28th - 18°C

Hive L: 10 brood frames from hive (W) were placed in brood box at new site. Internal feeder added containing regular strength sugar solution. Large amount of sealed brood and larvae. The start of two queen cells were left.

Hive R: Super half full.

Hive W: Two new queen cells were found so another artificial swarm was done. The queen, flying bees and all bees from the supers were given 11 undrawn frames. One super of half-capped frames was removed and produced 21 lbs (9.5 kgs) of honey.

25th - 20°C

A warm spell has arrived. Oil seed rape beginning to go over. Hive R: Released swarm from top box and let queen go into brood chamber. Second queen cell had hatched so lost swarm on 23rd was probably a cast from this hive.

23rd - 16°C

Hive R: Another (small) swarm. Lost. Not sure which but suspect second queen cell will have hatched.

22nd - 16°C

Hive R: Swarm! One queen cell hatched and queen plus workers in small swarm on nearby bushes. Captured and placed in empty super on top of hive with a queen separator so queen can't escape. Other queen cell unhatched.

21st - 16°C

Hive R: 2 queen cells still unhatched. No nectar in super. Nectar in outer brood cells.

Hive W: Removed new uncapped queen cell. Added 4th super. Top super partially capped, 2nd some and 3rd about 50% full. Moved outer undrawn frame in by 2.

15th - 20°C

Hive R: About 10 capped queen cells, 2 of which are large near the bottom of the frames, the rest smaller half way up. Removed all but two largest. Added super and removed empty feeder.

Hive W: One queen cell removed. Found queen and clipped one wing. 2-3 frames drawn out and full of brood. Outer frames not being built up. 3 supers nearly full but not capped.

8th - 12°C

Hive R: Moved new hive to final location and added internal feeder with weak sugar solution. Removed super. Not full inspection (too cold) but found one good queen cell nearly capped at bottom of frame plus others half-way up being started. Some larvae and unhatched brood.

Hive W: Hive not inspected.

2nd - 20°C

Oil Seed Rape in full flower about 1 mile. Apple & plum blossom out.

Hive R: 10 brood frames plus one empty super were placed on one side of (W).

Hive W: Found about 6 beginnings of queen cells so time for the artificial swarm. Found queen and marked her yellow. Left one brood fame, 10 undrawn frames and queen in original location. Gently shook some of the younger bees off the old frames in front of the artificial swarm hive. Two supers were nearly full so added a third.