Winter preparations continue, and there’s plenty to keep our beekeepers busy.

That’s not a yoghurt pot in the banner image! Rather, they are thymol crystals, used to protect bee colonies against the aptly named Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees. This was the first of two treatments; the second in mid winter will make absolutely sure there the bees are clear of mites.

If you’ve previously followed the progress of the small swarm rescued by our beekeepers, it’s now clear they no longer have a queen. So, the plan now is to unite the remaining bees with another colony, at a different location.

Interest in our beehives continues; the latest visit was by BBC World Service for their ‘Heart and Soul’ radio programme, for which they’ll be visiting a number of religious institutions.