March marks the beginning of spring in Scotland, and for beekeepers, it's a time of excitement and renewal. Winter can still have a few barbs in its tail, but, for the most part growth is all around.
With the arrival of warmer weather, the colonies come back to life and start to build up their populations. Here's what Scottish beekeepers should be doing in March.
Check the colony: As the weather begins to warm up, beekeepers should start checking their colonies for signs of activity. Check for any signs of disease or pests, and take action if necessary.
Inspect the hives: As the bees start to come out of winter dormancy, it's important to inspect the hives to make sure that they're in good condition. Check for any signs of swarming or other issues, and take action as needed.
Provide supplementary food: If the food stores in the hives are running low, beekeepers may need to provide supplementary food, such as sugar syrup, to help the bees build up their populations. We have been discussing moving away from using syrup from our feeding mix, instead using fondant. Easter to work with, less messy and seems to go down a treat with our bees.
"Spring is the time of plans and projects." - Leo Tolstoy.
In March, beekeepers should take advantage of the warmer weather and start planning for the upcoming season. With the right preparation and care, beekeepers can ensure that their colonies are healthy and thriving.
Consider adding new hives: As the colonies start to grow, beekeepers may want to consider adding new hives to their apiary. This helps to expand the bee population and increases honey production. We are planning to add two ew red cedar hives and are weighing up the various providers.
"The bee collects honey all day long and fights for life with his own species." - Robert Burns.
Attend a workshop or course: March is a great time to learn more about beekeeping and improve your skills. Consider attending a workshop or taking a course to learn more about the art of beekeeping and the latest best practices. We ar proud members of the Scottish Beekeeping Association and the Kilbarchan District Beekping Assoication and they have plenty of great learning resources on their websites.
Harvest honey: If the colonies have a surplus of honey, beekeepers may want to harvest some of it. This helps to prevent swarming and provides the beekeeper with some of the sweet rewards of their hard work. This is not a strategy that we have used for working against swarming intention. Instead we have been vigilent to queen cells, kept an eye on how much space there was for brood and will continue to split where necessary, trying a Demaree split this year.
Planting: Thinking ahead to what our bees will be foraging, we will be continuing to think through how we can extend the foraging opportunities close to home for our bees at the top and tail of the season. This means bulk planting early flowering bulbs and late flowering shrubs.
"Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which will never happen." - James Russel Lowell.
March is a busy and exciting time for Scottish beekeepers. With the arrival of warmer weather, the colonies come back to life, and the beekeeper has the opportunity to check on the health of the hives, provide supplementary food, and start planning for the upcoming season. With the right care and attention, beekeepers can ensure that their colonies are healthy and thriving, and that they can enjoy the sweet rewards of their hard work in the months to come.
References:
The Scottish Beekeeper Magazine (March 2021 Edition)
Scottish Beekeepers Association website (https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk)
"The Beekeeper's Handbook" by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile.
Our home in Renfrewshire is called Ben Seillean. Ben Seillean means hill of the bees in Scots Gaelic. We love bees and are investing in making the perfect garden to nurture our bees through the year. Heather, lavender, wild flower meadows and beautiful bulbs keep the garden in bloom from early spring to late autumn.
We love bees 🐝 everything we plant is selected to attract them and create a vibrant garden full of life and biodiversity.
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