For humans, it's autumn, but for insects, it marks the Fruiting period - a time to prepare for Dormancy. Soon, by the end of October, they will enter a season where survival against the cold and damp becomes critical, waiting until the days lengthen and temperatures rise again.
The honeybee colony, in particular, reduces in size to around ten thousand bees. To endure the winter, they form a tight "winter cluster" on their combs, generating warmth through sheer numbers and sustaining themselves by consuming the honey collected during the warm Flowering season. As long as they stay dry and sheltered from the wind, they can thrive through the winter.
If you want to learn more about the fascinating world of beekeeping, why not enroll in a Beginner's Course in Beekeeping next February? Details are available at www.hsbka.org.
Hagley & Stourbridge Beekeepers' Association promote and support beekeepers in the area though training courses, mentoring and we run a training apiary at Iverley.
Hagley & Stourbridge Beekeepers is part of Worcestershire Beekeepers' Association which in turn is part of the British Beekeepers' Association.
No one knows when we started because all our records were lost in 1998, we believe it was sometime in the 19th century.
Our aim is to buy a fragment of land in the area with vehicle access and nearby parking for up to ten cars, where we can establish a permanent teaching apiary with storage for our equipment.
