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                      Warre Beehives - A more natural and sustainable way to keep bees

Great news - The swarm season has started! The friend who first got me set up with bees runs a pest control business so he often gets calls from people with swarms. He very kindly passes the call on to me when he can.

The first call comes on a lovely summer's evening and is just 10 minutes from home. The swarm is on the back of a garden chair on the deck. I put my swarm bag below the chair and gently slide the skep towards the bees, scooping them into the basket. Then I go to the other side of the chair and repeat the exercise. I've picked up most of them - it's not a big swarm but I'm very glad to have it. Maybe I can use it to top up my weak Langstroth?

I check the decking carefully for bees. There are a few on the table so I carefully drop them on the bag near the upturned skep. Then I get lucky and spot the queen on the table. Very gently I pick her up and put her inside the skep. Fantastic!

Now I go home for an hour or so whilst they settle before taking them to the apiary. They're secure in the bag, but transporting bees in the car still worries me! I'm ready to add them to the Langstroth so open the hive.

Guess what, thing's are looking up. After a few weeks without being disturbed the bees have multiplied and are looking pretty strong. Fortunately, I've a spare hive already set up so I drop the swarm in there. I give them some sugar syrup and leave them to it.

There's a steady flow of orders on www.warrebeehive.co.uk which is fantastic but keeping me very busy!