At present we are wondering how the bees are coping with the Winter. All of them have been brought down from the hills and put into Winter sites, often in disused walled gardens and other sheltered locations. It is important that winds from the North West (piercing) and the South East cannot get at the…
DetailsHere is some aerial footage of the current restoration of the Union Chain Bridge. It includes the Spencer Engineering compound based at the Honey Farm. For more information go to the website of the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge (If you become a member you can receive a regular newsletter) and to their new…
Details-Originally in skeps (our family had 60) and then into cottage hives (north) and W.B.C (south). -Swapping sites with feral bees and often mated with feral drones. -Very small broodnests (6 frames). -Kept for sections (comb honey) which they hated because they were designed by humans. -Prone to swarm every year. Often got good crops…
DetailsHoney is a unique natural product made by honeybees and although it has been analysed is has proved impossible to make synthetic honey. Bees collect nectar from flowers and by adding enzymes which change the sugar content and evaporating off excess water, they convert it into honey. Honeybees visit a wide range of nectar bearing…
DetailsThe Union Chain Bridge, after which the Chain Bridge Honey is named, celebrates its 200th birthday on Sunday. Here is a link to The Friends of the Union Chain Bridge newsletter with more information: Friends UCB – Newsletter – July 2020(4)
DetailsA Discussion on Swarming by W.S. Robson Bees will swarm for several reasons. Firstly, there is absconding which is caused by the sun beating onto the front of the hive when the wind is in the south (in the UK). No queen cells are built until after the swarm has left (Eggs in queen cups)…
DetailsOver recent weeks we have achieved a great deal with our bees because of a spell of good weather. Many young queens have been introduced into small hives (nuclei) and are now mated and hopefully will make good colonies next spring. The weather has changed to such a degree that we must now move all…
DetailsWe enjoy some very busy summers with lots of tourists visiting our honey farm, particularly during the school holidays. However because of the COVID 19 pandemic our visitor centre has been closed since March. Our staff have continued to work onsite, this includes beekeepers, production staff and admin staff. Now, despite the easing of lockdown…
DetailsThe Union Chain Bridge celebrates its bicentenary on 26th July 2020. Here is a worksheet you can download and print off at home to learn a bit more about this fantastic bridge: Chain Bridge Worksheet
How the Changeable Spring Weather Affects Our Bees – May 2020 We are still going through difficult times with our bees. Daytime temperatures are up to 17 degrees c, whereas at night it is down to 0 degrees c, often with a north wind behind it. The bees have to maintain the temperature in the…
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