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Bee Hives
For a thorough introduction to the bees click here (opens as word document)
Below, some links are provided which give information on the general welfare and upkeep of honeybees:
- BBKA - Allotment Beekeeping
- BBCT - Bee Friendly Flowers
- Bee Stings
- Bees, Neighbours and Siting an Apiary
- 20 Things You Need to Know About Bees
- CLEAPSS - Bees and Beekeeping in Schools
- Plight of the Bumblebee
- Pollen & Nectar Rich Plants For Your Garden by Season
Some websites of interest and relevance:
- Darlington Beekeepers' Association
- British Beekeepers Association
- Yorkshire Beekeepers Association
- Thorne
- Paynes
As we are all aware by now, bees have been suffering a serious decline of recent years. The goverment are going to conduct a review into the decline of bees; meantime, there is something small we can do which could make a big difference in out locality...
We have bee hives around the local area; six are at the Clervaux Trust site in Croft, two at Strait Lane Allotments in Hurworth and two at Skipbridge.
Click photos to find out more...
We received a grant of £3000+ from County Durham Community Foundation based on a model of three hives at three sites with one colony per site. With coopertion from the Clervaux Trust, allotment holders and residents, the sites were layed down and very soon the colonies swarmed. These swarms were caught but the colonies had grown and needed splitting and reestablishing in new hives. The result was the current layout of 6 at Clearvaux, 2 in Hurworth and 2 in Skipbridge.
The challenge now is to see them through the Winter. The hope is that they have built up enough resources to see them through to Spring. We can possibly lend a helping hand with cladding and winter fontant food with due consideration. Other than that, we can only hope!...