Monthly Archives: May 2012

An advert appeared on Freecycle offering a mitre saw.  Tools! You can’t have too many tools (it’s a boy thing). Even better, the person lives in my village.  I flashed off a ‘yes please’.  I must have been first as … Continue reading →

A couple of years ago I answered a swarm call from the people in a big country house in Broadmayne. Bees were flying from under the eaves in an inaccessible corner 3 floors up. It was thought that they’d been … Continue reading →

I went to Hardy’s birthplace at Bockhampton this morning by arrangement with Caps, my apprentice there, to take a nucleus from the apiary and take it to Hardy’s deathplace, Max Gate, to establish an apiary there also. Harriet, the gatekeeper, … Continue reading →

I was called yesterday morning to a swarm at Max Gate, Thomas Hardy’s old home. There wasn’t a swarm, but lots of bees were investigating every crook and nanny about the place. Due to inferior architecture and building, there are … Continue reading →

I checked my TBH at Ourganics, Litton Cheney, a couple of days ago and was astonished to find it nearly full with brood end to end.  It’s never been as prosperous as this before and yet the season has been … Continue reading →

I’m seeing elderflowers everywhere. They’re a month early! Why?  I haven’t bottled last year’s elderflower wine (5 gallons!) yet.

I went to Bockhampton this morning to help my apprentice, Caps, to make an artificial swarm on the hive she looks after at Thomas Hardy the third’s birthplace. The weather wasn’t ideal, being only about 54 degrees with intermittent light … Continue reading →

I have a hive on an organic farm near Toller Porcorum.  Last time I looked it was doing fine. I visited today and found it overturned with all the brood frames emptied and scattered. I found one some yards away … Continue reading →

What follows is an article I have just sent off to the Editor of Waymark, the magazine of the Institute of Rights of Way and Access Management Ltd, of which I’m a member. BEES NEAR RIGHTS OF WAY The first … Continue reading →

I have been asked by the Editor of Waymark, the magazine of the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management Ltd (of which I am a member, wearing my Rights of Way Consultant’s hat) to write an article … Continue reading →