Yesterday was brilliant, if you missed the Apiary meeting, you missed a real opportunity to watch an expert beekeeper, Alan Byham at work. Everyone I spoke to afterwards said they had learnt something new. Henceforth all my Bees, (and the Apiary Bees), will live on open mesh floors, I'll leave queen excluders off when installing a super containing only foundation until the comb is drawn, I'll reverse half drawn frames on the outside of the brood nest or move a full frame of stores outside an undrawn or partially drawn frame. Alan imparted several other elegant tricks of the trade, much advice and also vital info on the management of Varroa. Our thanks go to Alan and also to Colin for the impressive spread, sausage rolls, sandwiches, salad etc. and to Julie for running the drinks stall. Colin and I also cl;aim a pat on the back for getting the apiary ready to receive visitors and thanks of course to Bill Mundy for organising the whole thing All in all a day to remember.
Tomorrow we'll be on the apiary in the morning (around 10.00am) before visiting Colin's apiary to inspect his bees. Colin has offered to provide a frame of brood for use at an Elizabethan mansion where we're recovering a wild colony, so that's the second port of call. At 6.30pm, it's back to the apiary to show a group of visitors around and then at 8.00pm we'll be assisting a lady beekeeper from Southfleet to sort out a problem with her bees.
Busy, busy busy.
Barry
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