Swarm season!

[GerryW]

Gerry - bad news about the badgers. Fortunately the largest wild animal we have in Guernsey are rabbits, so no worries about wildlife, on the down side we are in the Asian Hornet area. Fortunately last year any nests were found and destroyed and we are hopeful that this year will be the same.

Peter

At least we knew the badgers were in the area - should've took the preventative measures before, rather than after.
Been watching the reports & videos of the AH in your area, looks as though you've got their measure, just hope that not too many queens survived the Winter

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Gerry

fingers' crossed re the Hornets. fortunately out Government is very supportive, as is the local media. Two years ago we caught a queen in one of our traps (right by a camelia bush which they like in spring) - they are big, no mistaking them.
Peter

[GerryW]

Guess who's been caught out with the number of swarm call outs (another one this morning) :surprised: :upside: more frames needed!

[GerryW]

Now run out of nucs :surprised: either got to get some of the swarms built up and into hives, or build some more!

[Guest]

Good for you Gerry, bees need all the help they can get. We grow load of bee friendly plants, where I go gardening I leave a large amount of lawn uncut as it is full of clover and other wild flowers I have sown.

[GerryW]

I'm trying a small experiment this year, and only cutting half of the grass at a time, leaving a lot of wild flowers (our 'lawn' is mainly 'weeds' :smiling5 - the fact that I've 'missed' the area round the 'home' hives is purely incidental but the blackbirds are loving the shorter grass, finding plenty of food for their young!

[Guest]

I'm trying a small experiment this year, and only cutting half of the grass at a time, leaving a lot of wild flowers (our 'lawn' is mainly 'weeds' :smiling5 - the fact that I've 'missed' the area round the 'home' hives is purely incidental but the blackbirds are loving the shorter grass, finding plenty of food for their young!

I did a similar thing Gerry , cut paths through the grass, unfortunately this has led to a massive increase in weeds in a main bed of roses. So this year a much reduced cut. The other year I came across 3 Orchids growing , so these are left well alone.

[GerryW]

And another one, son brought it home from work last night - he was called by his manager, wondering what he'd done wrong, walked round the corner and heard it - had his suit etc in the boot of his car. Got to find a home for it today.

[GerryW]

And another one turned up here yesterday - was outside, heard the buzz, and then saw them moving into some of the spare equipment, best of it was, our grandson was here along with mum and dad - he was fascinated by them!

[Guest]

A lot of insects are important to our whole world, and all are under threat, British bees have another threat in the future, which are the Asian hornets, which can wipe out a colony in a matter of days - not yet a huge problem, but daresay that they'll cross the channel in numbers at some point in the near future (already got a good foothold in the Channel Islands)

Yes Gerry the French have been sending their hornets to Jersey very kind Mr Macaroni.

All islanders have been told to watch out for them. We have hornet nest destroyers waiting,
in concealed positions, all over the Island waiting to pounce & destroy.

No badgers. However our Red Squirrel fraternity is very nicety increasing. We actually have
at least two houses which have signs squirrels crossing.

Laurie

[GerryW]

Yes Gerry the French have been sending their hornets to Jersey very kind Mr Macaroni.

All islanders have been told to watch out for them. We have hornet nest destroyers waiting,
in concealed positions, all over the Island waiting to pounce & destroy.

No badgers. However our Red Squirrel fraternity is very nicety increasing. We actually have
at least two houses which have signs squirrels crossing.

Laurie

Would be great to see red squirrels - not seen one for years (and that wasn't in the UK)
We've sent you one of our local news reporters, please look after him.

[Peter Gillson]

Like Jersey, here in Guernsey we are getting Asian Hornets coming over from France, 5 trapped so far this year, plus some in Sark. Not sure what thecsystem is in Hersey, but over here we have a network of traps covering the whole Island spaced about 500 mtrs apart which are monitored by volunteers. It seems to be working - fingers' crossed!


Peter

[GerryW]

Hopefully you'll get the vast majority of them :thumb2:

[CarolsHusband]

She's a keeper

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[David Lovell]

She's a keeper

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I can fully understand and appreciate the bee keeping thing hobby profession thing but no way , makes me feel alarmed and well terrified just looking at the picture, dont like honey anyway but find it interesting that diffrent flavours come from say heath land heather compared to another environment, still I find the little entries here worth a blimp so thanks all. Dave