We recently welcomed Adrian Wilford from the National Bee Unit for a full inspection of the apiary. His visit is always hugely valuable, giving us professional insight into the health and progress of our colonies.
One hive in particular stood out during the inspection. It was exceptionally productive, with strong numbers and busy, healthy brood frames. Adrian also confirmed the presence of a green-marked 2024 queen, moving steadily across the comb and showing all the signs of a well-mated, well-established monarch. It is always encouraging to see a queen like this, as she sets the tone for the entire colony.
Sadly, the story did not have the ending we hoped for. Later in the season this same hive came under heavy attack from wasps. Despite our attempts to defend the entrance, the wasps managed to overwhelm the bees and eventually destroyed the colony.
It was a hard loss after such a promising start, but it also reminds us how quickly conditions can change in a difficult season. We are already putting stronger protections in place for next year, learning from what happened and doing everything we can to keep the remaining colonies safe.
