Welcome back, I had a few fun edits to start the podcast but have managed to hide them on the cutting room floor somehow. Quick winter update, stores are good, no condensation on the top of the bees, all seems ok. Fingers crossed. 

End of October visit. Feeders all empty and removed. Celotex bonnet on top with metal roof. Bees looking good, nice big colony. 

A windy day in the apiary yesterday. Feeding is done for now, battening down the hatches for the long winter. The bees were still bringing pollen in, braving the rain and wind.

A chat from in my car as it was raining and the nearby gardener was giving it some welly with the leaf blower. Includes the smell of Ivy from the bees latest foraging, beehive remodelling and an equestrian drive by. 

Today marks the end of the varroa treatment time period, so I took out the strips. Only remembered after topping up the feeder so it was harder than necessary! A wood pigeon was stamping around beside me as I must have been in stealth mode or he was sneaking up on me very badly. 

Hi all, this is a whistle stop visit to top up the feeders, check varroa drop, wasp activity and overall hive health. Stung by a grumpy sky raisin. 

The late summer sunshine glows upon me as I talk about commencing winter feeding, hefting the hive, checking all is ok with the Queen and some observations about the surrounding natural history at this time of year. 

A wonderful late summer visit to the bees. Local Helicopter pilots make themselves known as I talk over the days activities. Feeding will be paused to leave space for the winter bees to be created. Don't want to fill all the space with food just yet. Varroa treatment will continue. 

The golden haze of late summer transforms the apiary landscape into a sea of beige, punctuated only by the occasional cowslip, ragwort, and thistle. Standing here on August 17th, the silence is almost deafening – a stark contrast to the vibrant buzz of high summer just weeks ago.

This pivotal moment in the beekeeping calendar brings unique challenges and essential tasks. As natural nectar sources dwindle, wasps become increasingly bold in their attempts to raid honey stores. I've begun the defensive preparations by reducing the hive entrance, with plans to narrow it further to a single bee-width next week. This simple adjustment gives my colony the upper hand in their defensive efforts without impeding their necessary comings and goings.

Varroa management takes centre stage now, with my first week of treatment showing promising results. The sticky monitoring board reveals a significant mite drop – confirmation that both the parasite pressure existed and that the treatment is working effectively. A quick, targeted inspection of just a few frames revealed eggs at the 2-3 day stage, providing the reassurance of queen presence without unnecessary disturbance to the colony.

Winter preparations have officially begun with the installation of a top feeder and the first substantial syrup feeding. This marks the beginning of a feeding regimen that will continue until approximately 20kg of supplementary stores have been provided – essential insurance against winter starvation. The entire hive configuration has been optimised for the coming months, with insulation plans ready for implementation once feeding concludes.

Nature's signals of seasonal change surround the apiary – fewer swallows overhead as they prepare for migration, my first European hornet sighting of the year, and the persistent song of grasshoppers in the parched grass. .

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Today I talk about taking off a couple of supers, one for me and one left for the bees. Varroa treatment starts today, 6-8 weeks to go. Hive is now reconfigured for winter. One super under the brood box, ready to move back on top in the spring.