Ronald A Hoskins, known as Ron to everyone, died on 2 July 2023. He will be keenly missed by his large family (Ron had sixteen great-grand children!), his friends and the worldwide beekeeping community. Ron had suffered a series of heart attacks and it seems that after the last one, he decided it was time.Continue reading "Ron Hoskins"

The UK may be known for its green fields and lush countryside, but new data shows that it is actually one of the countries in the world where biodiversity is in the worst state. Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on Earth and how they fit together in the web of life, bringingContinue reading "Nature depletion in the UK"

Our first apiary meeting of the year was well attended and the bees revealed a number of interesting learning situations. The weather was kind; relatively warm and calm and as a result, the bees were generally quite well-behaved. Considering it was relatively early in the season, the West End colonies were all building up wellContinue reading "Apiary meeting, West End April 2023"

If you are planning to sell a nucleus of honey bees to another Meridian member or elsewhere, you should conform to the following criteria set by the National Bee Unit. • As it develops, the nucleus (nuc) should be checked regularly for signs of disease. Any person involved in the production and distribution of nucleiContinue reading "How to prepare a honey bee nucleus for sale"

Honey is the substance produced naturally by honey bees from plant nectar. The nectar is processed by bees by regurgitation and evaporation. The dehydration of the natural sugars contained within the nectar prevents fermentation and the enzymes added during regurgitation, results in a change in the chemical composition and pH value of the honey. TheContinue reading "Health benefits of honey"