What Do Bees Do In The Winter? We are always being asked what do honey bees do in the winter and so despite the fact that spring should be just around the corner I have decided to put up this blog to answer the question. Bees in the UK have...
Read moreAt Cotswold Bees Ltd we have had several hundred people on courses. Some of those want to start beekeeping and some are there just for interest. These are the most frequently asked questions together with the answers we give: How Much Does It...
Read moreLack of flowers is one of the biggest problems facing honey bees and we are often asked what should I plant to help bees. Bees need flowers not just for the nectar to make honey but also for pollen so here are a few suggestions: One popular...
Read moreWinter is a time when the bees are hopefully dormant and all inspections are over. This is the time to spend time doing those jobs which will set you up well for next season. Here are five that everyone should be doing. Cleaning & Repairing...
Read moreWe are often asked, especially by students on courses how much it costs to start the fabulous hobby of beekeeping. As with most hobbies the answer depends upon how deeply you want to go. However, there are certain things you will need and every...
Read moreHow Do I Start Beekeeping? Many people want to start this fascinating hobby but the biggest question is “How Do I Start Beekeeping?” A hobby that involves looking after any animal should not be entered into without a lot of thought...
Read moreSpring is not here yet but it is most important to get ready for the season ahead. Now is the time to get out spare equipment and make sure it is ready for use. Take those spare supers and brood boxes and give them a good going over with a blow...
Read moreWhen and how to add supers is one of those subjects over which beekeepers will argue for hours. Here are my thoughts and the techniques that have done well by me over the years. First: try not to add supers too early. Make sure that the brood box...
Read moreNow is the time to be considering those winter jobs in order to hit the ground running in the spring next year. A great starting point is to look at all the used frames you will have about the place and decide what is worth saving. I always throw...
Read moreAs I write this blog we have had several days with temperatures above 16 degrees C in the last week of October and although rain is forecast for next week there is not one day where the temperature is forecast to be less than 14 degrees during...
Read moreHopefully we are now in a position where our bees are very close to being ready for Winter and all is well inside the hive. Now is the time to turn our attention to external pests. The two that can cause major problems here in the North Cotswolds...
Read moreOn my courses I always say to new beekeepers that the only equipment you really need to start is the hive, a suit, a hive tool and a smoker. The thing is though that included in that list should be a blow torch. First of all one of the biggest...
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