June 2022
Sat 4 – Baldwyns Apiary
1pm – Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention, Varroa entrapment frames check; marking and clipping the new queens.
Sat 11 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention, Varroa entrapment frames check; marking and clipping the new queens.
Sat 18 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention, Varroa entrapment frames check. Supers added.
Sat 25 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention, Varroa entrapment frames check.
July 2022
Sat 2 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention, Varroa entrapment frames check.
Sat 9 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Routine inspection of colonies, last swarm prevention, last Varroa entrapment frames check.
Sat 16 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Routine inspection of colonies, consolidation of frames with honey for possible extraction in two weeks’ time.
Sat 23 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Tidying up of the newest shed and of the pavilion prior the extraction, consolidation of frames with honey.
Thu 28 – Both apiaries
6pm – Separation of bees from their honey, transport of boxes with the honey from Baldwyns’ site to Ruxley.
Sat 30 – Ruxley Apiary
10am – 4pm Extraction of honey crop. 12:30 lunch with drinks.
August 2022
Sat 6 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Check up on stores and colonies fed with sugar syrup and with pollen substitute.
Sat 13 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Colonies fed with sugar syrup and with pollen substitute.
Sat 20 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – All colonies treated for Varroa
Sat 27 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Top-up of food to all colonies
September 2022
Sat 3 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Varroa treatmenttopped up, only if Apiguard is used for Varroa.
Sat 10 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Colonies fed as required, hedges trimmed.
Sat 17 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Colonies fed as required, elderberry bushes growth removed and hedges trimmed from inside. If Apiguard was used, all remaining treatment removed.
Sat 24 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Last check on amount of stores in all colonies and topped up if required.
October 2022
Sat 1 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Removal of all Varroa treatment – only if Apistan, or Apivar, or Apitraz strips were used.
Sat 8 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Repairs to hive parts, Tidying of apiary. Bring suitable tools.
Sat 15 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Repairs to hive parts, Tidying of apiary. Bring suitable tools. Bonfire.
Sat 22 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Installation of mouse guards and chicken wire mesh protection against woodpeckers. Bring suitable tools.
Sat 29 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Installation of mouse guards and woodpecker protection cages.
November 2022
Sat 5 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Cleaning of equipment, repairs.
Sat 12 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Cleaning of equipment, repairs.
Sat 19 – Venue TBA
2pm – AGM
Sat 26 – Ruxley Apiary
2pm – Early mince pies with mulled wine, final check before the apiaries are closed for the winter.
December 2022
Apiaries closed for winter.