Programme of Events 2025
June 2025
Sat 7 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked.
Tidying the Mrs Brain shed and the pavilion shed in preparation for the forthcoming honey harvest. Consolidation of frames with honey in readiness for the spring honey crop harvest the following week.
Thu 12 – Baldwyns and Ruxley apiaries
5:30 pm Bees blown out of supers. All supers, from both apiaries, transported to Ruxley apiary kitchen.
Sat 14 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am – 4pm Setting up and extraction of the spring honey crop.
12:30 lunch with drinks.
After completion, empty supers returned to Baldwyns apiary hives .
NB: Only those members, who will have indicated by Sat 7th , that they will be coming to help and participate, will be allowed to enter.
Sat 21 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00amRoutine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked.
11:00am Queen rearing (QR) part 1; Grafting.
Sat 28 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked.
July 2025
Sat 5 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Routine inspection of colonies, swarm prevention. Varroa entrapment frames checked.
Sat 12 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Routine inspection of colonies and the last swarm prevention. The last Varroa entrapment frames check.
Sat 19 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Tidying the Mrs Brain shed and the pavilion shed in preparation for the forthcoming main honey harvest. Consolidation of frames with honey.
Sat 26 – Baldwyns Apiary
9:00am Feeding all colonies with weak sugar syrup and with the pollen substitute. T
August 2025
Sat 2 – Ruxley Apiary
9:00am Feeding all colonies with sugar syrup and with the pollen substitute.N
Sat 9 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Check up on stores and colonies fed with sugar syrup and with pollen substitute.
Sat 16 – Ruxley Apiary
9.00 am Colonies fed with sugar syrup and with pollen substitute.
If required, colonies treated for Varroa
Sat 23 – Baldwyns Apiary
2:00pm Colonies fed with sugar syrup and with pollen substitute.
If required, colonies treated for Varroa
Sat 30 – Ruxley Apiary
9.00 am Colonies topped up with the winter food.
September 2025
Sat 6 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Colonies fed as required, hedges trimmed.
Sat 13 – Ruxley Apiary
9:30am – Colonies fed as required, elderberry bushes growth removed and hedges trimmed from inside.
Sat 20 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Colonies fed as required, hedges trimmed.
Sat 27 – Ruxley Apiary
9:30am – Last check on the amount of the winter food in colonies and topped up if required.
October 2025
Sat 4 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Varroa treatment removed. Repairs to hive parts, Tidying of apiary. Bring suitable tools.
Sat11 – Ruxley Apiary
9:30am – Repairs to hive parts, Tidying of apiary. Bring suitable tools. Bonfire.
Sat 18 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Installation of mouse guards and chicken wire mesh protection against woodpeckers. Bring suitable tools
Sat 25 – Ruxley Apiary
9:30 am – 2pm – Installation of mouse guards and chicken wire mesh cages protection against woodpeckers. Bring suitable tools.
November 2025
Sat 1 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Cleaning of equipment, repairs.
Sat 8 – Ruxley Apiary
10am – Cleaning of equipment, repairs.
Sat 15 – Venue TBA
2:00pm – AGM
Sat 22 – Ruxley Apiary
10am – Early mince pies with mulled wine, final check before the apiaries are closed for the winter.
Sat 29 – Baldwyns Apiary
2pm – Early mince pies with mulled wine, final check before the apiaries are closed for the winter.
December 2025
Both Apiaries – Closed for the winter.