20/08/2010 The bees are working on Himalayan Balsam at the moment which grows in the river Eye by the hotel. You should be able to see some of them returning with lots of greyish pollen on their backs rather than in the pollen baskets on their legs.

20/08/2010 The honey season is now pretty much over in this area, there is a small quantity coming in from the balsam and later the ivy, but now is the time when we treat our bees for the varroa mite. This is done using thymol which is a naturally occurring chemical - it has no ill effects on the bees but can slow the rate at which the queen lays eggs for a short time.