Bee'n too long since last update

I suppose not much really happens over the winter months, so I've been a bit lazy with my blog. With April a few days away things should be happening in the hive, eggs being laid new bees hatching, bees flying, but just for a change good old English weather is causing havoc with bee colonies across the country.

This time last year it was 20 degrees, now it's bloody freezing, my girls probably not flown more than a hand full of times, if even that many, warnings are coming from all directions colonies are starving to death! What to do, was always told never open hive in very cold weather but now being told open hive check for honey stores, if they are too far away from the ball of bees then move them closer, don't disturb the bees though! So how does that work??

Had a long chat with my colleague Stuart who has kept bees for years and years, he's worried too, between us we have come up with feeding the girls icing fondant put right on top of the brood frames and under the crown board, so will need to flatten out the icing fondant so will fit, not an overly complicated or hi-tech solution, but hive will only be open for a few fleeting moments.

Fingers crossed they get through this winter, if it ever ends! It would be nice to get some honey this year, well it would be nice just to have a strong healthy colony.

Now that I am in new house I am definitely getting a second hive, want a bee hotel too this year, another little project, I knew all that bamboo in garden would come in handy :-)