As I sit here watching the rain lash against the window (a classic South Yorkshire “winter wonderland”), I am heartened by one glorious fact: Today is the Winter Solstice. While the rest of the world sees today as the depth of winter, we beekeepers know the truth. This is the “Beekeeper’s New Year.” From tomorrow, the days begin to stretch. Deep inside those clusters, our queens will soon sense the shift in light and begin their slow, steady ramp-up. The countdown to the first dandelion has officially begun!
Planning the Campaign
Now is the time for a bit of armchair beekeeping. Put your feet up, grab a brew, and ask yourself: What do I want from the 2026 season?
Numbers: How many colonies do you want to tuck in next winter? If you want four, aim for six. Nature has a way of “recalculating” our totals for us.
The Royal Succession: Have you considered queen rearing? It doesn’t have to be a dark art. Raising a few extra queens is incredibly rewarding, though we all know the “Barnsley Gamble”: getting virgins mated in a week where it doesn’t rain sideways. While we can’t control the clouds, we can drone flood our apiaries to give our girls the best chance.
The Santa List: You have mere days left to influence the man in the red suit. If you’re short on supers or need a new rapid feeder, start dropping heavy hints now.
Homework and Honey-Craft: If you aren’t scraping wax off frames or scorching hive bodies yet, are you even a beekeeper? Cleaning equipment in December saves a world of stress in May when a prime swarm is hanging from your neighbor’s apple tree.
Beyond the physical, let’s sharpen the mind: Qualifications
Is 2026 the year you tackle the BBKA Basic? Or perhaps the Bee Health Certificate?
Winter Lectures: The YBKA lecture series is in full swing – perfect for learning without getting stung. Look out for those emails from Clare or WhatsApp messages from me on the YBKA WhatsApp Community.
Digital Learning: If you’re diving into YouTube, be careful! A beekeeper in sunny California has a very different reality than we do in Barnsley. For local relevance, check out the BIBBA recommended videos. They’ve created some excellent content themselves (even if one particular face pops up rather frequently – I’ll let you decide if that’s a Christmas treat or a lump of coal!).
Eyes on the Prize (and the Fondant)
Don’t let the festive spirit distract you from the “heft.” Give your hives a lift this week. If they feel light, don’t wait for a miracle – get the emergency fondant on. In fact, many of our members have a lovely tradition of placing a block of fondant on every hive on Christmas Day. It’s a gift to the bees that ensures you can enjoy your own turkey and sprouts without worrying about starvation in the apiary.
Looking Ahead
It’s an exciting time. The light is returning, the bees are resting, and our dreams of record-breaking honey harvests are still perfectly intact. On behalf of the committee, I wish you all a peaceful Solstice and a very happy Christmas.
Keep your bees dry, your smokers clean, and your fondant handy.