It has not been a good time for the bees recently. We have had warm spells with plenty of sunshine and the bees were quite active. After that it got very wet and windy. Now we are in a period of anticyclonic gloom. I am not certain whether the gloom refers to the light level or the feeling you get when you see this weather.
The effect on the bees is probably much the same as it is on us. In this weather they will not be keen to go out and forage - far too cold. Instead they are remaining in the hive consuming stores. This can lead to hunger and starvation if there are insufficient stores.
Now is the time to put on the bees suit and check them. It is the one time of the year when putting on a bee suit is not a chore since it adds an extra layer of warmth.
On a more upbeat note - this is the time of year when learning more about bees is a good idea. I have been doing the Bee Behaviour Course run by DWBKA and I must say I have learned a lot - and that is from someone who has been keeping bees for many years. If you get an opportunity to do a course like this then grab it. You can learn a lot from the course and you learn a lot just from chatting to other beekeepers on the course.
Talking of chatting to other beekeepers how about attending the next social. The social will be at the Colliton Club in Dorchester. For a change we are going to host a Zoom talk from the BBKA entitled "An Inspector Calls" with Keith Bartlem. The talk starts at 7pm so if you want to get a drink from the bar I suggest arriving a bit earlier. We are meeting upstairs in the big room (I can never remember its name.) Hope to see you there.
Coming up next month is the Dorset BKA AGM. This is to be held at 2pm on the 22nd March at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester. For those who have not been there before it is almost opposite the zebra crossing across the Bridport Road if you have parked in the Top of Town carpark.
The business section of the meeting will be preceded by a talk on "Bee Keeping in Poor Weather - How to Survive" by Geoff Blay. There will also be tea and cake provided by North Dorset Beekeepers.