Our honeybees and other pollinators are all winding down now for the Autumn. The changeable and challenging weather conditions haven’t been the best for the honeybees this year. When it rains the bees can’t fly out and gather pollen and nectar, and they rely on what they have been able to store away. Weeks of continuous rain have kept our bees in the hive eating their stored honey. When we have periods of very dry weather, then the flowers don’t produce the nectar needed. This means that we haven’t had much honey this year. We have been feeding many of our colonies sugar syrup for quite a few weeks in June and July, depending on the state of their stores. This is an unusual situation as we normally don’t do this until September.
If there are any shops, supermarkets, or food processors out there that are willing to pass on sugar that has burst from bags and would be otherwise thrown away, please do contact us.
Our association trainers, Chris and Roger, are delivering a training course on the basics of beekeeping aimed at beginners. This introduction to beekeeping will take place on the weekend of October 14th and 15th at Neville Parade Community Centre and costs £60.00. Practical skills will be developed at our apiary in St Oswald’s Allotments. If you would like to know more about this training, please contact our training officer Chris at training, aycliffebka@gmail.com or telephone him at 07421 471581.
General enquiries and offers of sugar should be directed to secretary.aycliffebka@gmail.com
Find us on Facebook at Aycliffe Beekeepers Association or www.aycliffebees.com