Cornwall, the mixed bag of micro climates that it is, always refuses to give an easy ride to a beekeeper. It can be sunny and too windy, or warm but rainy- but increasingly rarely does it seem to be 1. Hot 2. Dry 3. Calm, When the honey flow is on. If all these stars align, the honey yield could be amazing, over 100 pounds per hive, allowing a beekeeper to cover costs and to also save money for the future. However, if this does not happen, as it has not for the past 4 years, honey yields could be far lower, causing the beekeeper not only financial difficulty, but also causing illness in the hive, as the bees may not be as strong going into the winter.
So, as I enter Cornwall on that fourth year of summer rain, but on the day when the weather forecast starts looking a lot more positive for the rest of the summer, I meet Rodger Dewhurst at my old university campus, to see how the bees have been doing since they were delivered here in spring!
The honey bees at the Tremough are in two different places and, as many of the hives Rodger keeps, have been given to groups so they can learn how to keep bees. If the bees still seem healthy into the summer, the group can buy the bees from Rodger. He teaches beekeeping techniques, and provides all materials for them.
Rosewarne: Duchy College
Here at Duchy College, the apiary is situated in a beautiful area full of wildlife. Although it was raining we saw some bees on the Clover (gone before the camera got to them) and this fly, who was so still i could photograph this close.
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