Hopefully you now know the benefits of Apiary Visits – a chance to see other apiaries and colonies, catch their queens and mark them…and eat cake. Graham Franklin takes up the visit to Dave Kelleher’s apiary…..
On Saturday afternoon 15th June about ten members from Shipston Beekeepers arrived at Dave and Fiona’s house in Kineton for another apiary visit. It has to be said we were not sure what to expect as the thundery skies threatened to curtail any hive inspections, but most were keen to see some of Dave’s bees so we got suited and booted and hoped for the best.
In Dave’s back garden there was no sign of hives or bees, and it was only when Dave opened a net curtain covering a gap in the hedge did we realise there were bees just the other side of the hedge – in fact six 14 x 12 hives of varying strengths! After a cameo from Dave lighting a few smokers with equine bedding as fuel (which is very good by the way!) we split into small groups and were given one or more hives to inspect.
The hives are situated on a narrow strip of land facing an old disused railway cutting, so we were keen to concentrate where we placed hive parts – as well as our feet. All the groups had chance to see some bees, gain experience and possibly work with 14 x 12 hives for the first time.
My group included Lucy and Martin and we had a couple of hives to inspect. In one of the colonies we managed to find an elusive queen, mark and clip her before moving onto a second hive when David Blower joined us. We were then treated to a demo of how to help release a new queen from her queen cell by David B, who using sharp scissors was able to carefully remove the cap of the cell which the bees had thinned beforehand, indicating her arrival into the colony was imminent, and we all enjoyed that moment when she first walked out onto the comb.
Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse with more thunder and showers, which no doubt contributed to the bees deciding to harass us as we returned to the garden, and several in the group picked up a sting as payment for our efforts to open the hives!.
Thankfully we had a very warm welcome inside from Fiona, who is the most amazing baker and we enjoyed a feast of individual home-made brownies, Victoria sponges, carrot cakes and scones and more bee chat.
So another worthy opportunity to do inspections together in small groups and see how others keep their bees – I was very impressed with Dave’s ingenuity to set the hives up just alongside his garden on such a narrow strip of land.
Thanks very much to Dave and Fiona for hosting!
Words and photos: Graham Franklin