Who knows where the time goes?

Another beekeeping season is nearly behind us, and what a season it's been!  Somehow we've completely neglected the website - sorry about that.

Beekeeping isn't just about honey of course, but it is one reward for all our hard work.  2023 was a strange year for our bees: instead of the colonies building up in the spring, nearly all of them decided to swarm or replace their queen at exactly the wrong time. Then the poor summer weather meant we weren't able to gather a crop of honey for the first time in 14 years of beekeeping.  Our girls had enough honey to get them through the winter but no surplus for us.

In complete contrast, 2024 has been our best year ever and many local beekeepers say the same.  The timing of sun, rain and flowering plants & trees has all come together in textbook fashion.  Our "local honey for sale" signs are out in the front garden and we are delighted to see our regular customers again.

What else has happened in our beekeeping world?  We've collected swarms from various places around the neighbourhood including one in a BT footway box - who says honeybees don't nest in the ground?  We've helped two new beekeepers to get started and have given them the statutory warning: two hives is never enough!  We met the general public at the Suffolk Show beekeeping tent and were impressed by many people's level of knowledge about pollinators and the vitally important role they play. 

Our colonies are now starting to prepare for autumn.  They have plenty of honey and pollen in the hives and they are making the most of the ivy which has come into flower.  They are perfectly happy to gather ivy honey as a late season crop, and good luck to them.  Most people find its taste utterly horrible.  If you're one of the few who like it, I'm sure you will find a beekeeper to sell you some.  Don't ask us though!

So as summer slips into autumn, we look forward to whatever nature has in store.  Meanwhile we will be busy filling honey jars and applying labels, rather a lot of them to do but no complaints....