Beekeeping - Short and Sweet

I n this week's Podcast: Early inspections are just around the corner and with it, an opportunity to see how our colonies have fared over the Winter months. If you do take a look, do you know what you’re looking for? Listen in to hear what I think you should be checking out. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 387 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught af...

I n this week's Podcast: As we head into Spring beekeepers will, no doubt,  be contemplating various techniques to use on their hives to maximise the seasons honey crop. Techniques such as the Shook Swarm and Bailey Comb Change are useful ways of replacing comb and reducing pests and disease loading in your hive. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 385 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short a...

I n this week's Podcast: The Demaree method, honestly, I’ve always failed with it, on the other hand, my version using a split board is so much more effective and reliable. An important consideration for me when our seasons can be so short. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 385 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you...

I n this week's Podcast: It won’t be long before the early March Sunshine arrives and many beekeepers will start to stress a little, or maybe a lot, over their colonies swarming. The Artificial Swarm is an excellent method of managing this busy time of the season and, actually, it’s a really simple process that sometimes confuses. Hopefully today, I can take the mystery out of the technique f...

I n this week's Podcast: I talked about Nosema last week, and it got me thinking about the things I do to give my honeybees the very best opportunity at the start of the new season to produce a lovely crop of honey in the Summer. Let’s kick off with a more detailed look at the Spring Clean. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 383 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please suppor...

I n this week's Podcast: Nosema apis and Nosema Ceranae. Two, spore forming, parasitic Microsporidia!  They sound like something of a horror show for our bees and the effects of a heavy infection can be quite damaging. Listen in as I explain what it is, how you can identify it, and ultimately deal with it, so your bees can have a healthy and productive Summer. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome...

I n this week's Podcast: The past week has been all about the move home. I’m glad to say the office is getting there, but the honey room, well, that’s another story! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 381 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Hive Five Multi Guard...

I n this week's Podcast: We have a few weeks yet until the start of the new beekeeping season. How can I make sure this year is as successful for my bees and me as it can possible be? Stay tuned to hear my thoughts and plans. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 380 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and hel...

In this week's Podcast: We’ve had some sunny weather for a change, I’ve been able to get out to an Apiary full of nucleus colonies. So this week, as promised, my take on what to look out for if you’re thinking of buying a nucleus colony for the start of the new season. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 379 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliat...

In this week's Podcast: With the recent appearance of snow in our apiaries there’s a belated Christmassy feel to the scene, not that it lasted very long at all for me here in Norfolk. We’ve been feeding warm fondant to some of our nucleus colonies and that’s triggered a social media response, listen in and I’ll explain exactly what I’ve been up to. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 3...

In this week's Podcast: A very Happy New Year to you all. It's a chilly start to 2026 so I've stayed in the office and figured now would be a good time to spill the beans on my beekeeping plans for the coming year.   Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 377 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five Multi Guard Entrance...

In this week's Podcast: With just a few days left before Christmas I thought it an opportune moment to reflect back on the beekeeping year that was 2025. The highs, the lows and the ups and the downs! All feeding in to my plans for 2026. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 376 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five Multi Gua...

In this week's Podcast: We’re well into December now, fast approaching the Winter Solstice, that shortest day of the year. Then we’re on the slow road back to Spring and all the fun that the warmer weather brings us, but what’s going on in our hives right now, here’s what I think…… Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 375 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our mai...

In this week's Podcast: Happy December everyone, and with activity slowing down around the apiaries it’s an ideal time to dust down the microscopes and see what’s floating around in some of our honey samples. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 374 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances Some of my Favou...

In this week's Podcast: I’ve spent a bit of time at the workshop sorting through old super frames and trying to decide what’s the best way forward in terms of cleaning or not. Do we spend time and money boiling them, or is it better all round to consign them to the bonfire and start over? Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 373 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support...

In this week's Podcast: The colder weather is upon us and it now feels like it should in November! I’ve been out and about around our apiaries and decided to rescue a small colony rather than let them die. I’m not sure if this is sensible or just a waste of time and effort. Listen in for the full sorry saga. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 372 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sw...

In this week's Podcast: Storm Claudia hits and it feels like the rain will never stop. I’ve been having a go at building a hive and still haven’t been able to sort out my colony that’s been attacked by wasps. Here’s this week’s beekeeping updates. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 371 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five...

In this week's Podcast: Having discussed the more serious pests and diseases that can affect our colonies, it’s time to finish off our Varroa chat and conclude with some of the less problematic issues that we sometimes encounter. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 370 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five Multi Guard Entra...

In this week's Podcast: With Autumn slipping away and Winter on the horizon my thoughts continue to be filled with helping our colonies survive to next Spring. Feeding is complete, Autumn treatments removed, but the challenge of the Varroa mite goes on. With that in mind, here’s part two of pests and diseases.  Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 369 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and...

In this week's Podcast:  After sharing my recent experiences with Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus I’ve had a number of requests to discuss, more widely, honeybee diseases. What to look out for and how they impact our honeybees. So, let’s kick off with possibly the nastiest ones of them all, the foul brood diseases! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 368 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and...

In this week's Podcast: It’s a bit of a somber mood in the office today as it’s been a rather sad end to the week. I’ve carried out the colony destruction on the hive with a heavy infection of CBPV and in today’s podcast I’ll explain the process and what happens next. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 367 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and...

In this week's Podcast: After a year of seeing colonies relatively disease and pest free, our final checks of the season have revealed one colony with visible signs of Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus or CBPV as we abbreviate it. It’s not great but could become a lot worse, listen in to hear why. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 366 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Mu...

In this week's Podcast: It’s been a busy week removing treatments from all of our hives now that we’ve reached the end of that particular phase of the season and I was delighted to see so many really strong colonies and nucs. It appears it was just in time as we feel the full force of Storm Amy. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 365 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Fiv...

In this week's Podcast: As we fast approach the end of September, feeding for some hives continues but others are weighty enough. With everything slowing down in the apiaries, my thoughts have turned to some honeybee microscopy and today I’ll kick off the season with the microscopes I use.   Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 364 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Mu...

In this week's Podcast: With treatments almost ready to come out of our hives, it’s time for me to start under supering, this technique, although not absolutely necessary and sometimes called Nadiring, is a simple and effective way to help your bees through Winter. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 363 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances The Nat...