Pesticides harm bumblebees’ ability to forage
Bumblebees exposed to pesticides suffered adverse effects to their foraging behaviour, according to a new study co-authored by Nigel Raine and Richard Gill in the journal Functional Ecology.
Bumblebees (Bombus terrestis) are essential insect pollinators that are vital to healthy… Continue reading
The following article has been reproduced from The Permaculture Research Institute website.
http://permaculturenews.org/2014/03/12/top-bar-beekeeping/
With thanks to The Permaculture Research Institute
Martin O’Callaghan has been keeping bees for nearly 20 years and was up for sharing his experience with us on… Continue reading
Valentines Day Wish: Stop Selling Bee Harming Plants
Seems that most people don’t even know that the nurseries are selling plants which have in all likelihood been treated with neonicotinoids at some stage in their lifetime. So when you go and buy all those lovely bedding plants that… Continue reading
GMOs Are Killing the Bees, Butterflies, Birds and . . . ?
Recent research into Neonicotinoids has led to some scary revelations. Many people are probably aware of who is involved in the production and usage of neonicotinoids. Read the article from the Organic Consumers Association at the following link for more… Continue reading
40 Years into a Cold Climate Food Forest
This may be a permaculture video clip but it includes a section on the importance of Bees to the Food Forest garden which may be of interest to beekeepers.
Latest research link to pesticide usage and bee decline
Bee decline
Latest research link to pesticide usage and bee decline.
Just published in the US is this article from the Natural Resources Defence Council Staff blog (http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jsass/defenseless_bees.htm) which highlights the increasing evidence of harm from neonicotinoid… Continue reading
Adding living areas
Adding living areas
Last week Harry used his ‘o’ level woodwork skills to prepare further living accommodation for the colonies in the langstroth hives. Harry had ordered and received 3 basic langstroth kits and we perused how the parts… Continue reading
Six colonies
Six colonies
Last week has been a very busy one for our bees. On Tuesday, Ducklington colony and Kingham, both cast off and swarmed into a bush very close to the apiary. Melvin was really pleased to observe… Continue reading
Fulbrook swarm
Fulbrook swarm
On Wednesday 5th June, 2013, Melvin, Harry and Greg were called to a swarm near to the church in Fulbrook. We assessed the situation, and the swarm had settled in 3 locations, very near to each other.… Continue reading
First swarm
First swarm
On Sunday, 19th, May, Harry’s daughter, Carla noticed a lot of bees coming and going from a large bush near to the apiary. Harry hot-footed it down to see that there was a large swarm of bees… Continue reading