So we have been keeping bees up here for last 6 years.
Our beekeeping started by accident when a swarm decided to set up home in the eaves of our barn one spring.
I borrowed a hive from a neighbor and the bees took to it.
We have 50 or so fruit trees up here so I was very happy about this.
Our policy is that the bees are here to pollenate the fruit & we don't keep them for honey.
We only take a small amount of the honey they produce so that we don't have to feed them over the winter.
Sadly the changing climate up here in the Swiss alps has led to warm spells during the winter, we have over the last 2 years lost most of our colonies through this.
The bees fly out as the day warms up but don't make it back to hives when the temp drops ( this happens in minutes when the sun dips over the mountain )
I would like to know if anyone else here is keeping bees in their garden & if not would you like to now how to encourage the wild bees?
Simon
Bookmarks