The bees are doing really well.

Hi James

The bees are doing really well.

I saw the queen yesterday, she’s laying well and they’re very busy; they’re enjoying the lovely weather.

They’re filling up their first super having almost filled the brood box - I was thinking I might leave the super on over winter to make sure they have enough stores. Is that a good idea?

Thank you so much for such a healthy productive colony.

Hope everybody else’s nucs are equally happy.
Kind regards
Fiona

Hi Fiona

Really great to hear how well your bees are doing. All the other Nuc buyers this year are reporting back the same. Wow they have expanded in under a month to the size that they are filling a super!? That's really great, your bees are doing well!

Super for over Winter-

Yes if you wish to keep the super on as a winter feed, good idea. I would still feed your bees to get the brood box filled and avoid having pure ivy nectar coming in filling the brood box in September. Ivy honey sets like concrete and bees find it hard to dilute and eat, causing starvation even though the brood box is completely full of honey.

Your doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

All the best

James

photo copyright 2010 ©-The Hive Honey Shop

Surburban gardens can keep bees without posing a risk to neighbours?

Can I infer from your location in Battersea that people with small surburban gardens can keep bees without posing a risk to neighbours? Our small end of terrace garden backs onto a school playing field, so I have assumed that the risk of children (not to mention others who live nearby) getting stung would be much too great. Is that so?

Thanks

Francis

Dear Francis

Good question. The answer is that there are hundreds if not thousands of hobbies beekeepers keeping bees in small urban gardens throughout the UK. I personally know of a few that keep them in close proximity to open public grounds & schools. Many schools themselves keep bees on the grounds for the education of the students.

The best way forward is to buy a few beekeeping books, beekeeping DVD and join a beekeeping course who will teach you how to safely install a beehive in an urban setting. Our beekeeping course covers many areas of setting up your apiary site, how to do this, best locations, choosing the right bees, when to open a hive and much more.

Keeping your own bees is great fun, exciting and obsessive! It's not rocket science, but requires the beekeeper to act responsibly and care for the on going welfare of their bees. Bees are not just for Christmas but for life.

Have a look at our website; 'Beekeeping with the Hive' and our 2011 Beekeeping Course details under products.

Hope that answered your question and good luck with your beekeeping.

Kind regards

Chris