Listen.
Can you hear that?
It’s the sound of the beekeeping season creeping ever closer. A tentative hum on the mildest days, the odd forager appearing at the entrance with pollen-laden legs, and—if you’re lucky—the first real glimpses of spring activity inside the hive as you top-up feed or peer through the glass quilt.
Winter isn’t quite done with us yet, but the bees know what’s coming, and it’s time we caught up.
What’s Happening in the Hive?
Right now, your colonies are transitioning from winter dormancy into active brood rearing. The queen—if she stopped laying in the depths of winter—will have resumed, and the workers are stretching their wings on those brief spells of flying weather.
But here’s the problem: this is a dangerous time of year for colonies. Stores are dwindling, but demand is rising as brood production kicks into gear. Starvation in March and early April is far more common than in midwinter, and it can happen quickly.
What Should You Be Doing?
Hefting (and Feeding, If needed)
- Hopefully you left enough stores in the Autumn/early winter.
- Keep an eye on hive weight. If it feels light, add a block of fondant—don’t hesitate. A strong colony can get through a kilo in no time if the weather turns bad. As Charles Austin says: fondant keeps bees alive; honey makes them thrive.
- Don’t assume “they’ll be fine.” A colony dead of starvation is a miserable sight in spring.
Watching for First Flights
- On mild days (above 8–10°C), you’ll see foragers bringing in pollen, often bright yellow or orange. That’s a great sign—they’re feeding brood.
- No foraging at all? If the weather’s been good and they’re still not venturing out, you might want to check for signs of trouble.
Checking Equipment and Planning Ahead
- Do you have enough frames made up? You’ll need them soon, and rushing to assemble them in the middle of a swarm control crisis isn’t ideal.
- Spare nucs and boxes ready? Swarming season will come around fast, and you’ll be grateful for the prep work.
Thinking About First Inspections
- Not yet—March is usually too soon for a full inspection. But as soon as we get a solid, warm spell (14°C+ and no wind), that first look inside will tell you everything you need to know about how they’ve wintered.
- What you’ll be looking for: queen presence, brood, and enough stores to get them through until nectar is reliably coming in.
- It’s far too early for full inspections.
Looking Ahead to April
By mid-to-late April, things will accelerate—brood will be booming, the first signs of swarming behaviour might appear, and colonies will be rapidly expanding. If you haven’t got your swarm control plan ready, now’s the time.
And remember: local adaptation is key. Our locally adapted bees know how to handle Barnsley’s climate better than any imported stock. By working with them, we improve both their resilience and our success as beekeepers.
So, keep a close eye on them this month. Feed if needed, prepare for the season ahead, and enjoy the anticipation—because beekeeping proper is just around the corner.
See you all at the meeting!
Bits of this email stolen from “The Apiarist” blog: https://tinyurl.com/2bfnrmm4