Mrs T’s Bees

19/07/2026

After a disastrous winter and spring we finally have one hive and two nuc’s all queen right with this years queens (named Feyra, Nesta and Elain… those who know will know!) all clipped and marked thanks to Mark and Bec from March Hare Apiary, laying well and looking forward to bringing them through winter to get a bumper spring and summer honey crop next year… We may also have a VERY limited honey harvest in a few weeks time 🤞🍯🐝

25/06/2026

I was watering my pots this evening and saw this leaf cutter bee making her home in my bay tree pot… absolutely fascinating! Now, do I water my bay tree or not?!!!

24/06/2026

Further to my hint of some exciting news a few weeks ago, it’s time for the big reveal!!!
In collaboration with Bec at March Hare Apiary we have created March Lane Formulations.
We are excited to announce that our first product we are licensed to make and sell is Sweet Orange Lip Balm.
It comes in 15g tins and costs £5.00 per tin.
We are also in the process of getting a licence to produce and sell a range of soaps and moisturisers.
These would make lovely gifts for friends and family… 🐝🎁

20/06/2026

Just look at all the different pollens the bees have collected!

Pollen is essential for raising new bees in the hive as the nursebees (young adult bees) consume large amounts of pollen. The pollen is then turned into royal jelly and brood food in the hypopharyngeal glands and fed to larva… 🐝

03/06/2026

I am unsupervised… the opportunities are endless!! 😅🐝

29/05/2026

What a busy week here at Ringer Lane Apiary!
Whilst tidying the apiary on Wednesday I was stung on the wrist. Didn’t think anything of it at the time but as always took a Piriton and rubbed HC45 cream on the sting site. Normally it just itches and swells a little for a couple of hours and then goes away. This time the swelling didn’t stop and I ended up in the UTC at Chesterfield hospital yesterday afternoon! They prescribed me steroids and very strong antihistamines.
I was home in time for the arrival of HRH Ruah, and settled her nuc box on top of the hive that is her new home so that during today the bees could orientate to their new surroundings.
My arm improved a little overnight and so I went to the Bee Health Day run by Sheffield BKA and the National Bee Unit, which was a very informative and interesting day, learning about all the diseases and parasites bees can get and what to look for.
Late in the afternoon my arm started to swell again, so I was glad to get home to my medication!!
Then it was time to move Ruah and her entourage into their new palace. The ladies were very good and hopefully they will like the space and HRH will get to work laying lots of lovely eggs!
I’m going to let them settle into their new surroundings for a week before taking a couple of splits to create some new colonies!
Watch this space!! 🐝🐝🐝

27/05/2026

My little apiary has had a tidy up today for the impending arrival of Queen Ruah tomorrow, her palace is clean and ready to go and she has some Ladies In Waiting eager (?!) to join her colony (from my currently Queenless hive)…
Ruah is a varroa resistant Queen so hopefully no need to have to treat them for the varroa mite.
I’m going to take splits from her (make new queens and colonies) so I am looking at building them over over the summer so we are ready and raring to go next Spring. 🐝👑🐝
Thank you March Hare Apiary 💕

20/05/2026

🐝🐝🐝

A poem for World Bee Day.

14/05/2026

We’ve had a rather unsuccessful winter and spring. Firstly we lost one colony over winter, then early in the spring the other hive had a failed queen. The bees tried to supercede her but failed, so unfortunately I am now bee-less…
I am awaiting the arrival of a new colony, which I intend to split so I am back to two hives.
Unfortunately this means we won’t be harvesting any honey this year, I will concentrate on building up the colonies ready to over winter and start strong again next spring.
On a cheerier note, I received an email this morning telling me I passed the BBKA Module 2 exam - Honey Bee Products and Forage that I took in March!!!
AND make sure you watch this space! Some VERY exciting news is on the horizon!!!

18/03/2026

Such a glorious day!!! The girls are busy collecting pollen, looks like crocus and willow from the colour…☀️🐝☀️