It was a warm, wet January with ten sunny days but I couldn’t get to my colonies and was reduced to external checks only. All colonies were taking in plenty of pollen indicating queens were already laying. By putting in and removing varroa boards a week later and then examining the drop of pollen andContinue reading “Louise: reflections on 2022”
Author Archives: Meridian Beekeepers’ Association
Marking your queen
Queens emerging in 2023 will be marked Red There are good reasons for marking your queen. Not only does it make it easier to spot her in a busy colony and allows you to keep track of her age, but it helps you determine that the queen you’re looking at is the same queen youContinue reading “Marking your queen”
Christmas dinner 2022
If you’re not on the list, you’re not coming in!
Watch this short film to see the fascinating behaviour of guard bees. They move forward to ‘greet’ incoming bees (or possibly other insects like wasps) and very quickly, make a decision about whether the newcomer is friend or foe. Friends are allowed to pass and others are quickly repelled. What is going on bottom right?Continue reading “If you’re not on the list, you’re not coming in!”
Hampshire Beekeepers’ Honey Show
The Hampshire Beekeepers’ Association Honey Show 2022 will be held at The Great Hall, Winchester on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 October. The 13th-century aisled hall was once part of Winchester Castle built by William the Conqueror. The 750 year old Round Table dominating the Hall has been linked to the ancient legends of KingContinue reading “Hampshire Beekeepers’ Honey Show”
Our bees’ favourite forage
This page describes the forage bees in the Meridian area are likely to be working each month of the beekeeping season. It’s by no means an exhaustive list but is designed to help if you’re swatting for the basic assessment. You’ll be asked to name what forage is available in the months around the timeContinue reading “Our bees’ favourite forage”
Meridian newsletter archive
Links to our most recent newsletters can be found at the bottom of the page. To subscribe to the newsletter, click here.
Hampshire Beekeepers’ Library Service
History The Library was founded in 1884 with just 25 items listed in the catalogue. It was keenly used and quickly prospered thanks to new acquisitions, bequests and donations. In 1961, in recognition of great service to the Hampshire Association, the library became The H.P. Young Memorial Library. Later, with the permanent loan of FrankContinue reading “Hampshire Beekeepers’ Library Service”
Swarm collection and hiving
For the past couple of years, I’ve been waiting patiently to film the perfect swarm collection. By ‘perfect’ I mean a massive swarm dangling, seemingly precariously, from a stout branch, at head-height unencumbered by foliage or prickles where the beekeeper simply comes along, places a box under the cluster, runs a hand between branch andContinue reading “Swarm collection and hiving”
My first swarm
So, my adventure began about three weeks ago. After being placed on the swarm list, I received my first call to a small swarm of around 300 bees. They were located in a bush about 4ft off the ground in the caller’s back garden. I was feeling pretty excited about this being my first soloContinue reading “My first swarm”
Meridian Beekeepers’ Association 