We were off to see our swarm collector’s apiary. What a treat. The bee flags were out to guide people in, and it was well worth finding this apiary.

colourful hives

Captain Ken and Loveable Lyndon led two groups around the hives

beekeepers beekeeping

exploring and deciphering when a cast had set off by noting the ages of the queen cells left behind.

a handful of queen cells

Watching queens hatch,

queen emerging from queen cell

requeening hives with a tin-foil-covered queen cell to avoid any pre-hatch in-hive murder.

queen cell protected with foil

This was fascinating stuff, you needed to be here.

uneven comb

There were lots of hives in different stages, and fascinating stories behind how they might have been rescued, water cooling trials on the hives, and probably the most placid and good tempered bees around.

bees on the comb

Some people escaped without even wearing full kit.

examining a hive

Round off the sunshine day with cakes and strawberries and cream. What could be better?