Sat 25 – Ruxley Apiary
9:30am Routine inspection of colonies; swarm prevention. Supers added to the colonies if needed. Varroa frames checked. Check on the grafting outcome. If needed, the grafting process re-done.
June 2024
Sat 1 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked. New queens checked if laying.
Tue 4 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Distribution of ripe QCs into mating nucs.
Sat 8 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked.
Sat 15 – Baldwyns apiary
2:00pm Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked. The new queens marked and clipped.
Sat 22 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked. New queens checked if laying.
Sat 29 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked. If needed, supers added.
July 2024
Sat 6 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked. If needed, supers added.
Sat 6 – Baldwyns Apiary, car park and bar:
11:00am – 4:00pm BFA Community open day. Free entry to non-members. Bar open until late (10:00pm). Come and help with running the Beekeepers’ stall, and with honey sales.
Sat 13 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Routine inspection of colonies and the last swarm prevention. The last Varroa entrapment frames check.
Sat 20 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Tidying the Mrs Brain shed and the pavilion shed in preparation for the forthcoming honey harvest. Consolidation of frames with honey.
Sat 27 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Final consolidation of frames with honey in preparation for separating the bees from their honey.
August 2024
Thu 1 – Baldwyns and Ruxley Apiaries
6:00pm Separation of bees from their honey. Boxes with honey transported from Baldwyns apiary to Ruxley.
Sat 3 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am – 4:00pm Setting up and extraction of honey. 12:30 Lunch with drinks.
Sat 10 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Check up on stores and colonies fed with sugar syrup and with pollen substitute.
…TBC…