Today I managed to sneak enough time in a warmish day to have a look at the bees. I was going to take the honey off but looking in decided that there was about enough to see them through the winter but not much more - not enough to be worth taking off. Another poor summer for beekeeping. So I contented myself with putting in the Apistan and just doing a quick check to ensure that there was at least some brood - not much, but at least I have a queen. There was a time in midsummer when I thought I'd lost her. Others in Coton have lost their bees this year.
The pix is, I know, of a bumblebee. But I like it.
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Sorry to hear about your hive, but may I remind you of my post here!. You seemed pretty confident then that your hives were under no threat.
Neither your hives nor the climate are immune from catastrophes, especially when people are warning about them.
Cheers, Alastair.
[Pardon? The hive is fine. What "catastrophe" are you talking about? -W]
The catastrophe that has hit the other hives in Coton, and many more throughout the UK.
[Oh I see. No, that happens most years, my fellow keepers aren't up to my high standards :-) -W]
There is a new paper out about a "Virus linked to bee colony collapse" here: http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=554
If that is what has affected your neighbours hives then I would not be so confident that your hive will survive the winter :-(
[There is nowt I can do about that so I'll just do nothing :-) -W]