Author Archives: Ahipara

Wasn’t yesterday a mixed up mishmash of weather? I think it may have had something to to with the earthquake in Chile.   I was in my shed (outdoor living space:-)) for most of the morning. I came out at … Continue reading →

I went down to Devizes to a cutely named little place called Bishops Cannings on Saturday morning for my mycroscopy one day course.   I had an very satisfying day – there was so much to learn that the day … Continue reading →

This being the year of our lord 2009 the colour coding used in the hives is green.  Since the advent of Varroa this important part of the Integrated Pest Management system has become vital for the health of the colony. … Continue reading →

On first opening a hive in early April the first thing I noticed was the warmth emanating from the hole in the head board. During the winter months the bees maintain a steady 60 degree F  – this is the … Continue reading →

Time now for the Totally Terrific Tutors at Blackhorse. Second only to John Hamer,  Alastair Welch commands the respect of all newbies – yes, he’s the dashing chap on the right. Using charm and humour Alastair leads us into the intricate … Continue reading →

Here’s Dave Arpino, a great bee buddy! Dave has a love of being involved in a holistic way of beekeeping and is a font of great sites to visit on the web. He keeps poultry along side his own hives … Continue reading →

Having worked hard to create a safe environment for both my colony and my neighbours I spent a few days just sitting and watching the girls as they began to fly. Pretty soon they were bringing in great quantities of pollen. Both colonies benefited from convenient tree close to the hive which had just started to bloom. They had loads which beggared belief – mine certainly!
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The first hurdle was to find a beekeeping association to join, then starting so late in the season ( March 09) training courses were over subscribed. Wonderfully there are people out there just a concerned as I and willing to … Continue reading →

Finding a site for my hive wouldn’t be a problem, I thought! My neighbours agreed to my having a hive in the garden so long as I took steps ensure the installation didn’t cause a problem. That is until I … Continue reading →

While awaiting the first day of training and having joined the BBKA(British Beekeepers Association), I decided to attend the Annual Summer Show held at Stoneleigh in the Midlands, where for the princely sum of £65.00 one could take the Hive … Continue reading →