Christmas Eve

On Christmas eve, I put the additional large rabbit guards, around the trees. I then checked all the trees. I'm glad I managed to get the leaf much around the trees a couple of days ago as the snow has been intense. The orchard had at least 2/4 inches of snow.

The bees are in the hive and I plan to give check the food stores as soon as it gets warmer.

This will probably be the last time I check on the trees this year. Lets hope next year will be better for us all. Happy new year one and all.

Christmas Week

Lots and lots of snow, the country is practically at a standstill. Not much happening at the orchard. I haven't been down in the past couple of days. In fact after putting the extra leaf mulch around the tree roots I haven't checked on then. I have got some additional extra large rabbit guards that need to be put round the trees, but that won't happen till this coming weekend, with a bit of luck.

With the ground so cold I am worried about rabbits ring barking some of the trees, but the new guards should be enough to keep them protected. I still have 5 trees only protected with basic guards, they are the biggest worry at present.

I have taken a number of pictures before the heavy snow, which show things like leaves covered in frost and tracks in light snow that I plan to upload soon. They are pretty.

Until a couple of days ago I could easily find lots of ladybirds still on trees. I hope that the parasites like aphids die out over the cold period and the useful insets like ladybirds manage to survive , we shall have to wait and see.

Over the past couple of weeks because of the heavy snow I have been unable to feed the bees. This is worrying. The bees should have enough food for a while, but without going through the hives, I can't really tell how they are doing. The hive in the garden has had some causualties a small number have died because of the cold. The other bees bring the bodies to the entrance and throw them out, I have also seen larvae, which I think is unusual, as I wouldn't expect larvae to be in the hive at this time of the year. It could be a clear up.

One of my neighbours has given me some home made cider which I plan on drinking a little closer to Christmas. I have also given a number of the neighbours a jar of honey, and also to those that have helped with the recent planting.

Preparing to enter 2011 lets all hope that its a good year. Merry Christmas and happy new year one and all.

The new trees have arrived and are in the ground.

Over the past couple of weeks we have had a severe cold snap. The orchard floor had been caked the snow and the ice. Because of this I hadn't been able to take delivery of the new trees. The suppliers weren't able to take the trees out of the ground and I couldn't have planted them. Even if I had tried the ground would have been very cold and the risk of damage to the roots would have been high.

Anyway last weekend the new trees arrived and we got them planted. We had ordered 27 new fruit trees and had a couple more that need planting. It took a couple of hours lots of hard work a couple large Pizza's, some soft drinks sweets and 4 and a half people that were knackered but the end of it. The following day I planted a couple more trees with the kids and my parents. Now the orchard looks proper. Row after row of trees, and the place is beautiful. The new ones are just sapling, but so were the others only 2 years ago, now they look great.

I must admit that on finishing the work and wondering around, the feeling I had and still get when considering what the orchard will be like in a couple of years is amazing. I will have over a hundred trees in the space of 3,3 acres. Not all of them are fruit trees but the majority are.

My imagination of what I and my friends, family will be able to do in the orchard run wild. Summer afternoons, having picnics, playing tig, and other games. Then all of us working together to collect the fruit, using it sharing it, perhaps selling or giving it away to friends, family, colleagues and those that want local fresh produce perhaps even a small amount of cider, we shall see.

The local wildlife will benefit, if the kids want to camp, out watch the stars no problem.

I plan to put some additional leave mulch down, this afternoon, I have already loaded the trooper with bags and bags of leaves. In truth I just want to get down and see the trees again

The New trees are late

The new trees that had been ordered are not going to arrive on time.

I had planned on getting the additional trees planted this coming weekend. But unfortunately due to the severe weather in some parts of Britain in the past couple of weeks its not going to happen. The Nursery has not been able to take the trees out of the ground.
The trees should arrive on 4th December, with some luck. The later half of National Tree planting week.

I have various friends and family coming to help, and have had to let people know that this weekend's work is cancelled. Lets try next week. I hope everyone turns up.

I wanted to get everything done ASAP, so that all the trees are in the ground before the frosts take a grip or really bad weather hits Warwickshire.

My wife and I have already put markers in the ground so we know where the trees are going to be planted.

I have also seen on Google maps that when doing a street view you can see the trees. This is nice, and a little scary.

I have recently read Harmony A New Way of Looking at Our World by H.R.H. Prince of Wales, Tony Juniper, Ian Skelly. The book was great, I really enjoyed it, even orchards get a mention, as do bee's and so much more. Its almost a gateway to lots of ideas and thoughts. I plan to re-read it and make notes, on ideas and people that deserve more research.

After reading this book, I felt that Prince Charles is in a very fortunate position of being able to talk to some of the leading experts in various fields and bring ideas and thoughts together. He seems to have been at the forefront of many ideas, for the past 20 years, organic farming, traditional crafts, slow food etc. He in his position is able to meet and learn from experts that they are doing the real work discovering and protecting things, in a way that most people can't. He can then implement the suggestions and ideas.

I kind of long for that; access to those people, so that I to can learn what we should be doing and how things are progressing.

Replaced broken posts

Checked on the trees yesterday morning. It was a beautiful morning, bright, not that cold, quiet and the sun was pushing its rays and forcing them to refect the light on the tree leaves.

I have replaced a number of posts and checked on the trees. Some of the original posts have started to deteriorate but I have a number kept in storage. Just in case. I hope the trees will not need this level of protection for much longer.

I have seen a number of additional mole and worm mounds, this means that the land has had time to rest and is attracting the insects and animals that should be in an orchard. Its nice to see.

I have started to talk to people to help out with the next round of planting which will be on the 27th. I have a number of volunteers hopefully the weather will be nice, if its like its was on Sunday it would be perfect.

Today since I awoke it has been raining and it still raining.

I want to talk to my local Councillors to plan more trees in Birmingham, especially as they are planning on redeveloping the city centre. A small orchard, 20 trees or so that people can walk by, and and enjoy. But large glorious trees. Perhaps some other types of traditional trees, Oaks, chestnuts etc.

The pretty leaves are falling down

Its autumn the leaves are bright and colourful, I know its getting colder but its beautiful. The colours of the trees are varying, some of the trees have lost all the leaves but most still have leaves which are gold and yellows, some browns and the occasional red.

I have fed the bees and incurred a single sting.I noticed that one of the peach trees has had lots of digging around it. I have also seen lots of mole mounds. All seems well and very pretty.

As the photograph shows lots of ladybirds still around. I have noticed a number of the posts used around the trees are broken and need replacing.

More work getting ready for winter

I've been doing more routine tidying up and getting ready for winter. I have put wood shavings around the roots of trees, that should rot down and become compost. I had my son with me and he was not happy, it was cold and windy and he just wanted me to take him home. I have done a couple of rows and have to apply some compost and bone-meal to encourage the trees to grow this will take a couple more weekends.

I had to work with my son sat on my shoulders, that was hard. I wouldn't recommend it. I have had some rabbit damage and have now pee'ed around the tree and put on a new rabbit guard. I hope that will deter the blighter's.

I also visited Ryton Gardens spoke to a couple of people about what I should be doing to prep up for winter. It was apple day. Tried some apples and juice. I did a taste test with my wife of egremont russet one organic and one not, we both thought the organic was much better sweeter, softer. However it had a lot more bumps and wasn't a nice circle shape.

The picture shows my wife holding an organic egremont russet at Ryton Gardens, in the orchard.

Getting ready for winter

Its been a busy day today, however the past couple of weeks have been slow. The bees are taking down the sugar syrup and they have now consumed over 45 kg's of sugar.

I have been doing lots of weeding, today and getting ready to put the trees to sleep for the winter. Clearing out the area around the trees; clearing them of weeds etc, as the pictures show.

Next week I will put wood shaving and straw around the trees to absorb water and rot down and become compost. I have done three, rows of clearing and will finish the process hopefully next weekend.

I listened to the food program on Radio 4 which was on Northern Orchards. Very interesting. Julian Templeton was mentioned, Julian is an orchard owner and cider maker that I met last year at his orchard in Dorset. He is a bit of a legend in the orchard/cider world. He s famous for supplying cider to Glastonbury, war with the tax man and so much more.

Also at the orchard I have seen loads of ladybirds, snails, spiders etc. The weather was beautiful blue sky's, green grass and just me and the trees. Listening to music and enjoying the day, and the trees.

I noticed a couple of things, I have seen some blossom on a couple of apple trees, and it smells beautiful. Some dandelions and daisy's still in flower. This is strange but in general the trees are starting to lose leaves etc. While watching the bees I noticed them still bringing in pollen. not bad for the time of year.

More Trees ordered

I made a mistake this week, I spilt some sugar syrupy in the roof of the hive. This could be disastrous. It could attract other bees or wasps and mean that my bees would have to defend themselves from other insects, perhaps even birds.

I have also ordered additional trees, all fruit, apple, pear, plum and cherry.

Last week we had the grass cut, my brother did most of the work, and that should be the last cut of the year. At the same time we put about 10 kgs of flower seed and grass seed down.

Microscope Course

This week I attended a course on Bee Microscopy. I used various microscopes; dissection and compound microscopes. I used the dissection one to dissect a bee and examine it for bee illnesses like Acarine and using the same microscope I would be able to see Varroa.

Then I used a compound microscope to look at other bee illnesses like nosema. The day was a success. I found it interesting and difficult. Need more practice though.

I then looked at identifying pollen both on its own and in honey. I have been given a number of chemicals to help me further my studies on my own. I already have a basic compound microscope and am looking to get a dissection microscope. It will be useful not just for the bees but on the orchard as a whole.

Plum Crumble and Wasps

We still have lots of plums ripening at the orchard. I have collected several kilos worth and given some away and made a number of Plum crumble's which have gone down a hit with the family. I'm using a recipe by Valentine Warner. Top dish, and the crumble itself was fantastic.

One of the bee hives has had a large number of wasps trying to attack the bees to rob the honey and larvae. Wasps I have read and been taught will steal food and attack kill and eat bees, especially the babies. They can clear out a hive within days so I am keeping an eye on it, and have been stamping on wasps around the hive in the mornings. On one occasion I stamped out 8 wasps within the seconds.

Feeding bees is underway and I have bought 30 kgs of sugars and will be giving it to the bees within the next couple of days/weeks. I need to get the grass cut at the orchard and am waiting until my brother is free to give me a hand.

Been Harvesting

In the past couple of weeks we've had lots of ups and downs. Its been harvest time and we have collected and extracted more honey, and several kilos of Plums and Apples.

The apples were nice and some have been enjoyed by my family friends and horses. The plums are great, and we have had lots, most have been of a yellow variety. Some of the plums I have made into chutney which should be ready to eat in about a month. I am looking forward to it. We have also got small purple plums and damsons.

I might upload the recipe for the chutney later.

I have to admit that this year much of the fruit has been enjoyed by the wasps and birds. I'm not concerned about this at present but it will be something I will have to manage over the coming years. I have started looking at devices that will help me to capture wasps. I may have to drown them by collecting them in a trap then putting them into a bucket of water.

I have collected more manure from the field next to mine. We had a horse wonder into the orchard, I wasn't present but I hear the horse was collected quickly and put back into its own field.

Lots of people have been over to visit especially people with kids the same age as mine, and also various members of my family and friends.

I have started looking at other trees for planting later in the year, I have been in touch with the suppliers from the original stock and they are going to get me a list of trees available.

A number of people have stated an interest in a bee hive, which is nice.

Bee Basic Exam

I took the BBKA basic exam this week. The person examining me was Celia Davis the president of the Warwickshire beekeepers association, chairperson of the Solihull branch and author of a couple of Bee books. I figure trying to show someone with that level of expertise the basics is going to be difficult as they must see lots of people and the level of expectation is going to be high.

I get the results in two weeks, the test is divided into practical parts and theoretical parts. I think I did OK, I may have made a couple of mistakes and could have had more knowledge of diseases. I had done my homework and studied and I know the principles etc, and I have a couple of years of experience so I should be alright.

Will keep you posted on the results. If I don't pass now I can take the exam again next year.


The orchard is fine examined the trees and the fruits, everything looks fine, I reckon some of the pear trees have rust leaf and I plan on doing some research on the subject over the next couple of days. I have seen rust leaf before on pear trees else where and in most cases it was just left as treatment may be expensive or labour intensive.

I have had more bird damage to some of the apples and as the orchard is still young, I guess its expected. Once the orchard has been established longer and I have more fruit, I am hoping that the percentage of fruit damaged is less. At present I can go around each tree and pick off damaged fruit. I then give it to my son who feeds it to next doors horses. They are loving the apples. In a couple of weeks the gages and the plums are going to be ready.

It will then be time to enjoy apple and plum crumble.

We have Honey

I have extracted my first super this week. Now I have jars of honey some of which I will be giving away. I have had several people request honey, ever since I started bee keeping people are always requesting honey. I have not taken any orders as I cannot confirm that I can meet the orders yet, but may in the future.I have about 15/20 jars at the moment and most of this will be given to friends and family.

It took a while to extract, I removed the super on Saturday and extracted on Saturday afternoon and returned the supper with the wet frames so that the bees could clear it up.

I then left the honey in the extractor until Monday evening; when I bottled it. As you may expect it was sticky work. It's was nice to see the finished product after all this time. My wife is going to make a honey cake this coming weekend. I will invest in an extractor next year. This year I used the association extractor.

Other news

The farmer next to me and noticed that we have creeping thistle he has sprayed his pasture land for the weed when he discovered it. Another farmer with a quad bike came with a tank on the back and a sprayer. I obviously don't want to spray so I have had to read several documents from the Organic Gardening website, which lists many government documents and scientific papers on the subject. I have read a couple, some very detailed. They all seem to recommend the same thing. Cut the grass before flowering and then put down additional seed, and keep this up for 3 years.

So on Sunday last week my brother and I cut the grass down to about 2 inches and will doing the same on Saturday, but slightly shorter.

Its hard work, we don't normally cut that much grass at one time. I will also be ordering some meadow flower seeds and red/white clover seeds to throw out this weekend prior to the next cut.

Otherwise all is well, the trees are doing ok, the Laxton Superb apples are doing great, as are other varieties but the Laxton Superb looks like a bumper crop. I managed to eat a couple of cherries before they were all taken by birds, lots of plums in trees, but not a single pear. I can see that the red berries are ready. All in all a small but nice harvest for year two.

Support for some of the trees.

Some of the larger trees the ones that are over 10 feet tall most of which are plum trees were beginning to droop, partially because of the weight of the fruit. I may have a good harvest of plums and apples depends on the birds etc, the pears were poor this year and I reckon the cherries will be eaten by the birds. Oh well

We have added additional support stakes, these support stakes are made of eucalyptus branches from a tree I trimmed in the garden a couple of weeks ago. Lets see how well they do. I have also adjust the tree ties on all of the trees that needed it.

Turned the compost heap, and reckon next weekend I will have to cut the grass again.

No pictures this week, I didn't take the camera, however the orchard as a whole is looking good.

4 stings in seconds

On Friday I wanted to check the bees at the bottom of my garden, I really only wanted to see how much of the sugar syrup that had consumed, and see if they needed any more. So I went down, with my suit on but no smoke. Big mistake. I opened the hive and looked at the feeder and bang 4 stings within 2/3 seconds.

Thankfully only one left any poison in the system and even that's fine now.

Didn't do much work on the orchard this week, but did go looking for pests, they were reduced in number, the natural predators are doing well. The trees are fine and plum trees are looking heavy, I am going to add additional support of over the comming weekend with help from my brother.

The trees are all growing and some have increased in size by more that a couple of inches in the past week.

The weather has been awfully and have not been able to check on the bees either at the orchard or at my parents, will do so over the course of the week.

Third Hive trees are fine

Last Thursday I got a call from Bernard telling me about a swarm in four oaks Sutton Coldfield that I could collect. That was it, I was off collected the swarm and took it home. I still had one spare hive and I put the swarm in, minus a crown board and the following morning I realised that I needed the crown board as the swarm had started to build new comb on the roof of the hive. I had to make some adjustment and a little later I had all the bees in the brood box and a single sting to show for it.In fact that night I built 5 more frames so now the new hive is up and running. I order 2 new rapid feeders and put one on the new hive. It can store 6 liters of syrup, which is going to be great for the coming autumn and hives at the orchard.

Then over the weekend we got the grass cut at the orchard. It looks great, I have seen less and less aphids though I have found some on the cherry trees. The trees are really growing and I recently looked at some old pictures of the trees when we planted the trees and the difference is stark. Im glad I do have pictures and records, as watching the trees grow is slow and hardly noticeable. Some of the mushroom compost is rotting down famously into a type of ash.

In the hive at the orchard I have found some eggs not many but they are there. I can also see less chalk brood, perhaps the ventilation is improving things. Bernard still recommending replacing the frames with newer frames and foundation. I have already moved the oldest darkest foundation to the ends of the hive ready to be replaced.They seem to be making honey and its not as hard as I was expected,

My cousin Jayesh his Wife Sunita came and visited, with the kids. They just missed out on a picnic which we the family were having when we got the call to say they were coming. We have also been looking at various chickens, for the house.

I am a little worried about the plum trees the branches are getting heavier and I am going to have to provide additional support and the past two days have been very wet, I have not been able to check on the trees.

The plan is I will get some additional support and the work will be carried out over the weekend.

Lots of fruit and Chalk brood

I have checked on the all the trees, we have lots of apples, plums and cherries but not lots of pears, in fact I haven't seen any. Most of the fruit is still growing and lots of sun water and time will hopefully ripen it. I am worried about some of the branches as the fruit is weighing down the branches, I am tempted to thin out the fruit, then again I want to achieve the biggest harvest. I am going to have to work out a balance.The ground is now a blanket of green grass and yellow from the flowers. My son loves wondering around looking at the horses in the next field and picking the grass and flowers. The grass is up to his knees.
The whole place is growing and even though we cut the grass recently around the trees it's in desperate need to get another cut. Lots of ladybirds I haven't seen any caterpillars recently, or bumble bees on the last few visits.

The bees, both the hives have less bees that I would expect, at this time of year I think that the ones at the orchard have swarmed. In both hives I am not seeing eggs and lots of chalk brood. I have contacted the Apiary manager at Sutton park and am seeing him and other bee keepers this afternoon and will get a chance to show them some of the chalk brood that I have collected. I am relatively new to treating chalk brood, as I have never had to deal with it before, so I will be trying to discuss this in detail at the weekly apiary meetings.

This is worrying and without the eggs and lave my hives aren't going to survive very long. I want to put a second hive in the orchard as soon as possible, and will be looking out for either a swarm or a small nuc. I will also have to buy some new bits like rapid feeders. The hive etc is ready at home. I may have to build a couple of frames with foundation though.

I have and will be showing a couple more friends inside the hives, this week.

Ed Swinton emailed me and has informed me that some of the Beekeeper pictures are on the BBC website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8709000/8709635.stm

Artifical Swarm

I attended my regular Warwickshire bee keepers practical session on Tuesday, at Sutton Park and checked on a brood and half of bees. It was scary, I don't normally wear gloves when checking my own hive and haven't worn them when attending the regular Tuesday sessions. However when I entered this hive with roughly 60,000 bees I wasn't scared. Not when I initially went and opened the hive, or when I removed the almost full super, but when I started to check on the brood frames and saw the number of bees in the hive I was. I found a number of queen cells but no queen, she may have swarmed already.

I went through the entire hive and not one sting. What's more I had an audience of 30+ people. Even if I had been stung what could they have done, not much and they wouldn't have been happy with me swearing or jumping around in pain. It would have been my own fault for not wearing gloves. Anyway did the job, and came out feeling a hero, but boy was I relived, didn't show it though. I have learn t' a lesson, I will be taking gloves in my pocket next time.

After seeing the queen cell on my own hive on Sunday. I decided to perform an artificial swarm.

Then yesterday I did a artificial swarm, it was difficult, as I can never find the queen. So I forced all the bees into a new brood box and then added the older one on top. Left them for several hours then came back and split the two brood boxes.

Now I have two hives, one still at the orchard with 2 queen cells and no queen and the other hive is at my parents.

Getting the second hive was an adventure. I had to carry the Bee hive across the orchard and then put it into my car and drive the 15 miles to my parents house and deposit the hive.

I am hoping that both hives will be fine. I have learn t that at times I do need help and I should ask for it. When I told other beekeepers of the trouble I had with the artificial swarm I had lots of volunteers that are willing to help me, when required. The artificial swarm was difficult especially on my own and some help would have been brilliant. Then carrying the hive to the car was painfully, as its heavy, well over 20Kgs.

Lets see how things are in a couple of weeks.

Queen cell with eggs

This week we have cut the grass, looked for more caterprillers and aphids and discovered a queen cell in the bee hive.

We have cut the grass around each tree and created a track so you can walk from one side to the other. This is good and as the grass gets longer it will make it easier for me to check on the trees and the bees.

We still have caterpillars but we seem to have less aphids, looks like the ladybirds and organic treatments are working and eating loads of the green sap sucking pests. My niece came down with me and visited the bees. Its always nice when new people come down and find it interesting. Thats a picture of my daughter and my niece hold some wax comb.

Caterpillars and Aphids

Checked on the bees they are fine and doing well. I may even have honey this year.

I have also spotted Aphids on some of the apple trees. I have sprayed them with organic spray. Hope that fixes it.

I have also seen some ladybirds around so I hope that they can massively reduce the number of aphids.

I have also see loads of caterpillars almost every tree had one or more. I manually went round and picked them off. I won't be able to do this when the trees are bigger but can for a while yet. I have seen two types of caterpillars small green ones and slightly larger black ones. I took them away with me and dumped them into the compost heap and piled on a couple of kilos of fallen magnolia flower petals.

I was planning on cutting the grass but I really need by brothers help with this as he's been busy this week it hasn't been possible. The lawn mower weighs about 250 Kg. This is far more than I can pick up on my own. Even with the two of us its heavy.

Email to Resurgence Magazine

I read resurgence on a regular basis and sent in a email a couple of weeks ago, it wasn't in the next edition and I didn't even get a response. http://www.resurgence.org/

I was disappointed with the Resurgence edition no 259. "Seeds of change, The future of food" edition. The issue referred to Food, however, no mention was made of Orchards. A picture showing an Apple tree was visible on page 50 with the caption "Nature can be an abundant source of wealth".

Orchards are found all over the world and are used in many ways. Orchards are very versatile and, although food is grown within them, so much more happens. They are a carbon sink, can be used to graze animals, grow other crops, and act as a communal space, they also add to the food security.

Orchards can be very social places, I have attended weddings in orchards, the rise of community orchards is bringing people together. People can live in or around orchards and have done for thousands of years. Orchards have acted as a gathering place for social activities for centuries; an
example in the UK would be wassailing.

Though Britain lost many of its orchards due to the grubbing up of trees in the 60's and 70s, it is now starting to plant new orchards, which makes sense as they absorb carbon and provide seasonal food, which can be gathered and stored or cooked and preserved for use later. The more we plant the better. If you think of a traditional British castle surrounded by woodland much of that woodland would have been orchards. An orchard would have been part of most farmers estates, even if there were only a small number of trees in the garden.

Orchards can contain both fruit and nut trees, in Britain we have Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Apricot, Walnuts, Cob nuts, Almond orchards or plats the list goes on. In more exotic climates you could find local fruits like Mango, Papaya even Guava orchards and again the list is huge.

In the Resurgence edition 259 you also referred to eating less meat, but an orchard is an ideal place for animals, like chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, even cows and horses, depending on the size of trees. They fertilise the ground and help in pest control, chickens, for instance, eat the moths and other pests that could damage the fruit. Using the space for both fruit/nuts and animals is traditional all over the world and a better use of space. Limiting the number of animals is important, but they also provide other valuable resources, milk, wool, feathers, manure, meat, leather and to some extent companions.

Bees are another popular creature to have in the orchard, as they provide a method of pollinating fruit, they provide wax and perhaps a little honey, most orchardists in Britain will leave enough honey stores for bees, as they are providing a service, that of pollinating fruit. Most orchardists also welcome other types of bees like the Bumblebee or the Red Mason bee, which is far more effective at pollinating fruit.

Other crops can be grown within orchards, flowers thrive, crops like borage, comfrey and meadow flowers both encourage wildlife and also put nutrients back into the soil and can be used in food. Orchards also encourage other creatures including insects, birds, rodents and nocturnal animals like bats and badgers.

The wood from the trees is also both usable and can benefit the environment and humans. The noble chaffer is a type of beetle found on decaying apple wood.

Wood from orchards can be used both to create furniture or other useful items or as a source of fuel.

I hope the above points make it clearer why orchards are essential when discussing food and the environment.

Bee Conference and Blossom

This weekend was the 2010 British Bee Keepers Associated (BBKA) spring convention. I attended on the Friday and the Saturday. On Friday I went with my wife and attended 3 lectures (1) All you need to know about honeybee viruses - Declan Schroeder (2) Queens and things - Gerry Collins (3) Bee’s eye view of beekeeping - Andy Willis.

All were interesting, my wife and I both enjoyed the last 2 more as some of the information in the first lecture was very technical and some did go over our heads, especially when he showed the attendees genetic markers of certain virus.

On the Saturday the conference was a open to the public. I was meant to attend a lecture on 12 months of forage by Andy Willis but missed it. I did buy my wife and daughter a bee suit and now they can join me at the hive, we also bought 2 new hives. In fact my daughter join me on the Sunday morning in her new bee suit, and she seems to have enjoyed it. I now have three othrt local kids wanting to come with me and check out the bees.

We also met lots of people and got a chance to talk to various people and organisations. I meet a chap who was interested in antique bee hives and had made a reproduction of one that looked like a dovecot house. It was great and something I'd love to have in the garden. However the cost of this type of hive because its hand made would be exorbitant.

My wife met people from Omlet the chicken coupe people who also make plastic Darlington bee hives. My wife is now thinking of getting a couple of chickens for the garden. Its something we have been looking at for a while, and it looks like we are going to get things moving. We have an acquaintance who is also a bee keeper and has 2 Omlet chicken products. I went to visit her on Sunday and looked at her chicken coop. She is coming on Tuesday afternoon to look at our garden to see where a chicken coop would be best located.I did see a dartlington hive made of wood, and talked to a couple of people from my local bee group about the hive and they were all against it saying that they had one previously at Sutton Park apiary and it was difficult to manage etc. I did like it and it would have been ideal in the orchard as it would be difficult to move etc.

My wife has also bought some new plants for the bees following one of the lectures and a small chestnut tree, all the plants we bought will provid nectar and pollen for the bees.On Sunday we went to the Orchard and collected more manure for the compost and put more compost around the trees. We also checked the bees with my daughter. On Sunday I sow my first butterfly this year and some large caterpillars.
We also have lots of blossom on the plum trees, which look great, I haven't seen many bees around the blossom yet though.

Me and my brother, getting the work done

Me and my brother have been doing what seems like routine work now. We have finished adding mushroom compost to all the fruit trees and to some of the nut trees.

We have collected wheel barrows of manure from the fields around us then mixed it with leaves and bits of wood and straw, and even garden and kitchen waste to turn into compost.
We are going to have to get more wooden palettes as we are building up a very large compost heap now, which is great.
The trees are doing well and I think the compost has helped, we are seeing leaves on some trees and all the trees have buds many of which look ready to burst open.

The bees are fine, they are wondering in and out, I found a number of dead bees and small bundles of pollen that seem to have fallen outside the hive. I have removed the mouse guard, is this a mistake? I have also raised the hive a couple more inches again.Lots of other types of bees and ladybirds around, as are spiders. I even managed to see a mouse, and with the help of my brother was able to get a couple of pictures. Made me wonder if I should have left the mouse guard in place on the bee hive.
I also have small weeds coming up around the base of trees, so am pulling them out. I can see lots of mushrooms scattered around. Saturday was so hot that some of the mushrooms dried out.
Next weekend is the Bee Keepers Spring Convention, and also where the bee keepers portraits go on display. I'm looking forward to it. The plan is to attend some of the lectures and visit the sales people, and buy 2 new hives.
We also visited Ryton gardens again for a look around the orchard, the bees hives and a spot of lunch. The kids had fun. My wife and I pick up some additional ideas. I have to renew my membership later this month.

Bank Holiday weekend

Not much done last weekend. I put my first super on the bee hive. I added more manure to the compost heap, and checked on the trees, they are all doing well. Spotted some ladybirds and other insects, including lots and lots of bumblebees.

I actual watched a bumblebee for ages with my daughter. We were lying on the grass watching it stretch and move its legs etc, it wasn't collecting pollen or anything like that, it seemed to us it was enjoying the weather as much as we were.

Anyway we had a picnic on the grass yesterday, which was nice. I like seeing the kids wondering around hand in hand looking at this and that. Watching the horses, bees and anything else that moves.

We did have a little excitement when one of the horses from the field next to use got into the orchard twice, seems he likes to jump the fence.

We have horse manure

The last two weeks have been slow. Last week was a wash out, it was raining and I bought a new wheelbarrow and a couple of additional forks and spades. Anyway the plan was to talk to the farmer next to me and agree that I could collect horse manure, of one of his fields. Problem was I didn't see him. He was at the Cheltenham cup weekend and he had gone to watch the horses. Not surprising him being into horses and horse jumping and show jumping.
Anyway I caught up with the farmer this week, and the farmer and his wife are pleased that I will collect the manure and compost it down. The plan is that on a weekly basis I collect a couple of wheel barrows of the manure, move it over to the orchard then mix it down with grass cutting and leaves, etc. Its hard work, but we both benefit. The horses don't want the manure in the paddock and I know what the horses are eating. Only hay and grass, no chemical feeds etc.

I have also added mushroom compost under another 20 trees, with the help of my brother.

I have also checked on the bees inside the brood box and they are fine, they have also started making brood and by the end of the week I will add a super, I think I am in for some honey this year we shall see.

I also found varroa mites on the varroa board, I wasn't expecting that, I will start with the Icing sugar this week. I am tired, it been very hard work.

The trees are doing well lots of buds getting bigger, lots are bugs like ladybirds and bumble bees around. I can also see a large nest being built, perhaps a black bird.

First sting of the year, Mushroom compost being spread

Its been a very busy day at the orchard. My brother has been cutting the grass, in areas, where it was still long. It looks beautiful now.We have purchased mushroom compost and started to spread it around the trees. We have spread mushroom compost around 20 trees, thats a start and we'll be continuing at that rate for a couple of weeks. We have to open the protection around each tree then remove the mulch etc and then loosen the ground apply the compost and then close everything up. I then put the mulch around each tree. It takes time to do all of this, roughly 10 minutes per tree. I haven't been using a wheelbarrow but will be from next week. Its heavy moving all this stuff around.The mushroom guy didn't give me a discount, on large orders, but will try again next week.We have cut all the grass, yeah, all the grass. Most of it has been shredded to around an inch in length and left on the ground to compost down. We had some problems on the banks where we found a house brick and some rocks. I even got stuck at one point and almost ran over my brothers foot, with the wheel not the cutting deck. It can take 30 minutes to clean the cutting deck. My brother has strained his back and had a lye down on the ground for a little while. I'm glad his helping though.A bee stung me today, my first sting of the year. I was holding the roof of the apiary while trying to take a picture of the bees, it was late and they were busy eating the sugar and I was clumsy and bang one stung me. I was quick to remove the sting and the poison it wasn't to bad.
My wife and kids were down and we had a picnic, and after a morning of hard work it was a welcome break, after all the work this weekend I was in pain, but a long hot bath and a drink helped.

Nice couple of weeks

A lot has happen over the past 2 weeks. Its been very cold some nights its been down to -8. We have also had lots and lots of rain.

I had my picture taken for an art project to do with bees. Its going to be on display at the British Bee Keepers Association spring convention in Stoneleigh and then around the country. The artist is a chap call Ed Swinden who's grandfather had an orchard and who's friend keeps bee's, he seemed nice and younger than I expected as his pictures seem the work of someone more mature in age. But I'm no art critic. The exhibition goes on display 16th April. www.beekeeperportraits.com.

I have cut the grass finally. The new mower is in use and its a good purchase. I have a mulching deck that spans 48 inches and a 17 horse power engine. Its hard work and for a couple of weeks I am going to cut the grass down to a low level then let it grow and have various paths etc around the trees. I will let the grass grow long around the field so as to attract animals and insects and to encourage flowers.



The bees are fine, though I haven't been inside the brood box. I still have a problem with mice, but they haven't managed to get into the hive. I will keep the mouse guard on for a while.

I have seen a buzzard on the land which was nice, it was huge, and beautiful and looked very powerful.

The willow ring has been attacked by rabbits I may be to get more willow and protect them with rabbit guards. Looks like I haven't learned a lesson. But it hasn't cost me dearly.

I have organised the spreading of mushroom compost. Its coming from Packington which is about 12 miles away. The plan is to collect the compost regularly and spread it around the trees. This starts this coming weekend. www.themushroombasket.com

The whole Orchard looks nice. I have been reading The Apple Grower by Michael Philips which is very good, lots of ideas and facts. It does seem that the more I learn the less I know and the more I have to deal with. It has raised lots of questions in my head, like have I chosen the right location, the right trees. Could I have done more prep before planting, would I have planted the same way if I had know what I know now. Part of me thinks I have started it and want to see it through, lets just put the work in. I can tackle any problems as they come.

Ladybirds and Rabbit holes

The past two weeks have been quiet; the trees seem fine, however it has been cold and very wet and at night freezing.

I have found mice droppings on the varroa board at the bottom of the hive so we have gradually moved the entire hive up 2 inches a week. It has now been moved up 4 inches in total. I will check for droppings this weekend and see if the hive needs to be moved up another 2 inches. I’m hoping this is enough. The mouse or mice haven’t got into the hive but they have eaten some of the bees by grabbing them through the mesh floor. My wife has been helping me move the hives higher, this is the first time she has had anything to do with the bees. We had a couple of fraught moments.

My wife and kids have also been to the orchard they walked around the trees with me and examined the trees the buds the soil etc. I have showed them where ladybirds like to hide and my daughter ran around trying to find them. She and my wife were competing to see who could fine the most.

I have also shown my daughter some of the rabbit burrows around the orchard. I have also noted, that recently they seem to be digging more holes nearer the trees.

The lawnmower hasn't been used yet, as its been way to wet, but as it starts to dry out I need to get on top of it. I can see lots of new green shoots, on the ground, mostly grass. I would like to get at least 1 cut done asap, then again repeat the process on a weekly basis.

I have also found a supplier of mushroom compost, which I will be spreading around the trees on a weekly basis. The last supplier has disappeared, can't get in touch with them, they are not answering the phone etc.

Valentines Day - Ring of willow

Today we have placed 9 willow Pollarded branches and created a ring of willow. Its large and could last if successful a couple of hundred years.

I can imagine it. A nice circle of large willow trees that you could sit around and chill under in the summer months. They have been planted where we get a lots of water buildup. Hopefully they will suck-up much of the water.

I do hope it will be successful, and in a couple of years I could put some additional logs etc in the circle for people especially the kids to sit around and play, even have a barbecue, play music, hide from some of the elements.

My wife wasn't as impressed, a valentines day gift "A ring made from willow". It didn't cost much, just some time. The willow was from a park nearby. I spoke to the warden and he was happy for me to take what I wanted.

The bees will also like the willow as it grows and matures.

Still wet and and Im helping the bees

Its been a quiet week, some parts of the orchard are still water logged, but its getting better. I have checked the bee hive, not for brood just for additional stores of food. I have also cleared the dead bees that were at the entrance and behind the mouse guard. The bees actually came out today which is a good sign, they also dropped very small amounts of bee feces much smaller than some of the bees at the Sutton park apiary.

The trees look the same and though we checked the trees I can not claim that the buds are getting bigger. I have seen some new holes in the ground which I think have been made by rabbits as next to the holes I can see rabbit feces. I can also see that mole hills are back and as far as I am concerned they are welcome. I have never seen a mole but I presume that they are nocturnal creatures, so may not for a while.

This is the first weekend that the whole family has been down this year, its was nice to have the company. I am this week looking at additional bee hives and thinking of putting down some willow trees and making a den for the kids. The new hives; lots of options wbc, national and a variety of raw materials.

The den for the kids may be from pollarded willow. Start on one and see how it goes, if the first one is successful then may put one or two around the place and they could be shelters for other animals and perhaps for sheep later. This may take a couple of years, so stay tuned.

Buds, Buds, Bees and Acid

Its been a busy week. I have checked on the trees, lots and lots of buds getting bigger and bigger. Its nice to see, but its doesn't mean everything is rosy. I've got to wait and see how the buds are developing in a month or two and then see what the blossom is like.

Its been cold and some parts of the orchard are water logged, which is even more worrying. I have also noticed that some of the trees have lots of moss on them. I'm not sure if its a good or bad thing.

I have been to my monthly bee lecture. This month it was on food regulation, interesting, but not fascinating. I also checked on my own bees and have left some additional food for them hope they will be OK, its has been cold over the past couple of days, and I do want to check on them again. I did see a number of dead bees at the entrance of the hive. I checked with the Apiary manager at Sutton park and he reckons it should be fine and I should clear the dead bees.

On Sunday I attended a demonstration on how to apply oxalic acid to bees, as a method of reducing the number of Varroa mites. It was good I learn't alot, I also got some acid, not 100% certain I'm going to apply it though.

Snows Gone

Wondered around the orchard today, examined the trees and made sure that the trees haven't been damaged by the recent weather. The snow was at its peak 4-5 inches deep. It has now melted leaving lots of puddles and wet grass and in a couple of areas I will have large puddles upto to a 4 cms in depth of water and several meters wide.

One of the roads nearby was flooded and the guy who owns the stables near me has had his show jumping area completely flooded.

The trees seem to have a lot more moss on them and usual, which makes they pretty but I'm not sure if its doing any harm. A can see lots of buds on the trees which is good news. I can also see what I think is frost damage, I'm not sure. Will have to monitor.

A couple of trees seem to have had the bark loosened around certain twigs, I presume that they have absorbed more water than the others. It may be water related damage again I must wait and see.

I met a chap called Roy today who had lots of questions and has even offered to help me with certain bits.

The hustler mower has been paid for and I can get the company to deliver once I set a delivery date. I want them to keep the machine for a little longer. I won't be cutting the grass when its this wet.

I have found fungus on a couple of trees not sure how serious it is, but I will be sending pictures to Ryton gardens.

The Bee hive seems very wet still, I have made the bees some sugar fondant but have not put it into the Beehive yet. I still not not know when the Oxalic Aid course will be due to the weather.

New year slow snowy start

2010 Happy New year.



The trees are all standing and sleeping no damage from the rabbits thus far. Which is good, I can't tell how the bees are doing and with temperatures down to -7 some mornings, it is worrying.

I was due to attend a demonstration on how to apply oxalic acid with the Sutton Coldfield Bee Keepers Association but because of the weather it has been postponed until the temperatures pick up.

The land it self is fine I can see lots of tracks from rabbits and foxes and other animals, no human. I haven't seen any ladybirds or other insects. I can seen small birds flying around especially around the bushes. I haven't put additional food out to attract animals either.

I have started looking at trailers to carry the mower, Ifor Willams are specialist but smaller trailers are just to small by about 4cm internally. The commercial ones are double the price, I have been monitoring ebay for a decent one but no real joy. Cost is the other factor although the investment in a trailer would bring long term benefits the initial outlay is daunting. I have the option to take the mower apart and put it into the trailer, this may waste some time but would save me money and space, as the commercial trailers are much bigger.

The picture is of ice in the field which was taken a couple of days ago.