This month, beekeepers Roland and Anne Thomas visited to install our first Westwell hive. Set at the top of the vineyard, just below the Pilgrim's Way, and right on the edge of our wildflower meadow.
We have approximately 25,000 bees in the hive which sounds like a lot, but once the queen starts laying eggs in spring, we could have have up 70,000. Bees swarm if the hive becomes too cramped, so if that happens, we might be able to scoop them up and have another hive.
We opened the hive and scout bees came out to investigate. The scouts came back with positive reports and more flew out to check out their new manor.
Happy foraging, little bees!
