February
Until recently most of us would have said that the winter was mild, not so just recently! It is very important that
hives are checked regularly now because the green woodpeckers are more likely to turn their attention to our hives in very
cold weather. Also with snow laying so thick we often get bits of trees falling around or on the hives; if damage from
either of these sources are found quickly often the colony can be rescued, but left any time in this cold weather you are
likely to loose the bees.
When we get temperatures above 10 degrees the bees are likely to be
flying in search of fresh pollen for new brood and water to be able to use their stores. If you don't see flying bees
on mild days do check that the entrance is not blocked with dead bees, especially if you also have an entrance block and mouse
guard in place. Any accumulation of debris can easily be scraped out using your hive tool and the dead bees left for the blue
tits to clear up - a valuable source of protein at this time of year.
If your colonies were properly
provisioned back in the autumn, the bees should be ok for food till the end of the month, but if we do get a mild, dry and
sunny day then do take the opportunity to check that they have enough stores. If they are getting short, a feed of candy will
tide them over till the start of the spring flow, but remember once you have started to feed candy, you will need to keep
them provisioned till there is enough natural food available.
If you want to provide some early
pollen for your bees in February, the wind pollinated hazel produces heaps of easily accessible pollen that I've often
seen my bees collecting on sunny days. While the hazel can grow quite large the diminutive flowers of winter aconite, snowdrop
and crocus can be accomodated in even the smallest outdoor spaces. They all flower early and are popular with foraging bees
in the first sunny days of the year. The aconites and snowdrops to my mind have the advantage of being quite happy under trees
not needing direct sunlight to open up and deliver the pollen and once planted they have the advantage of spreading a little
each year and any surplace can be dug up and shared with neighbours so that your bees have even more flowers to visit!
