tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85470637275120843772024-02-20T17:30:37.597+00:00Longworth Allotment Apiary GroupWe are a small group of allotment holders who have come together to keep our bees within the allotment in Longworth, Oxfordshire, UK.Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-56024966492170439392010-04-11T10:59:00.002+01:002010-04-11T11:03:54.546+01:00Location Location LocationOr The Bees Move House..<br /><br />As responsible beekeepers as well as obviously looking after our winged charges, we have to keep one eye on neighbourly relations. When we first sited the bees on the allotment there were plenty of spare plots still, especially around the bees own plot and everyone lived in harmony and our bees were welcomed. But.. situations change. Now all the spare plots are in use by families and there is even rumour of a waiting list.<br /><br />Yesterday it was clear during a routine inspection of one of the hives by Steve, that the bees were starting to get a bit territorial and could potentially bother fellow gardeners. This would set back the Bee's PR machine somewhat, which we were very keen to avoid. The last thing we would wish, is for people to not feel comfortable or safe tending their plots.<br /><br />We work as a team; me, Tim, Steve and Lynne with Steve's longer beekeeping experience making him Head Beekeeper. So after a long discussion - ok in the pub but still... it was decided that the bees needed to be moved to an area where they could be grumpy if they wished, but without bothering anyone not in a beesuit and equipped to deal with them. Steve and Lynne live on a farm and since farms these days are eco friendly they'd had discussions with the farmer as far back as last year about suitable places for hives. We decided to act on this kind permission and set up an apiary with all the allotment hives being moved to it in one go. Its on a quiet and private part of the farm with no public access so really out of the way.<br /><br />If you want to move bees then it has to be done once they've tucked themselves up for the night but of course whilst there is light for you to see what you're doing. So we all met at the allotment at 7pm just as the temperature was starting to drop and the sun was thinking of setting.<br /><br />The photos show the process but I'll explain them as we go along. First of all you have to secure the hives. Their entrances are blocked up with simple foam just to stop them coming out to see what we're up to and because no one wants a car full of bees! Then the hives are strapped up securely to prevent the various boxes from coming apart, again with disastrous results. This is the most important part of the process and its all checked very thoroughly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26-93IqY5L4BFH7wEgo29oSEFSveBlnc6PV3d2HrU-t_1KUB1dTQlUgtmfT4H1cWBJl0yoC6NPSkApZ-kcpajsdsTPVyZtCbfuMMcgRi-jEet5rhzLgG0i_Z6y74ACw6vK-eqdcILND4W/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26-93IqY5L4BFH7wEgo29oSEFSveBlnc6PV3d2HrU-t_1KUB1dTQlUgtmfT4H1cWBJl0yoC6NPSkApZ-kcpajsdsTPVyZtCbfuMMcgRi-jEet5rhzLgG0i_Z6y74ACw6vK-eqdcILND4W/s400/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458802710173225106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJeb10A0LRxcIgUdCC9Gaivc45gA-kkvDueSXBfELROW16KGprF3oJ2T_4Glq_CHDstuRI1Ms7PbRcmLRP6km8Q-oFT0qoXcx0ICjkSEphDX7nXDcgBAGNnu-TPLOCqUmcjnI2tz73_KP/s1600/photo2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJeb10A0LRxcIgUdCC9Gaivc45gA-kkvDueSXBfELROW16KGprF3oJ2T_4Glq_CHDstuRI1Ms7PbRcmLRP6km8Q-oFT0qoXcx0ICjkSEphDX7nXDcgBAGNnu-TPLOCqUmcjnI2tz73_KP/s400/photo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458802706680704626" border="0" /></a><br />Then happy that the bees are safe (and so are we) they get loaded in to cars. Luckily we all have 4wd chunky cars. This is our national hive securely in the back of my car.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ5YjXu_4LnX6BL4UzELArIqOq8c4hHs57zcWZWDMzqbJSK8XXkUseZpox_0Y-_n_oKDgjgrD4FwSF66_wYe_lqlkqzrhoe14cyfLvy4xvkvkEdENGW2zBP8Mq3TSHZfSEvvibR8f3eWc/s1600/photo3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ5YjXu_4LnX6BL4UzELArIqOq8c4hHs57zcWZWDMzqbJSK8XXkUseZpox_0Y-_n_oKDgjgrD4FwSF66_wYe_lqlkqzrhoe14cyfLvy4xvkvkEdENGW2zBP8Mq3TSHZfSEvvibR8f3eWc/s400/photo3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458804685051523858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxS4JBjN6SyeQmgS7yDrJDBuvswHnP2kTt14q6fp6YwNfVNJXkPfjaLSLUZ1UL8hx8WoCZxu2yQwIETFH_6dvtUQMMI8Cb5yWUs5Su7oJIEI_T-5YEYK3DdO6aYEXbzZFBBbUqtm6J_m6/s1600/photo4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxS4JBjN6SyeQmgS7yDrJDBuvswHnP2kTt14q6fp6YwNfVNJXkPfjaLSLUZ1UL8hx8WoCZxu2yQwIETFH_6dvtUQMMI8Cb5yWUs5Su7oJIEI_T-5YEYK3DdO6aYEXbzZFBBbUqtm6J_m6/s400/photo4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458804678729400050" border="0" /></a>Steve and Lynne loaded their two main hives in the back of their car in the same way. The only hive that was more awkward was their top bar hive. This is a different way of beekeeping - more naturalistic and the hive is on long legs which doesn't readily fit in to boot spaces. So it needed a trailer of its own and a lot of strapping!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPGm7WeZiVZubDiwDkNhl_8NApYs0f_gDDGOeh8Pq-cncQYvcXXpC8-6wCQwQXqzn_D-xzKYBhuUObsGFkAT40LMHlHB9cgADx0thZV5AMfKWhPV4gK1KU2NaphJHs3NOQRjai2BzFSa1/s1600/carplates_black.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPGm7WeZiVZubDiwDkNhl_8NApYs0f_gDDGOeh8Pq-cncQYvcXXpC8-6wCQwQXqzn_D-xzKYBhuUObsGFkAT40LMHlHB9cgADx0thZV5AMfKWhPV4gK1KU2NaphJHs3NOQRjai2BzFSa1/s400/carplates_black.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458808899634281906" border="0" /></a>So off we all set. Lots of careful, slow driving to their new home. Perfect nice clear evening for a tricky job. Once we got to their new site its all about reversing the process. So the hives are carefully set on to their paving slab bases and orientation is thought of. We've tried to set them so that once the bees woke up this morning they would notice instantly that their hives were facing a different direction and therefore something important had changed. Foam blocks were removed but we've left the straps on for now as being a much more rural spot, there might be danger from predators like badgers who could knock a hive over.<br /><br />At last they looked settled in their new home. Its a lovely spot with pretty trees already starting to blossom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKklrKCqxc8ZLrae8ZLH8DWR-maKb1MXgjhMHl6NFddJRToAV4q26EnEzxvOfGuX5WtxAruY7xWPf2dLQaZyxWyIf742Y1FWr3MyLPGO8GGrGpDGIkUCWqiqITXSXq7LFwL8pR5ML9zSK/s1600/photo8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKklrKCqxc8ZLrae8ZLH8DWR-maKb1MXgjhMHl6NFddJRToAV4q26EnEzxvOfGuX5WtxAruY7xWPf2dLQaZyxWyIf742Y1FWr3MyLPGO8GGrGpDGIkUCWqiqITXSXq7LFwL8pR5ML9zSK/s400/photo8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458809350513693730" border="0" /></a>Welcome to your new home, bees! :-)<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJNP2m2KjnlMLtr9vyfE4eo5z_YSJg6XFQadLpaGY9XG9JBNlFeFOOGdi553zkErfHBVRs6PW8ymLO09zClPh3VNQMtzt40Ito2xcAGy7hfMgDvaaHhnPCeKs3d0XRz6wukUcYAujKJhE/s1600/photo9_levels.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJNP2m2KjnlMLtr9vyfE4eo5z_YSJg6XFQadLpaGY9XG9JBNlFeFOOGdi553zkErfHBVRs6PW8ymLO09zClPh3VNQMtzt40Ito2xcAGy7hfMgDvaaHhnPCeKs3d0XRz6wukUcYAujKJhE/s400/photo9_levels.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458809353113712610" border="0" /></a>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10048810687471063890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-14823060254155943062009-10-22T15:22:00.003+01:002009-10-22T15:46:54.102+01:00100 years agoFound this little story in a recent Country Life magazine and thought it might interest.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dated Sept 25th 1909</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bee-keepers are subject to certain risks which are peculiar to the possession of their small live-stock. In their wanderings the insects are frequently irritated into stinging, and cases have arisen which show that in certain circumstances the apiarian is liable to the person who has been injured. In order to meet this liability the British Beekeepers Association has made arrangements with a firm of underwriters at Lloyds for insurance against liabilities caused by bees. The premium is at the rate of a penny per hive on the maximum number of hives kept, with a minimum of ninepence. In addition those who are not members of the British Beekeepers Association, or of its affiliated associations, are required to pay a registration fee of sixpence.<br /><br /><br /></span>We currently pay a little more than that to insure our hives from certain diseases and public liability but it still represents good value to make sure everyone feels reassured and protectedJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10048810687471063890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-89647187962369569412009-08-10T22:09:00.001+01:002009-08-10T22:09:29.653+01:00Wasps: 'they do what it says on the tin!'<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/IcN8bCdUpRs' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/IcN8bCdUpRs'/></object></p><p>This is our garden Top Bar Hive after it went queenless, and the small colony fell prey to a nearby Wasp nest.........lesson learned the hard way!</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-4496984793352583262009-07-30T22:34:00.001+01:002009-07-30T22:35:36.287+01:00Omlet bee-hivehttp://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-bee-business-an-amateur-apiary-revolution-1752307.html<br />Looking forward to seeing this!!!!Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-50116075144800560592009-06-15T18:14:00.003+01:002009-06-15T18:29:06.743+01:00Harvest continues!Just back from a fabulous Druidic weekend in Glastonbury, and have spent the day getting round our 7 hives. Today, we have extracted 31lbs of honey, making our total 42lbs for the year so far! We still have 2 supers to come off at some point this week, however, we're feeling pretty proud of our girls! The harvest should have been much larger, but we missed our 'window of opportunity' and found many frames crystallised. We can't complain, as it was our choice to go to the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids Summer Gathering in Glastonbury. As practising Druids, we're not in it for the money (so to speak), but more for our own personal use......and Mead of course!<br />For instance, today, we had our first experience of melted cut comb on toast, simply sublime! We urge everyone to do the same!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-58981299734834866282009-05-26T22:45:00.001+01:002009-05-26T22:45:27.647+01:00Relocation of a BumbleBee nest to our home apiary!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/iqSU8tzCiSk' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/iqSU8tzCiSk'/></object></p><p>Short video of Steve relocating a nest of BumbleBees to our apiary. They had moved into a colleagues garden, and taken up residence in an old bird box! However, they were causing a bit of a problem for the family and, as beneficial as they are, they had to move.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-34302062996426761942009-05-25T17:49:00.001+01:002009-05-25T17:49:48.842+01:00Swarm<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/yUVaXofiLpc' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/yUVaXofiLpc'/></object></p><p>A little compilation of our day at the allotment with an errant swarm!!!!</p></div>Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-10930540781292126622009-05-17T11:34:00.003+01:002009-05-17T12:01:21.682+01:00Oxfordshire Beekeepers pay us a visit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6cE3jFBiGlHpdCGYpYLuu_pyfuWmC7M1Flqe2FGy5fGIczyFRabh6J4k6V22XxhZWxok3mNcLb6Jaq3XLucJcKpPnpDg9ruB0-EMSEq1z8KWOsZylUYUAMnnFhUYG8651nKhmB6x7JY/s1600-h/OBKA4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6cE3jFBiGlHpdCGYpYLuu_pyfuWmC7M1Flqe2FGy5fGIczyFRabh6J4k6V22XxhZWxok3mNcLb6Jaq3XLucJcKpPnpDg9ruB0-EMSEq1z8KWOsZylUYUAMnnFhUYG8651nKhmB6x7JY/s320/OBKA4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336739815897660754" /></a><br />Yesterday afternoon we had the pleasure of hosting Oxfordshire beekeepers (OBKA)at our allotment apiary. <br />Like a flight of angels, our new, white bee-suited friends arrived at our lotty to a rather entertaining start! Not only did we have a top-bar hive (TBH), two National hives and a 2-week old nucleus of bees to show them, we also had a swarm!!! A few minutes prior to the first people arriving, I thought I would have a quick check around our allotment (which is immediately adjacent to our bees). Whilst admiring our fruit bushes, I began to wonder why the ground beneath was 'moving'! Quickly I realised that it was in fact a mass of bees, clinging to the now broken off top of our small apple tree!! Needless to say, our swarm was quickly claimed, and we were glad to hand them over to a newly starting beekeeper!! We are ever obliging!!!!!<br />N.B. In above photo, swarm is under the box at the base of the tree in the foreground - above rhubarb leaves.<br />Steve hosted the day and took the group of beekeepers through the hives. Most of the group had never seen or looked inside a TBH and enjoyed seeing the bees making 'chains' to shape the comb. All our bees looked in good health and behaved themselves by having a mellow attitude!! <br />The hi-light of the afternoon was hearing new Queen bees 'pipe' in one of Tim and Julie's hives http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_bee#Piping<br />Most people in the group managed to hear it and it was a most magical moment!!!<br />The afternoon was completed with tea served from our allotment shed and fine fruit-cake supplied by Julie.<br />All in all a most splendid day!!!Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-17541730002451154682009-05-11T22:41:00.001+01:002009-05-11T22:41:32.320+01:00Hiving our little rascals!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Ngrz8iNyj4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Ngrz8iNyj4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-53017025190247762592009-05-11T22:19:00.001+01:002009-05-11T22:19:57.017+01:00Gotcha!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UZNxVnKssVo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UZNxVnKssVo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-24017854942515124392009-05-11T22:17:00.000+01:002009-05-11T22:18:49.892+01:00Cast Swarm under neighbours tree!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ySnDbRaZbHE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ySnDbRaZbHE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-22201591872576389642009-05-10T08:48:00.001+01:002009-05-10T08:50:05.407+01:00<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ms_cDrIhz7s&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ms_cDrIhz7s&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Thought we would get away with swarming in our first TBH season, but bees don't read the manuals!!!Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-37941176553201243212009-05-10T08:46:00.000+01:002009-05-10T08:48:07.427+01:00Up-close and Personal<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rnyYvcGLYFw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rnyYvcGLYFw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Fantastic comb of eggs, brood and larvae!Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-28717856227474216532009-05-10T08:43:00.001+01:002009-05-10T08:45:29.952+01:00<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kdF3W2LBIpA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kdF3W2LBIpA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Lynne's second inspection - featuring our home-made, rotating Top-bar holder!!!Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-56264679784320005702009-05-04T08:52:00.001+01:002009-05-04T08:54:17.021+01:00Interesting debate!!!<a href="http://www.beefarmers.co.uk/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=308&p=438#p438">http://www.beefarmers.co.uk/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=308&p=438#p438</a><br /><br />Have a look at this forum and let us know what you think!!!!!Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-77553636458533886362009-05-03T11:13:00.008+01:002009-05-03T11:34:36.667+01:00Bee hives<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM38UfUFR2lN79xNfBwkX6tLK4sabxwWmaA11OVHPTglgWNJYnaZriae73xqwTSb3m_ljp3kIYhWQV__djLU9Jtalc7ypC2aK76hZ3ZdbC0EqJli4_g3w0Ff0-ph_ksb0HSUqHvtN9KM/s1600-h/Steve+WBC2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331541437982706258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM38UfUFR2lN79xNfBwkX6tLK4sabxwWmaA11OVHPTglgWNJYnaZriae73xqwTSb3m_ljp3kIYhWQV__djLU9Jtalc7ypC2aK76hZ3ZdbC0EqJli4_g3w0Ff0-ph_ksb0HSUqHvtN9KM/s320/Steve+WBC2.JPG" border="0" /></a> Just a few photos of some of our bee-hives<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Refurbished WBC hive ready for installation in the allotment apiary<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2EgadimU9bwiHZpKt1wNx102GJw-cO3cFscoTpqwMT9WzntzXrdja2ftinSz7_FKrZ0mkLyJ2I8tvJNhxW8NESKYkHqhqJ33UqJ5vHZbbT6wT02ax8DVX6VNsaVSQJ2zhazmLWC2BCQ/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331540745015635122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2EgadimU9bwiHZpKt1wNx102GJw-cO3cFscoTpqwMT9WzntzXrdja2ftinSz7_FKrZ0mkLyJ2I8tvJNhxW8NESKYkHqhqJ33UqJ5vHZbbT6wT02ax8DVX6VNsaVSQJ2zhazmLWC2BCQ/s320/016.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our top-bar hive in the garden at home<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZOkCnQfx6XhvZJy1EAw2DR_pjE0p2l72sLd90FS4OIOz_V1fFRhhSKwiNIFARNYrDJC7rDaECEumfnb4JOKVk7H7K7j8wg9OqM1TNrzazCGEffa3CdOAIqFIWZyrhikGjXIj9pRppYU/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331540474193232770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZOkCnQfx6XhvZJy1EAw2DR_pjE0p2l72sLd90FS4OIOz_V1fFRhhSKwiNIFARNYrDJC7rDaECEumfnb4JOKVk7H7K7j8wg9OqM1TNrzazCGEffa3CdOAIqFIWZyrhikGjXIj9pRppYU/s320/010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />National hive in our garden<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57Zq5f-i6vWnKnTCDWmWalepMmXC4j_UDaqjyDV2ojrGMyhyTywS7vnoyf56PVb8FfiLvCnLMsvtoBG2XhW4NiD0c4eFDHnsPtK3UmuVzicKUjMTCtGccwohDfzoaI2v4BLL9Fn2v-P8/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331540228463599922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57Zq5f-i6vWnKnTCDWmWalepMmXC4j_UDaqjyDV2ojrGMyhyTywS7vnoyf56PVb8FfiLvCnLMsvtoBG2XhW4NiD0c4eFDHnsPtK3UmuVzicKUjMTCtGccwohDfzoaI2v4BLL9Fn2v-P8/s320/018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBYe0MvLZX8rX1L6LsbwjmXytq6cp7mgaj2k5S6GH5yXLYR4P1KLIYHU43GSuAdpYGeiJA-pU-_NBVnauVvE0d090h_eu_tROFx9eJW3xUWDMRpgXDZJZDCx8nr7Av2NbD7vIlNECZTk/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331539920231519042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBYe0MvLZX8rX1L6LsbwjmXytq6cp7mgaj2k5S6GH5yXLYR4P1KLIYHU43GSuAdpYGeiJA-pU-_NBVnauVvE0d090h_eu_tROFx9eJW3xUWDMRpgXDZJZDCx8nr7Av2NbD7vIlNECZTk/s320/019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Steve, Julie and Tim at work at their hives in the allotment apiary<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-1793897067991358682009-05-03T08:14:00.001+01:002009-05-03T08:17:12.141+01:00New Sussex Bee Research Laboratory<a href="http://www.sussex.ac.uk/newsandevents/index.php?id=383">http://www.sussex.ac.uk/newsandevents/index.php?id=383</a><br /><br />Good news for beekeeping!Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-23309971724190168632009-04-26T19:19:00.001+01:002009-04-26T19:19:30.478+01:00Lynnes First Inspection<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/aO7ySZcURgM' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/aO7ySZcURgM'/></object></p><p>Lynnes first real day as a fully fledged Beekeeper! Here, she opens her Top Bar Hive for her fist single handed inspection! Well done you!</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-7484383634129095612009-03-28T18:12:00.001+00:002009-03-28T18:14:01.704+00:00Bee appeal by the Co-op<a href="http://www.co-operative.coop/ethicsinaction/takeaction/planbee/">http://www.co-operative.coop/ethicsinaction/takeaction/planbee/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Please take a look ......................</span>Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-15130503051960742122009-03-18T20:44:00.002+00:002009-03-18T20:48:19.313+00:00You can take the 'Dame' out of the Panto, but you can't take the panto out of the Dame!Fellow Beekeepers!<br />You HAVE to read the above link and, after you've got up from the floor from laughing! contact your MP to ask just how on earth such a dizzy woman gets to be a Dame, let alone an MP!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-72570554902872626192009-03-16T22:33:00.002+00:002009-03-16T22:48:53.571+00:00Integrated Pest Control: it does what it says on the tin!<div>We put in our Varroa floor at our home apiary a week ago, and checked it yesterday. Result.....only one mite after seven days! ONE mite! I call that a result for the common beekeeper! I think that that shows that Oxalic Acid at Christmas works. However, we have heard that many fellow beekeepers have lost colonies this winter, and locally, some have lost just about everything. That is really sad, and on a personal note, is upsetting. But we must all band together, <strong>learn</strong> from each other, and work (as the bees do) as one to defeat whatever is ailing all our bees! We are taking nothing for granted, and I fed the hive sugar syrup yesterday, and plan to do the same at the lottie in the next day or so. Our colleagues fed their bees 'Apifonda' during the winter, and their bees seem to be in excellent fettle, with a negligable Varroa count. Bravo LAAGS!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-83503783420953518152009-03-04T17:31:00.002+00:002009-03-04T17:42:26.779+00:00DEFRA registerWe were contacted today via a local friend who informed us of a news piece on BBC Farming Today concerning bees. In essence it was a discussion on the merits of hobby beekeepers informing DEFRA that they are keeping hives. This therefore enables a database to be maintained and for hives to be inspected for disease by an approved inspector.<br />We have always maintained our place on the register and have therefore been inspected every year since keeping bees - but other people seem not to be quite to happy to do this!<br />If we are to control the rate of disease in our bees, surely a national database of hives is the sensible thing? What do you think?<br />Defra link <a href="https://secure.csl.gov.uk/beebase/">https://secure.csl.gov.uk/beebase/</a><br />Farming Today link <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/farmingtoday/index.shtml">http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/farmingtoday/index.shtml</a> where you can download a podcast of the bee piece or just listen via direct link on the site.Lynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286252922132041203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-43953746859557858272009-02-15T20:32:00.002+00:002009-02-15T20:33:47.041+00:00Save Our Bees Campaign!Just found this link on the BBKA website, also on 'downsizer.net'. I would urge everyone to sign up!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-34131047550331775102009-02-11T20:34:00.003+00:002009-02-11T20:50:42.558+00:00The Bees of the Bank of England<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI4SHhVuBT_2SKRDjJHgv2jk4jJPj4bq1pzeSXHyLTbdqvdTMUR3ZrlNl6BwcJjWPN2MCfKpyaxRBGZ-_ZWFQ_KUOVa_vfgSflNbGRy1HSKl2QwL9BhQOWvxfdjsfyZYTV7zNRSmtmA2k/s1600-h/bank+of+england.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI4SHhVuBT_2SKRDjJHgv2jk4jJPj4bq1pzeSXHyLTbdqvdTMUR3ZrlNl6BwcJjWPN2MCfKpyaxRBGZ-_ZWFQ_KUOVa_vfgSflNbGRy1HSKl2QwL9BhQOWvxfdjsfyZYTV7zNRSmtmA2k/s200/bank+of+england.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301642003824579394" border="0" /></a><br />When we were on our beekeeping course with James, I remember him mentioning that the Bank of England had played host to colonies of bees. The subject had come up a few times over the last few months and a search of Google seemed to point that there had been bees at the Bank of England, but with very little detail about what had really happened.<br /><br />I work just down the road from the Bank of England and I've been meaning to wander down there at lunchtime for a while and see if I could find out some more. So, this lunchtime, I popped down to the Bank of England museum to enquire.<br /><br />Actually, the museum is well worth a visit if you're in the area. I loved the opportunity to lift a gold bar on my palm (sadly, I could not take it home with me...) as well as reminiscing over the old banknote designs. But this is all about bees.<br /><br />I explained to the attendant that I was a beekeeper and that I'd heard rumours of 'Bees at the Bank' and I wondered if she could tell me more?<br /><br />And so she did! She knew the story instantly. A previous governor of the Bank of England, Robin Leigh-Pemberton was a beekeeper. In those days, the Governor had a flat 'above the shop' and whilst he lived there, he had hives of bees on the roof of the Bank. Leigh-Pemberton was Governor between 1983-1993.<br /><br />The Bees of the Bank foraged in the City of London during that period.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8547063727512084377.post-86638713479185446392009-02-07T17:05:00.003+00:002009-02-07T17:24:21.715+00:00The Hives in the SnowWith all the snow we've had this week, I thought I'd go to the allotments this morning and check the hives were ok. They looked fine - though at that time, the bees weren't flying. I don't blame them really.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu4rQz-U3qsU_-yyzwMYmJKnk17TJlfC4P6sNv8vcdL9BUlsL8RGHTfx3oTXT51CDyp_tZLfznxmsmFkMBI4Y_njGpDCNX09eHZ5gOOSIzxP4oxCmZd-OA84zlw8YqY6YIUhET3gItFIc/s1600-h/laag+hives+in+snow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu4rQz-U3qsU_-yyzwMYmJKnk17TJlfC4P6sNv8vcdL9BUlsL8RGHTfx3oTXT51CDyp_tZLfznxmsmFkMBI4Y_njGpDCNX09eHZ5gOOSIzxP4oxCmZd-OA84zlw8YqY6YIUhET3gItFIc/s200/laag+hives+in+snow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300106651607560130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What interested me about this picture was the tracks between the hives! Who goes there?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpRapEjJMlQ4ox6niltS4TGTSSLpc5yKiPIr1-CUjOZffowMBiyNxOx8sGlmcNEGySJLJlxnScZnHda797tyLe9vSz049rzVoRA85Ed1EJyrPRY-JSZUXE6cDBVaakm4FSCLz-r3A5ZfR/s1600-h/tracks+by+the+hive.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpRapEjJMlQ4ox6niltS4TGTSSLpc5yKiPIr1-CUjOZffowMBiyNxOx8sGlmcNEGySJLJlxnScZnHda797tyLe9vSz049rzVoRA85Ed1EJyrPRY-JSZUXE6cDBVaakm4FSCLz-r3A5ZfR/s200/tracks+by+the+hive.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300107381243362066" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2