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In January I found that two hives had died. On opening the hive I fouind the cluster had been just too small to survive. There were no visible signs of Deformed Wing Virus and varroa levels had been kept very low by two winter sublimations and ten weeks of Apivar. The queens were from 2021 but these two colonies were the best yielding producing 7-8 supers each previous year. Why did they dwindle away? I'll never know. The hives have been removed and sterilizing pads put in each so that the uneaten frames of stores can be employed elsewhere.

The demise of two colonies however is not a major loss as I am now back to the eight colonies I’ve over-wintered in earlier years. Hives 9 and 10 will be moved across to the gaps left by 5 and 8. The boy’s go-cart was renovated last year so I now have an ideal hive transporter. The hives to be moved were very heavy; too heavy to be lifted for each move. On the seat of the g-cart however they can be easily pulled a further 3 feet every flying day.

I stress the flying day as I have yet to read a beekeeping book which recognises the fact that if you have ten days of bad weather and the bees stay indoors, continual daily moving of the hive means they will emerge from a hive 30 feet away from its original position. Too far for them to re-orientate.

Hive 10 reaches its new destination.

February has seen the longest, fattest hazel catkins I’ve ever known. The are many hazel bushes in the hedge and it's been marvellous to see so many bees all over them returning to their hives loaded with the pale greeny-yellow pollen.

Bees collecting hazel pollen from catkins.


Enough for two. Apis and Bombus share a crocus

The snowdrops, aconites and crocus have provided the regular springtime diet. One of two emerging queen bumbles have been joining them for a meal on the crocus.


The bullace and cherry plum are about to burst into flower and it's then that the spring feasting can commence.

This is the first March In the Apiary since 2017. This is the month when little happens apart from anticipation and making sure all the tools are ready.Two Asian Hornet traps have been cleaned up, recharged with home-pressed apple juice and hung, one beside the bee-shed and one in the apiary. These are the two pieces of equipment I hope will not get used.

Prunus in flower

The bee-shed hornet trap is hanging in the beautiful prunus domestica in full bloom. When the sun shines it positively hums all over with pollen foragers.

Asian Hornet Trap

The bullace, prunus insititia, is also giving a lovely display this year but does not get as many visitors as the flight-path to this tree passes right over the p. domestica.

White Bullace tree 2021

I have cleaned out my tool-box and checked that all the necessary equipment is there and is in good shape.

Three lovely days right at the end of the month was a real bonus. All the colonies were moved into nice clean hives. Clean floors and entrance blocks, scraped and scorched brood boxes with sanitised crown boards. The first time I’ve got all the spring cleaning done in March.

Hive 6 needed so many new frames that I have decided to do a Bailey Frame Change. This will take place tomorrow and you can see this In the Apiary April 2021.