Comments for Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses Apiary http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:43:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on When blood is nipp’d, and ways be foul… by Emily http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2012/02/when-blood-is-nippd-and-ways-be-foul/#comment-243 Emily Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:43:52 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=357#comment-243 Another use for estate agent's boards! They're used at the Ealing association as varroa monitoring boards. I wonder if any estate agents know how useful their boards are to beekeepers. I have the space above my fondant completely filled with polystyrene and bubblewrap insulation at the moment, with the crownboard ventiliation holes completely covered over (like this - http://adventuresinbeeland.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/l1030358-e1328885403820.jpg). Do you think this is a mistake? Another use for estate agent’s boards! They’re used at the Ealing association as varroa monitoring boards. I wonder if any estate agents know how useful their boards are to beekeepers.

I have the space above my fondant completely filled with polystyrene and bubblewrap insulation at the moment, with the crownboard ventiliation holes completely covered over (like this – http://adventuresinbeeland.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/l1030358-e1328885403820.jpg). Do you think this is a mistake?

]]> Comment on A month since Christmas by Emily Heath http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2012/01/a-month-since-christmas/#comment-242 Emily Heath Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:30:43 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=348#comment-242 The politics of beekeeping! A difficult and dangerous subject indeed. In Ealing we were also visited by a student, although they were only after photos. The politics of beekeeping! A difficult and dangerous subject indeed. In Ealing we were also visited by a student, although they were only after photos.

]]> Comment on Missing biscuits by willow batel http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2011/05/missing-biscuits/#comment-215 willow batel Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:52:23 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=288#comment-215 I'm glad I'm not the only one who has bees who follow him around. I do take it kind of personally though because my bees (I keep them in my backyard) only follow my mom and I, who look very similar. They've gotten so aggressive about it that we have to stay inside for the better part of the day. I've taken to walking around the yard for a bit to get the bees to leave me alone, and even after I've gotten all the bees away from me, they still wait outside my back door for me to come out. We have no flowers by the back door, and there's no reason for them to be there. We will occasionally have a bee (almost on patrol) by every few minutes or so to check the back door/ patio. If we're outside they will pester us, and have gotten in my hair, as well as my mom's, multiple times. I had different bees last year, and while they followed us around, they weren't nearly as agressive or as methodical about checking to see whether we were outside. Just yesterday we had three bees circling around the back patio. They usually show up either while we're outside, or just after we've gone back in. And they definately follow us around more after I've been through the hive, no matter how quickly I look through itregardless of if I've used a smoker or not. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has bees who follow him around. I do take it kind of personally though because my bees (I keep them in my backyard) only follow my mom and I, who look very similar. They’ve gotten so aggressive about it that we have to stay inside for the better part of the day. I’ve taken to walking around the yard for a bit to get the bees to leave me alone, and even after I’ve gotten all the bees away from me, they still wait outside my back door for me to come out. We have no flowers by the back door, and there’s no reason for them to be there. We will occasionally have a bee (almost on patrol) by every few minutes or so to check the back door/ patio. If we’re outside they will pester us, and have gotten in my hair, as well as my mom’s, multiple times.
I had different bees last year, and while they followed us around, they weren’t nearly as agressive or as methodical about checking to see whether we were outside. Just yesterday we had three bees circling around the back patio. They usually show up either while we’re outside, or just after we’ve gone back in. And they definately follow us around more after I’ve been through the hive, no matter how quickly I look through itregardless of if I’ve used a smoker or not.

]]> Comment on Missing biscuits by Emily http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2011/05/missing-biscuits/#comment-191 Emily Sun, 08 May 2011 20:11:55 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=288#comment-191 This is a fascinating idea, very interesting! I've only ever been stung by these following type bees, which got stuck in my hair and then burrowed under it. This is a fascinating idea, very interesting! I’ve only ever been stung by these following type bees, which got stuck in my hair and then burrowed under it.

]]> Comment on On Being Wrong by Emily http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2011/01/on-being-wrong/#comment-142 Emily Sat, 05 Mar 2011 08:52:56 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=186#comment-142 Thanks Simon, Bearing your comments in mind I've decided not to feed pollen, which means less work for me :) Mine seem to be finding it from somewhere anyway, they've been coming back with bright orange baskets. Emily Thanks Simon,

Bearing your comments in mind I’ve decided not to feed pollen, which means less work for me :) Mine seem to be finding it from somewhere anyway, they’ve been coming back with bright orange baskets.

Emily

]]> Comment on Preparing for the honey flow by admin http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2010/06/preparing-for-the-honey-flow/#comment-140 admin Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:03:42 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=21#comment-140 There's been some of that, certainly - a couple of Wednesdays ago, I got a call from someone who thought they were swarming. Judging by the state of the greenhouse walls, which show the effects of cleaning flights very nicely, that was an orientation flight of some sort. But when they're bringing pollen it's clearly an attempt at foraging. I'm just glad they're still active. I've already had to seal up one lifeless hive elsewhere, and with the temperatures dropping below average again this week, it's a nervous time. Regards, Simon There’s been some of that, certainly – a couple of Wednesdays ago, I got a call from someone who thought they were swarming. Judging by the state of the greenhouse walls, which show the effects of cleaning flights very nicely, that was an orientation flight of some sort. But when they’re bringing pollen it’s clearly an attempt at foraging.

I’m just glad they’re still active. I’ve already had to seal up one lifeless hive elsewhere, and with the temperatures dropping below average again this week, it’s a nervous time.

Regards, Simon

]]> Comment on Preparing for the honey flow by mike dolinka http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2010/06/preparing-for-the-honey-flow/#comment-137 mike dolinka Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:11:04 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=21#comment-137 Hi, To me it seems like what is occurring is the first flight of the new born bees, especially if this occurred around midday. They usually take off in large numbers and then fly around the entrance of the hive, quick quickly returning to the entrance and back into the hive. -Mike Hi,
To me it seems like what is occurring is the first flight of the new born bees, especially if this occurred around midday. They usually take off in large numbers and then fly around the entrance of the hive, quick quickly returning to the entrance and back into the hive.
-Mike

]]> Comment on On Being Wrong by admin http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2011/01/on-being-wrong/#comment-116 admin Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:58:05 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=186#comment-116 Sorry for the late reply, but as I don't know the answer, it shouldn't matter much. At this time of year, we have conflicting aims. We want our bees building up for the spring, but we don't want them making more brood than they can look after if the weather turns poor. We want lots of vibrant young bees, but we don't want lots of vibrant young varroa mites before we've got a chance to control them. Feeding pollen substitute will tip the balance slightly, but whether it's in the right direction or not is anybody's guess. I don't feed pollen substitute, but that's mainly because I'm a lazy skinflint who hasn't got round to thinking about it. If I did think about it, I'd wonder about shelf-life, and how prone to mould it might be. And I'd wonder if it would be necessary in London, where pollen is only in short supply when the bees have no business finding any use for it. But if I had 15 rival hives next door, I might think it a gamble worth taking. Regards, Simon Sorry for the late reply, but as I don’t know the answer, it shouldn’t matter much.

At this time of year, we have conflicting aims. We want our bees building up for the spring, but we don’t want them making more brood than they can look after if the weather turns poor. We want lots of vibrant young bees, but we don’t want lots of vibrant young varroa mites before we’ve got a chance to control them. Feeding pollen substitute will tip the balance slightly, but whether it’s in the right direction or not is anybody’s guess.

I don’t feed pollen substitute, but that’s mainly because I’m a lazy skinflint who hasn’t got round to thinking about it. If I did think about it, I’d wonder about shelf-life, and how prone to mould it might be. And I’d wonder if it would be necessary in London, where pollen is only in short supply when the bees have no business finding any use for it. But if I had 15 rival hives next door, I might think it a gamble worth taking.

Regards, Simon

]]> Comment on On Being Wrong by Emily http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2011/01/on-being-wrong/#comment-105 Emily Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:28:22 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=186#comment-105 Hello Simon, Thanks for your reply. Mine had stores in both boxes, so the top wasn't full of empty frames. They seem to have spent the winter in the top anyway, and have been eating away at the fondant although there's still plenty left. Do you have any views on feeding pollen substitute? I've had some beekeepers tell me they think it's a good idea and they do so, and others tell me they think it's completely unnecessary. My hive is in a local association's apiary with about 15 other hives belonging to other people. Thanks Emily Hello Simon,

Thanks for your reply. Mine had stores in both boxes, so the top wasn’t full of empty frames. They seem to have spent the winter in the top anyway, and have been eating away at the fondant although there’s still plenty left.

Do you have any views on feeding pollen substitute? I’ve had some beekeepers tell me they think it’s a good idea and they do so, and others tell me they think it’s completely unnecessary. My hive is in a local association’s apiary with about 15 other hives belonging to other people.

Thanks
Emily

]]> Comment on On Being Wrong by admin http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/2011/01/on-being-wrong/#comment-103 admin Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:50:48 +0000 http://brockwell.lbka.org.uk/?p=186#comment-103 Hello Emily, One of our hives (the one with the nectar) is also overwintering on a double brood, for much the same reasons, and I'm happy to leave it like that. The recommendations make sense if the upper box is full of empty frames, which wouldn't provide either insulation or food, but otherwise I doubt it matters very much. A single-brood is obviously better if you're feeding candy, as the bees won't have so far to travel, but a strong colony with lots of stores shouldn't need feeding. Regards, Simon Hello Emily,

One of our hives (the one with the nectar) is also overwintering on a double brood, for much the same reasons, and I’m happy to leave it like that. The recommendations make sense if the upper box is full of empty frames, which wouldn’t provide either insulation or food, but otherwise I doubt it matters very much. A single-brood is obviously better if you’re feeding candy, as the bees won’t have so far to travel, but a strong colony with lots of stores shouldn’t need feeding.

Regards, Simon

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