enable you to see if beekeeping is something you wish to take up or for those who are just curious to see the workings of a beehive.

First Beekeeping Course 22nd April and the First Taster Day 27th April are now both full.

But there are still places available on other dates.

Full details click at top of page to go to main website.

Never seen inside a beehive – come and have a look

My beekeeping courses in Spring 2013 are being booked up fast. 1st Course in April is now full.
Stll places on courses starting 8th May 22nd May and 10th June.

I am also doing 2 Beekeeping Taster days for those who might be considering taking up beekeeping as a hobby or for those who out of general interest would like to see inside a beehive and honey bees at work.

Taste Day Sessions 27th April and 11th May 2013 Cost £35 per person max. 10 people

Full details of courses and taster days are on the main website ( link above )

Hives all seem nicely tucked up for winter, though bees still flying when sun is on hives. Gave them all a heft and all hives still feel nailed down.

I apologies to those of you interested in beekeeping, who view this blog to see so many spam comments. I delete them regularly, but it seems there are plenty of morons who have nothing better to do than write stupid comments. The english in some of them is so appalling that if they have so much time on their hands to write stupid comments, why not take an english course !! My web designers are working on it to try to prevent these moronic comments.

A National hive fully prepared for winter.

Weather forecast is predicting some cold northerly winds from this coming weekend. If your hives are not well stocked with feed, then it will be too late, as the bees will only take syrup down and store at 15c and above. I have heard reports of bees starving due to beekeepers not feeding their bees to get them through winter.

All my hives in the wood are strapped down and have wire netting on them to prevent woodpecker damage. Time will tell if we will get a hard winter with snow and hard frosts.

Christmas is not far away, if you are considering taking up beekeeping my book for novice’s will be a useful read over winter. The book can be purchased via Amazon.co.uk, equipment suppliers and or if you would like a signed copy direct from my website. If purchasing for a loved one for Christmas I can also add a message. Just complete box on the ordering page. Link to book website above.

My Spring 2013 Beekeeping courses are filling well. Only 2 places left on the first course in April. From feedback I have received, many new beekeepers are booking courses with their associations but are interested in my courses as will be more “hands-on” plus included in the course is constructing a hive kit and frames. Surprising how many new beekeepers make some expensive mistakes, so this part of course will be very useful to them and prevent this.

In the UK, we all know 2012 has been a dreadful year for honey production. So I am looking forward to 2013. All my frames of comb in supers are stored away. When I see a weather forecast for a few days of dry frosty weather I will move them outside to freeze, this will kill off any wax moth plus make it easier to scrape the propolis off as it will become brittle. I will not do any more internal inspections of the hives this year, though I will check apiaries occassionally, especially after any heavy rain, wind etc. Next job will be to put fondant on each hive, but this I will do at Christmas/New Year.

Sales of my book BEEKEEPING: A Novice’s Guide 2nd edition are picking up, as people start to think about Christmas. If anyone would like a copy or wish to give one as a gift – go to the main web site link above and follow links. If purchasing as a gift and you would like a message and the book signed, fill in the message section when ordering the book. Any orders received are sent to you same day.

BEEKEEPING COURSES Spring 2013. I have taken a few bookings for my residential 3 day beekeeping courses. If you are wanting to take up beekeeping as a hobby, the course could be perfect for you. Unlike many other courses, numbers are restricted to 6 people per course. This will make the course very much “hands-on”, rather than standing around in large groups just observing what the instructor is doing. Full details are on the main website link above.

Bees still bringing in bright yellow pollen.

One of my bees collecting pollen from the flowering ivy.

Collecting loads of pollen from the flowering ivy.

With many new Beekeepers starting out, my book BEEKEEPING: A Novice’s Guide 2nd edition will really help you to get started. Written in a clear concise manner, without the over complication of some books on the hobby. Photographs illustrate each chapter taking you through your first two years keeping honey bees. For reviews and details of the book go to the website.

The book is the same price £16.99 + postage from wherever you purchase it. If you would like a signed copy and or with a message if you are buying for someone else – please go to the website ( link above or www.beekeeping-book.com ) Signed copies are only available direct via the website.

It is also available via Amazon.co.uk and leading beekeeping equipment suppliers. All orders are directed to me and your order will be posted the same day received.

James Dearsley author of “A to Bee” and I also offer our two books as a special package. £20 plus postage. You get both books and 10% of proceeds goes to two beekeeping charities. If you would like to purchase both books together, please follow this link to The Surrey Beekeeper website.
http://www.surreybeekeeper.co.uk/shop/book-deal-from-a-to-bee-and-novices-guide-for-only-%C2%A320/

Forecast is still good for September so hopefully with the ivy which covers the poplar trees in the wood, this will provide plenty of stores for winter when mixed in with the honey I left on the hives.

After a hard season I am confident the hives will go into winter strong and with no shortage of winter stores.

Honey bee collecting pollen from ivy. ( Cover of book – Beekeeping: A Novice’s Guide )