Hi fellow beekeepers , I have recently given my bees a final pre-winter check. Even after being fed 12L of syrup a few weeks ago, there are very little stores, there is Ivy pollen and nectar, but the honey may be unusable for the bees, I have fed fondant and rapid feeder again, the bees were looking for the syrup but the temperature was only 13 degrees. My message is …don’t assume there is enough food in the hives, if the bees can’t use the ivy honey they will starve. Stock up with fondant and feed as required. Good luck everyone.

Peter Kirkup