Regular visits to the apiary are essential during winter and spring months, since this is the time when bee colonies are likely to die from starvation or disease. On the odd occasion, a hive may be knocked over by livestock, deer or even the wind. Where hives are knocked over and the bees are still alive, they will cling on, despite the fact that the hive parts are strewn around. If the hive parts are carefully re-assembled, with attached bees, the hive may be saved and returned to its stand. It is surprising how well bees, despite cold and rain, can survive for some time in this situation.

Regular checks on the weight of each hive is essential during apiary visits in winter and spring. Light hives should be given some fondant placed over the bees to avert starvation. Whatever about losing bees from disease or other misfortune, there is no excuse for letting them die of starvation.

Once the hive is cleaned out and sterilised it can be left ready for restocking when the beekeeping season comes round. Many beekeepers rear nuclei during the summer and overwinter them for replacing stocks, or perhaps sale.

Bee forage has been very much in decline over a number of years. It is leading to the demise of honeybees and wild bees. Bees don’t just collect nectar, they also collect large quantities of pollen – which is vital to the survival of the colony. Pollen is a protein food found in flowers and used by bees, particularly in brood rearing. Bees must have access to a wide variety of pollens in order to maintain a balanced diet. Any lack of quality or quantity deprives the bee of good health. It is in the collection of this pollen that flowers are pollinated. Where bees are absent for a number of years wild flowers will not be propagated and decline. In reverse, this decline would be the cause of bees not surviving in such an area. The knock-on affect would be catastrophic for other wildlife depending on food or shelter.

It is sometimes hard to appreciate that seemingly insignificant plants and flowers growing in ditches or scrubland are actually supplying honeybees and solitary bees with their daily quality protein balance, not to mention their carbohydrate needs.

Farming people are much more tuned in to protecting bees, which are so valuable to them, the environment, the bee and the beekeeper. We live in each other’s pockets in this regard. The initiatives taken by farmers in not destroying hedgerows, wild areas and scrubland, as well as being careful where herbicides and insecticides are used, are laudable.

The humble bramble or briar, which supplies vast quantities of honey, has been recognised for another quality. The 2018 BT Young Scientist award was won by Simon Meehan for his work on the antimicrobial effects of arial and root parts of selected plants against straphylococcus aureus. The bramble was one mentioned and it goes to show that this apparently nuisance vegetation not only provides bees with a great crop of honey, but has this hidden property.

Spraying crops, such as oilseed or beans, while in bloom can be high-risk for bees, hence it is best done early in the morning or late in the evening, when bees have stopped flying. The last thing anyone wants is dead bees.

Lastly, here’s to a better year for all weather-wise. CL