STILLNESS AT THE APIARY

PREPARING THE HIVES FOR WINTER

All I seem to do this year is apologise for being late with the blog…

This time I’m not just late — I’m on my knees begging for forgiveness! September disappeared without a trace, and here we are in November with October’s blog only just landing.

Oh, I have all the right excuses — all valid, in my humble opinion — but it’s not a great look for someone who dreams of writing a regular column for Country Living or Country Life. Talk about leading by example. It’s… not going well.

So, what’s been going on? Well, this house, for one thing — the Buckinghamshire equivalent of The Rosebud Motel - aka Schitts’ Creek - That, and the small matter of trying to finish the third book in the Betsie Valentine trilogy: Betsie Valentine and the Honeybees of Hope.

I’ve set myself a goal: written by Christmas, edited by the end of January, and published by March. (I can hear you laughing already.)

So please, spare a thought for poor Betsie Valentine. Every time I tuck myself away in my gorgeous — soon to be even more gorgeous, once decorated — little office, plug myself into my computer, and before I can even think about writing, the routine begins: check emails (delete, delete, delete… oh, and delete).

Then joy — I open the latest draft, reread the last couple of chapters (which always seem to need tweaking), and just as I’m ready to start the next one… R calls up the stairs:
“What do you think of…?”
“Did you call…?”
“Have you cancelled…?”
“Did you order…?”
“Have you heard from…?”

Aaaaggghhhh!

All that said, amidst the craziness that is my home life at the moment, there is one place that’s quietening down — the apiary.

STILLNESS IN THE APIARY

September and October are all about helping the bees prepare for winter. The supers are placed under the brood box so the bees can easily reach their stores of honey as they move upward through the hive in cold weather. Mouse guards are fitted to stop mice from sneaking in and nesting inside the warm hive. Finally, the thermal cases help to insulate the hives, keeping the bees warmer and conserving energy — and they also protect against woodpeckers, which is especially useful when the hives are near woodland — as mine are!

Below is a link to a YouTube video I made where you can see me putting on the thermal casing. And just a note: upon last hefting of the hive about a week ago, that little colony — which hadn’t been feeling that heavy — is now doing well. I also picked up some fondant icing at the National Honey Show, which they now have in place!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DocsW4v1aR4

The bees are hunkered down now, conserving their energy and keeping their queen warm.

Sometimes I’ll stand there, watching, half expecting — or rather, wanting — to see one or two brave foragers poke their heads out. But rarely are they about now. I know that if I gently tap the side of a hive, they’ll respond — a collective buzz rising from within, like that Toy Story moment when all the little aliens look up and go, “Oooohhhh…” But I don’t like to disturb them. They deserve their peace.

There’s something almost eerie about the apiary when the bees aren’t flying. The place that usually hums with life and purpose suddenly feels… still. The air, once vibrating with that soft, familiar buzz of spring and summer, is quiet — too quiet. You know they’re all inside their hives, safe and warm, but the silence feels strange, like a heart that’s suddenly stopped beating.

It’s a reminder, really, that even in stillness, life goes on — hidden, humming quietly beneath the surface.

So what’s actually going on in there, behind those wooden walls?

Inside, the bees are huddled together in a tight cluster, forming a living, breathing blanket around their queen. They take turns moving from the chilly outer edges into the warm centre, vibrating their flight muscles to keep the temperature just right. It’s an incredible little heating system — no radiators or thermostats needed! They feed on stored honey and fondant, passing food from one to another, keeping the colony alive and cosy while the world outside slows down.

If you’d like to learn more about what the bees are really up to during these colder months, head on over to The Beelistener’s Facebook page or website — she explains it all beautifully. Her posts are always thoughtful, well-researched, and full of fascinating insights into the secret life of the hive. I can’t recommend her highly enough — it’s like having a bee mentor in your pocket! https://www.beelistener.co.uk/winter-bees/the-winter-cluster-the-insulation-question/

At the moment, I have just three hives, though God willing there’ll be six come May or June. I’ll stop at six… hopefully! Without my gorgeous horse Willow, I do have more time for the bees, and I’m hoping they’ll do well. It will be their first spring at this new apiary, so I have everything crossed for a good, safe winter for them.

The hornets never let up this year — they were a nightmare! I couldn’t see a nest anywhere. I’m thankful they’re European hornets and not Asian ones, but even so, they never left my hives alone. A friend of mine said she had loads in her garden too, but they never went near her hives. Any answers to that puzzle, please get in touch and let me know! I read an article by the BBKA saying that we shouldn’t trap hornets and I have to admit… I felt it hard, as you can see from Augusts blog, to have any empathy for them…

Here’s a short video of one of the relentless hornets devouring one of my girls (urch…)
🎥 https://youtube.com/shorts/CpnypBvWe2c?feature=share

HOWEVER…In Defence of the European Hornet

I never thought you’d hear me speaking in defence of the European hornet! But here we are — and, to my surprise, I’m doing just that.

Like the honeybee, the European hornet (Vespa crabro) is defensive, not aggressive. They’ve earned a fearsome reputation largely because of their size and deep, resonant buzz, but in reality, they’re quite shy and prefer to avoid conflict.

Hornets will only sting or defend themselves if they or their nest are threatened — much like honeybees do. You can often stand quite close to a hornet without provoking it, as long as you move calmly and don’t disturb its nest.

By contrast, wasps, particularly the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), tend to be more assertive and opportunistic, especially in late summer when food sources dwindle. That’s when they’re more likely to hover around picnics or sugary drinks, earning their rather “bad-tempered” reputation.

When it comes to hunting, though, the European hornet is a formidable predator — swift, powerful, and precise. When it targets a honeybee, it hovers with deliberate stillness just outside the hive entrance, watching the comings and goings. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, it strikes.

The hornet seizes the honeybee mid-air or just as she lands, pinning her with strong mandibles. Within seconds, the bee is subdued — the hornet’s jaws slice through the softer parts of her body, separating the thorax from the rest. The hornet isn’t interested in the wings or abdomen; it’s after the protein-rich thorax, packed with the muscle that powered the bee’s flight.

Once it has what it came for, the hornet shapes the bee’s thorax into a neat little ball of flesh, then flies off to feed it to its larvae back in the nest — a gruesome but efficient exchange in nature’s food chain.

Here’s a bit of perspective, though: if a single hornet catches one honeybee every five minutes, that’s around 120 bees in a long summer’s day. Sounds dreadful, doesn’t it? But when you remember that a healthy queen can lay over 2,000 eggs a day, you realise how resilient a strong colony really is. The hive can easily outpace those losses. It’s nature’s balance in action — the hornets hunt, but the bees endure. Wasps, on the other hand, are far more brutal. They don’t wait politely outside the hive; they go straight in and wreak havoc, killing bees and robbing honey.

Yet despite their fearsome reputation, European hornets are an important part of nature’s balance. They may hunt honeybees, but they also help control other insect populations — including pests that damage crops and gardens. Hornets are skilled hunters, intelligent navigators, and surprisingly gentle when left undisturbed. They only defend their nests if threatened.

So, they’re not the villains of the story — just another thread in nature’s intricate web, doing what they’ve evolved to do. Fierce but vital, hornets play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy.

Who would have thought I’d be standing up for the European hornet? But here I am, singing its praises — proof, perhaps, that nature always has another lesson to teach us.

Ok… so what else has been happening?

The National Honey Show - 2025

Each year the UK’s premier event for all things bees and honey, the National Honey Show takes over Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, this time from 23–25 October 2025..

With nearly 250 competitive classes showcasing honey, wax, mead, photography, and more, it’s a hive of activity for beginner and seasoned beekeepers alike. Beyond the exhibits, there’s a buzzing trade hall full of specialist shops, plus lectures and hands-on workshops that truly make it worth a visit whether you keep bees or simply adore them.

THE WINNING IMAGE BY BRIDGET AGED 7 YEARS….

I missed last year’s show and, by all accounts — from those who came to my stand and remembered me from years gone by — I was missed! It was lovely to see so many familiar faces stopping by for a chat and to catch up on all things Betsie Valentine and bees.

The colouring table was a resounding success — a constant buzz of activity (quite literally!) throughout the weekend. Children and adults alike couldn’t resist sitting down to bring the honeybees to life with pencils and crayons. There was a wonderful atmosphere of laughter, concentration, and creativity — proof, if ever it were needed, that honeybees inspire imagination at every age.

A very worthy winner of the colouring competition was chosen by the wonderful illustrator Tegan Sharrard, who has created all the beautiful images for my books so far — including the front cover of the third and final one, Betsie Valentine and the Honeybees of Hope.

The children came in droves — from tots to teens — many eager to learn more about bees, and a few even keen to try their hand at beekeeping one day. And yes, there were even some enthusiastic takers for my Pin the Pollen on the Honeybee game! Watching their delight (and the occasional bit of chaos) reminded me why I love doing these events so much — the laughter, the learning, and those wonderful “aha” moments when a child realises just how extraordinary bees really are.

I gave a talk — a first for me at the show — to school children, accompanied by their parents and teachers. It went really well and, hopefully, will become an annual event!

It’s something Val, one of the organisers, and I have been keen to encourage for some time.

We need more young people to become beekeepers — yes, even children! But especially teenagers and young adults. Why do so many people think beekeeping is something you take up after retirement? You wouldn’t say football, rugby, netball, riding, dancing, or gardening are hobbies to “save for later,” so why beekeeping?

Beekeeping is an incredible way to connect with nature, learn patience, responsibility, and observation, and even gain a better understanding of science and the environment. It teaches calm and focus, builds confidence, and gives a sense of purpose and belonging — not to mention the sheer magic of seeing bees at work and knowing you’re helping the planet. The world needs its next generation of beekeepers, and there’s no reason they can’t start young.

And so to end. I always like to end with a lovely picture and I honestly could not think of anything better than the new front cover of my book, designed by the wonderful Tegan Sharrard.

A Little Sneak Peek — Betsie Valentine and the Honeybees of Hope

In the third book of the Betsie Valentine series, sixteen-year-old Betsie travels to Uganda to stay with her godmother, who teaches at a university in Mbale. What begins as an exciting trip soon becomes a journey of discovery — about people, purpose, and the power of bees to change lives.

Among the sun-drenched hills and vibrant markets, Betsie learns how honeybees help local communities to become self-sufficient, feed their families, and educate their children. Along the way, she faces challenges that test her courage, empathy, and growing sense of independence — and perhaps even the first flutter of young love.

It’s a story of hope, resilience, and the extraordinary connections that can grow from the humblest of creatures.

If you’d like to know when Betsie Valentine and the Honeybees of Hope is published, just send me your name and email address — there’s absolutely no obligation to buy — and I’ll make sure you’re among the first to hear when it’s ready to fly!