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Bees – off! | Adventuresinbeeland’s Blog

, 16/09/2025

Some of my longer term readers may remember that I had bees in my chimney stack. This had turned into a tricky problem, with quotes of £4,000+ to remove them and reseal the chimney. It wasn’t even my fault (honestly!!) as when the swarm first moved in my own bees were based around four miles away. The bees just found me. Well, I found a solution! I joined a Facebook group called UK Bee Removers. Where I then noticed a lady called Molly from Bees Off based in Cornwall. I’m so pleased to have found someone local, who could do…

Back to beekeeping | Adventuresinbeeland’s Blog

, 13/07/2023

It’s been a long time. A lot has happened. I’ve moved house. I’ve sold my bees, caught a swarm, given that away, nearly given up on bees completely, and then started going to meetings at my local association apiary, about twenty minutes drive away in mid-Cornwall. Back in my suit! I miss my bees and it’s been fantastic watching the bees being inspected. Two weeks ago I spotted a new queen and one of the tutors marked her in this year’s color, red. I’ve now been asked to become a tutor myself and show complete beginners inside a hive, taking…

Swarm collecting tips from Tamsin Harris

, 07/06/2023

This week I listened to a great talk for the West Cornwall Beekeepers Association by their member Tamsin Harris, who is a very experienced commercial worker. She came across as a practical person with a quick, dry sense of humour. The idea behind the talk was that more swarm collectors were needed, so the association was hoping for people to be encouraged to volunteer. Here are some of Tamsin’s tips: Put up bait hives. She does 15-20 a year, using a four or five frame nuc box. It should be watertight with a small entrance, and preferably old, so they…

Second inspection of the year

, 14/05/2023

It’s been a cold week, but today seemed to mark a turning point in the weather here. I took my coat and gloves back off; my gloves had been put away for the summer two weeks ago, only to be hastily retrieved when the cold winds arrived. In some parts of the country snow has fallen and the keepers have not found an opportunity to do a first inspection yet. Cherry tree in my garden – on one of the gray days I lit my smoker and approached Demelza’s hive – I always inspect that hive first as it’s calmer.…