Beekeeping in the Dark

A Pallet of Beekeeping Supplies

A Pallet of Beekeeping Supplies

Things are beginning to get busy in our beekeeping world again. Yesterday we took delivery of a pallet of supplies. I was sat working at my computer when a huge articulated lorry pulled up outside, there was a knock on the door and the delivery driver said there was a pallet for us. My mind raced, I couldn’t quite think what we had ordered that might arrive by the pallet load – had I over-ordered on the energy drink powder! I obviously looked confused as the driver handed me the paper work – then it dawned on me, it was the wood for 4 new beehives that we had ordered.

I helped him unload the pallet and now the flat-packed hives are sitting in the conservatory waiting for me to build them. We still need to order castellations for them, will need to build stands for them and will get new crown boards as well because the ones that come with them are simple plastic correx affairs that aren’t much good, but at £54.99 for the mesh floor, brood box, two supers and a gabled roof you can’t really go wrong. The wood alone would cost more than that.

Back at Home

Back at Home

Then, last night, under cover of darkness we did some beekpeeing – We always seem to be beekeeping at night for some reason. This time it was because we were moving a hive. The hive has been at a friends house in Aberystwyth but will now be moved to our new apriary just outside of Aberystwyth.

There is a rule when moving beehives that you must move them either less than 3 feet or more than 3 miles. Anywhere in between and the bees will return to the old location of the hive but as it is no longer there they won’t be able to find it. The new apiary is only 1.8 miles from where the hive has been so in order to get it to the new apiary we have to first move it more than 3 miles from it’s present location.

We therefore strapped the hive up, loaded it into the back of the car and drove it home to Ynyslas where it will stay for a few weeks before we re-locate it again to the new apiary in a few weeks time. The hive seemed pretty quiet during the move so we’re not sure how many bees are in there, but as soon as we get a nice warm, sunny afternoon I shall do a proper inspection to see how they are. In the meantime we are now starting to feed the bees with a spring time sugar syrup to help them out as they start building up ready for summer.

Hopefully the bees are happy and healthy and getting busy in their hives. I shall be busy too, building new hives ready for what we hope will be a good year for beekeeping.

 

4 Responses

  1. Avatar forComment Author Derek Ross says:

    Are you able to offer advice on bee keeping?

    • Avatar forComment Author Alan says:

      Hi Derek,
      Guess I could, but you might be better off joining the Aberystwyth Beekeepers Association – They’re a friendly bunch!
      What was it you wanted to know?

      Al.

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Alan Cole

Alan is a Freelance Website Designer, Sports & Exercise Science Lab Technician and full time Dad & husband with far too many hobbies: Triathlete, Swimming, Cycling, Running, MTBing, Surfing, Windsurfing, SUPing, Gardening, Photography.... The list goes on.

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