We no longer have an apiary at the Unitarian Church

Twice the top bar hive at the Unitarian Church has been interfered with.

Twice bars, with comb, have been strewn across the floor.

The 2nd time this happened was in minus temperatures with snow all around.

To leave them, even with a padlock around the hive, we felt, would be too much of a risk to take; as well as an unnecessary one.

A new site was found

Less than a mile away

3 miles for 3 weeks, as is the normal rule, was not considered necessary for a hive move at this time of year. Both our local Bee Inspector and members of the Halifax Beekeeping Association (some with more than 30 years of experience) said:

move them now, straight to the new site; now whilst it is cold and before the queen starts laying.

So that’s what did, on a bitterly cold and icy Saturday morning.

Moving a TBH is more than a one-person job

We were 6

Chipping in together – as we always do

while some cleared the new site in readyness

others removed  the securing pins

and strapped down the lid

before

carefully

carrying the bee hive through the icy grave yard

in the van

and off to the new site

a hillside site

with a retaining wall

some 5 feet tall

the wall  overcome

the hillside was next

but all worth it

final adjustments

the bees in their new site

with views of heartshead pike

a smashing spot

south facing

and lots of forage – even now. Gorse blooming just a few feet away.

job done

marion listens in

still buzzing

let’s hope the trauma’s they’ve had

matter not in the long run

and that they’ll pull through into spring

and beyond

we returned to the warm

beetroot soup and parsnip cake - thanks Judy