Enriching the bees' environment

Planting and managing ecosystems at Anglesey Bees

Trefnant Bach, the home of Anglesey Bees (along with our neighbouring Trefnant Wen and Trefnant Ddu has been in existence for a long time. There is a record of its existence in the 1841 census, earlier court and church records and tithe maps. Recently I discovered records of historical field names such as Cae Hen Gaseg; Cae Beudy; Cae Gamdda; Cae Flaen Drws; Waun and Parciau Mawr. I therefore have every reason to believe that the field boundary hedges consisting predominantly of hawthorn, blackthorn, dog-rose, sycamore and ash and associated ivy, brambles, gorse and rosebay willow herb are ancient. Since we became custodians of Trefnant Bach, we have managed them sympathetically and the sycamores, in particular make a valuable contribution to our spring honey. Furthermore, we manage the spread of ivy through the hedges. On one hand we encourage the contribution of autumn ivy nectar as a valuable top up to winter stores whilst on the other hand, we aim to prevent the collapse of hedgerows under the weight of ivy.

Previously, our three fields were grazed by horses, resulting in selective close grazing in some areas and vast expanses of rejected, rank tussocky growth caused by repeated dunging. Stockproof fencing and a small flock of Llŷn sheep cured that over time, resulting in more of a bowling green appearance. The unimproved permanent pasture contained pockets of indigenous white clover, similar in appearance to the land-race, Kent Wild White. I applied the findings from my research in an earlier career as a pasture ecologist at what is now called The Institute of Biological and Environmental Research near Aberystwyth. When a grass/white clover pasture is grazed hard under rotational grazing, there is a change in the ratio of red:far red light reaching the clover stolons at the soil surface, caused by less absorption by the less dense sward. This causes a switch in the growth pattern resulting in more branching and the spreading of clover stolons at ground level. When the livestock were moved on to another field, the biomass accumulated and the resultant effect on the red:far red light perceived by the clover stolons, caused them to stop initiating more branches and produce leafy vertical growth instead and ultimately a mass of flowers which make a significant contribution to our summer honey.

A 1-acre spring-fed lake was dug out of a marshy corner of the property about 25 years ago and the margins planted predominantly with willow and alder. These provide a copious supply of much needed pollen from mid-February. Building on this, we successfully applied for a MOREwoods grant from The woodlands Trust to plant a further 1000 trees in a one acre block and to form wildlife corridors along field margins and corners, linking and giving easy access to the whole property. With the assistance of Simon Hunt, the Woodlands Trust advisor and also a beekeeper, we planned how we would create a honeybee friendly woodland, enrich the habitat for wildlife and provide fuelwood for coppicing in the future. The species including alder, downy birch, oak, bird cherry, wild cherry, crab apple, walnut, sweet chestnut, dogwood, hawthorn and elder were chosen to provide a succession of both pollen and nectar over as long a period as possible. Since planting in February 2019, the trees have made astonishing progress, dispelling the myth that the benefits of tree planting are not realised during your lifetime. Many have reached a hight of over 15 feet and a girth as thick as my arm. The area has also become a sanctuary for hedgehogs, weasels, red squirrels and voles.

Excluding sheep from the woodland has allowed pollinator-beneficial species like birdsfoot trefoil to ingress at ground level and honey bees are frequent observed visitors. On the other hand, the un-grazed grass species have become tussocky and rank, requiring regular strimming. To tackle this, we have introduced a small flock of pedigree Shropshire sheep. They are also known as the “tree sheep” as they have the unusual trait of not damaging trees by browsing and stripping their bark. They are routinely used to manage the ground vegetation in vineyards, apple orchards and Christmas tree plantations.

Since we introduced honeybees to the smallholding, we noticed a marked increase in the crop of rosehips in the hedgerows and apples on our solitary tree. With five trees generally accepted as the lower limit for an orchard, we have now planted additional apple, pear, plum and cherry trees and thornless cultivated blackberries. We are often asked for advice regarding planting for bees from those that attend our bee curious experiences. Frequently we hear of their disappointing results with pollinator-friendly seed mixes that are often reduced to a monoculture of ox-eye daisies by the second year. For the purpose of demonstrating, we planted a border of herbaceous perennials that we found to be attractive, particularly to honey bees. We gained inspiration on our visits to Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens, Bodnant Gardens and Helmsley Walled Garden amongst others. The planting now includes the following:- Persicaria; Catmint; Sedum; Siberian Chives; Hardy Geranium; Russian Sage; Lavender; Bergamot; Oregano; Cotoneaster; Montbretia; Scabious; Anemone; Echinacea; Rudbeckia; Helenium; Aster; Salvia and Verbena.

Further inspiration for tree planting came from an unexpected crop of honey at one of our Anglesey apiaries. After harvesting the summer honey in early August, the empty supers were returned to the hives for the bees to lick dry. Within two weeks, we were astonished to find the supers full again! Initially we were bewildered by the orange jelly-like honey that was impossible to extract by spinning. With no heather within range, we followed the bees to a nearby mature Eucryphia x nymansensis nymansay tree, a hybrid between two Chilean species. E. cordifolia and E. glutinosa, which are used for the production of ulmo honey in their native country. Needless to say, we have now planted a specimen of E. x nymansensis along with two of their Tasmanian counterparts, E. Lucida and E. milliganii, renowned for the leatherwood honey produced by the bees that forage on them.

You can see all of this for yourself by attending our National Garden Scheme open garden at Anglesey Bees on 21 July or 31 August. Proceeds from the refreshments and plant sales will be donated to the charity Bees for Development.

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Swarming

by Dafydd Jones • 7 May 2024

Many beekeepers accept swarming as an inevitable event. Sadly, it results in a significant loss of bees and impacts honey yield and may result in complete colony loss. Furthermore, the need to remove swarms from buildings may cause distress, inconvenience, structural work and cost to neighbours. On our beginner and improver courses we stress the importance of swarm control and share effective management practices with our students that virtually eliminate the occurrence of swarming. First of all, lets investigate what happens when bees swarm and what triggers this to happen. Swarming is a natural process that honeybees undertake in an attempt to reproduce and spread by dividing and starting new independent colonies. In preparation for swarming, the colony initiates the rearing of new queens. Then the old queen and a significant proportion of the flying bees from the colony leave the hive in an attempt to set up home elsewhere. New queens are reared in specially constructed structures called queen cells. An egg, laid in these structures by the old queen hatch into larvae, that are then fed with copious quantities of a high protein diet of royal jelly, derived from pollen and provided by young nurse bees. Around the eighth day after the egg was laid, feeding stops and the queen cell is sealed with a cap of wax and the larvae pupate. It is on this day that the old queen and accompanying flying bees swarm from the hive, leaving behind some workers and some developing queens in their queen cells to hatch out in a further eight days.

Enriching the bees' environment

by Dafydd Jones • 29 February 2024

Trefnant Bach, the home of Anglesey Bees (along with our neighbouring Trefnant Wen and Trefnant Ddu has been in existence for a long time. There is a record of its existence in the 1841 census, earlier court and church records and tithe maps. Recently I discovered records of historical field names such as Cae Hen Gaseg; Cae Beudy; Cae Gamdda; Cae Flaen Drws; Waun and Parciau Mawr. I therefore have every reason to believe that the field boundary hedges consisting predominantly of hawthorn, blackthorn, dog-rose, sycamore and ash and associated ivy, brambles, gorse and rosebay willow herb are ancient. Since we became custodians of Trefnant Bach, we have managed them sympathetically and the sycamores, in particular make a valuable contribution to our spring honey. Furthermore, we manage the spread of ivy through the hedges. On one hand we encourage the contribution of autumn ivy nectar as a valuable top up to winter stores whilst on the other hand, we aim to prevent the collapse of hedgerows under the weight of ivy. Previously, our three fields were grazed by horses, resulting in selective close grazing in some areas and vast expanses of rejected, rank tussocky growth caused by repeated dunging. Stockproof fencing and a small flock of Llŷn sheep cured that over time, resulting in more of a bowling green appearance. The unimproved permanent pasture contained pockets of indigenous white clover, similar in appearance to the land-race, Kent Wild White. I applied the findings from my research in an earlier career as a pasture ecologist at what is now called The Institute of Biological and Environmental Research near Aberystwyth. When a grass/white clover pasture is grazed hard under rotational grazing, there is a change in the ratio of red:far red light reaching the clover stolons at the soil surface, caused by less absorption by the less dense sward. This causes a switch in the growth pattern resulting in more branching and the spreading of clover stolons at ground level. When the livestock were moved on to another field, the biomass accumulated and the resultant effect on the red:far red light perceived by the clover stolons, caused them to stop initiating more branches and produce leafy vertical growth instead and ultimately a mass of flowers which make a significant contribution to our summer honey.