As we near the end of the year, and a strange year for many 2020 has been, its good to take time out to look back and see what we have achieved this year at the Gregynog Apiary.
Roger Stone and Bill Gough after many years managing the apiary, took the decision early in the year to handover the reins.
A working party met at Greygnog in early March, to perform a number of tasks, including a review of the existing hives and apiary equipment.
The apiary at the start of the year consisted of eight colonies, three of which were weak of which only one survived into the spring.
The team was then impacted by the Covid crisis with the lockdown commencing at the end of March.
Fortunately bee keepers nationwide were exempt the travel restrictions to ensure apiaries were managed.
The colonies were treated in May with MAQS to protect against Varroa, in addition during July all hives were given standardised varroa floors.
Rachel Kellaway took on the management responsibility of the apiary, and developed a support team.
The team consists of Jill Hill, Liz Childerley, Joy Sisley, Anne Wren, Mark Swain and Chris Wyton.
Through a combined team effort tasks got completed.
Liz rearranged the shed, ably assisted by Ian Hubbuck who constructed the internal shelving.
Glyn Morris repainted the bee stands.Mark Swain restored and repainted many of the hive parts.
The apiary received a donation of two colonies from Noel Eaton in gratitude for help given with his apiary by Rachel, Pete, Liz and Jill.
The colonies were inspected by Shane Jones (seasonal Bee inspector) prior to the transfer to new hives.
Three Nucs were produced this season. One was sold and the other two retained to build up the apiary stock.
No swarms have been lost but artificial swarms were carried out in colonies preparing to swarm.