Bees News - Christmas 2022

This year has been a good one for the Pensford bees, unlike last year (2021) which resulted in no honey, not even a jar for the beekeepers. We think this was a result of cold wet weather at the wrong time, which led to queens not being able to mate and bees unable to forage. We had fed the bees all year. This year they were much happier and produced a handsome honey harvest.

We first inspected the hives in March and it was a relief, as usual, to find that all three hives had survived the winter. A few years ago we started feeding the hives with fondant at Christmas when we treated for the varroa mite. This extra feed has ensured the hives have successfully come through the long period between Christmas and early March.

In May we collected a swarm that had set up residence in someone’s dustbin. It stayed for a week and then sadly absconded. Bees are not predictable.

Those bees that were left were told of the Queen’s passing in September. “Telling the bees” is a European practice of notifying the bees of births, deaths and marriages in the family - ostensibly so that they can participate in mourning or celebrating.

Despite the cold the bees will come through this winter. It’s the damp they don’t like. We will visit them between Christmas and New Year and treat them for varroa mite. However we won’t open the hives as it will be too cold. The quietness of the field at this time is in contrast to the busy summer months, when another season will come around again.