Bosworth Bees

Welcome to Bosworth Bees

August 26 update

With the ongoing hot weather and drought the flowers aren't as productive as they'd usually be at this time of year. Nevertheless there's still plenty of water around if you know where to look, and we do, that's the job of scout bees. There are lots of ponds, drinking troughs, damp moss, even dew where we can get water to cool things down and get a drink.

The number of bees in the hive is dropping rapidly at this time of year. It seems strange that during the hottest days of the year we're actually preparing for winter, but we are. The honey we've been collecting since early in March will keep a skeleton crew of bees going through the winter, ready to get going again next Spring.

If you look at the hive entrance you'll also notice the male bees (drones) getting kicked out. Their job is done and the hive doesn't need them any more this year. They'll probably go and try their luck in another hive but eventually they'll get kicked out of that too. It's tough being a drone.

We won't start sealing the hive up just yet because its still so hot and having a few gaps and holes helps with air circulation. Also unlike last year wasps arent too much of a problem, but when the temperatures start to drop at night which will be very soon now, we'll seal everythign up with propolis (sticky glue that we collect from the trees).

We'll also reorganise the honey so it's all in one place and easy to get to during the winter.

Jobs for August & September

Get as much nectar and pollen as possible before Autumn from late flowering plants like ivy and creeper
Defend the honey we've worked all year to collect from robbers like wasps, badgers, mice and especially beekeepers!
Seal the hive to keep out the cold drafts of Autumn and Winter which are on their way
Now that we don't need the centre of the hive for raising baby bees we'll move the honey from the outside of the hive in more central cells where its easier to get to
Clean and tidy things up in preparation for winter

Hope to see you soon!

Got to go, lots of work to do!

bosworthbees(at)gmx.co.uk