Having been away for 9 days I had no choice but to inspect with temps at 12c and an East wind of death. I hope it wasn't too cold for you Southern softie Nigel at Wynyard today
My best colonies needed a 4th super but they are few in number. Not one single colony had a queen cell. Cross checking my records averages this year are 75% smaller than they have ever been in the last 12 years of my beekeeping. Compared to all of my friends my bees have survived very well........ Just... At least I have bees. Having invested about £14,000 in my beekeeping business in the last 12 months I am more than fed up as usual about the disgusting weather we face here. 17c to 21c forecast for the rest of the country tomorrow, 14c here which usually means East winds of death and sea mist with 10c to 12c.................
Still never got my potato's in the allotment. All the other plants are the smallest I have ever seen. Roll on global warming.