A beehive turned feral

The first full inspection of the year and it seems that anarchy has descended.

West Berkshire, June 2024

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Honeybees

We approach the little corner by the tumble-down wall where the hives stand, shaded by the tall spiked hawthorn and hazel trees, pushing through the tall rushes of Fox Sedge, Hard Rush and Timothy. Wild grasses that at this time of year are almost at waist height, swaying softly; clustered heads of drooping seeds pods in pink, violet and blushed muted greens, dry and feather-like as I strip a handful through my fingers, tightly into my clenched fist as we walk through the grassland that surrounds the lines of the plum trees that lead down to the corner of this quiet place, throwing the grass seeds to the wind.

Cut through with a narrow path of grass, mown short, verdant and with birdsong the only sound above us, whilst underfoot we tread on a carpet spread thickly here and there with clover, ground elder, buttercups and the bright faces of Ox- eye daisies. If you look closely there are little clusters of wild sorrel amongst the grass with their telltale pointed green coat tails at the base of the leaf, sharp as an apple to taste, along with delicate vetch and the small bright flowers of Speedwell and Dyer’s alkanet.

Pulling a clump of thick golden straw from a bale, I squeeze a handful into a tight bundle, folding it over to make a plug, taken slightly by surprise at how quickly it ignites as I touch it with the little flame from a match, pushing the tight wad of burning stubby ends quickly into the chamber of the smoking tool, allowing it to breathe for a second or two before gently squeezing the bellows to encourage the puffs of the thick curls of grey smoke, dense and sharp as the wisps meet your eyes, snapping the top of the smoker firmly shut to allow only a cool flow from the chimney.

Bees don’t like hot smoke. It will defeat the purpose of making things quieter if you puff hot air and cinders over them. A few gentle puffs of a slow, cool smoulder is all that is required.