Let’s see your pictures of spring.

[AJStrees]

17 minutes ago, Conor Wright said:

Nice. last year happened to "bee" a bad year..  one swarm led to losing a hive completely, another split hive failed to produce a queen,  partially down to my own mismanagement. I took no honey last year and hope to be able take a surplus this year without having to resort to feeding sugar syrup all winter.

Very relieved to see them out again and bringing in a decent amount. It's been a long winter for them.

Trials and tribulations. I had a good read of a couple of bee books which was good help to start with. Have yet to do any real management at all with them. Will see this coming summer. Yes same here, they are out and about now with the better weather. 

[Khriss]

See to remmember a stinking cold winter always gave best summer success, but always had a lot of Oilseed they went mad on fr 3 weeks, in Yorks. Must get back into it again.  Never split colonies but joined a couple of weak ones with success. K

[AJStrees]

[Conor Wright]

3 minutes ago, AJStrees said:

Trials and tribulations. I had a good read of a couple of bee books which was good help to start with. Have yet to do any real management at all with them. Will see this coming summer. Yes same here, they are out and about now with the better weather. 

Exactly. I've done some reading too but find myself learning more through interacting with them. They mesmerise me to some degree to be honest.

One piece of advice, make sure your bee suit covers your ankles.

Once they find a weak spot they remember where it is! 

[AJStrees]

6 minutes ago, Conor Wright said:

Exactly. I've done some reading too but find myself learning more through interacting with them. They mesmerise me to some degree to be honest.

One piece of advice, make sure your bee suit covers your ankles.

Once they find a weak spot they remember where it is! 

Yep tight boots over the bee suit is my current get up, seems to work well. They are pretty fascinating thats for sure. 

[GMBS]

A few photos from around the Ashdown Forest area taken over the last month or so:  
 

[Conor Wright]

17 minutes ago, GMBS said:

A few photos from around the Ashdown Forest area taken over the last month or so:  
 

Some great photos. Really like the shot of the stream. 

[petercb]

Primroses looking good this year, bluebells not yet out.

[openspaceman]

Lesser celandine in the bottom picture too.

 

I noticed wood anemones today but was driving so no photo. Interestingly the wild garlic was not in flower yet.

[Johny Walker]

Some rhodeys we have in front garden