Sunday 11 November 2012

Honey & hope

I had to share this with you ....just as I had to treat myself to a jar....


Its a jar of honey from the apiary where I've been learning about bee keeping all through this year.  You may well have read in the news about the dramatic reduction in honey harvest this year, well the apiary was no different to anywhere else.  The 9 hives managed to produce 16 jars of honey.  The best 6 of which were entered into the '6 identical jars from a branch Apiary' of the National Honey Show.  There were approximately 15 entries in this class from divisions as far afield as Norfolk as well as from Surrey, Farnham BKA won first place This was the first time Epsom Apiary had entered this class and came second!!

So it was with a little glow of pride that I thought I'd take a stroll down the garden and have a chat with the girls in the autumn sunshine.

It was only about 8'c today...one of those days where there just isn't any real warmth in the sun despite the clear blue sky.  

Becky's girls were out and having a little buzz around...


But there wasn't such a good sight in front of Amelia's hive...

 

Now I know that bees try really hard to keep the hive clean and so will clear out any dead and dying bees to keep the colony safe from disease transmission.. but this seems like an awful lot of dead bees to me.
What concerns me even more is the number who have simply died right on the door step...


But the biggest risk to the bees at this time of year is the over enthusiastic bee keeper. 
So all I can do is leave them be and hope they'll huddle in tight to keep Amelia warm and safe....

Not liking this not being in control :(




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