On Saturday 7th April 2018, after some preliminary work clearing a carpet of Beech trees leaves, we inspected the four colonies that had been overwintered.
It was a pleasure to meet and welcome Clive and Blaze who are new members.
The weather was light cloud, and it was pleasantly warm. The Hive inspections revealed healthy and developing colonies, with all queens seen, brood in all stages, and plenty of new pollen and nectar going into the hives. There was also healthy brood in all stages.
Hive 8 was on two brood boxes, as our Chairman, Jim, had amalgamated it with Hive 7 (the queen in this colony had become a drone layer and was therefore dispatched). The remaining queen had moved through the newspaper placed between the brood boxes, and was laying eggs, with larvae and sealed cells in good condition evident. We were then in a good position to reduce to one brood box, which was well supplied in food and brood.
Whilst work continues for the proposed move of the apiary, we will continue our regular meetings at Wexham.
A very convivial day, and my thanks to the members who could attend, and everyone had the opportunity to undertake a hive inspection. Ronnie has a good eye for spotting the queen, but Clive was a close second.
The weather was light cloud, and it was pleasantly warm. The Hive inspections revealed healthy and developing colonies, with all queens seen, brood in all stages, and plenty of new pollen and nectar going into the hives. There was also healthy brood in all stages.
Hive 8 was on two brood boxes, as our Chairman, Jim, had amalgamated it with Hive 7 (the queen in this colony had become a drone layer and was therefore dispatched). The remaining queen had moved through the newspaper placed between the brood boxes, and was laying eggs, with larvae and sealed cells in good condition evident. We were then in a good position to reduce to one brood box, which was well supplied in food and brood.
Whilst work continues for the proposed move of the apiary, we will continue our regular meetings at Wexham.
A very convivial day, and my thanks to the members who could attend, and everyone had the opportunity to undertake a hive inspection. Ronnie has a good eye for spotting the queen, but Clive was a close second.