Now that it is colder we can no longer feed the bees using sugar and water. If we keep feeding them this way the weather will cause the water will cool down the hive.

This in turn will result in the bees using more energy and food stores to heat the hive.

To feed the bees we now need to use a special fondant. It will not freeze and it will give the bees plenty of energy.

The bees were not happy about having the feeders removed but once they realise it is being replaced with delicious fondant they will calm down quite quickly… or so Mr Green hopes!

This week it’s the turn of AK and KM to be our Primary 7 bee keepers. Over the weekend the bees have managed to finish off 8 litres of sugar solution!

Our bee keepers made up the sugar solution and helped add another feeder to one of the hives. This saves us time when swapping them over and means we can feed all the Hives at the same time.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Finally they helped place the wasp traps near the hives to help protect our bees. We’ll check back on how well they are working by the end of the week.

Well done to AB and AK for carrying out the first Primary 7 feed. They made up the sugar water solution on Tuesday and on Friday and carefully put the feed into the feeding trays. Great job.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

During the visits to the nature garden we have  noticed more and more wasps hanging around near the hives. If we don’t get rid of them they could cause havoc with our hives.

Primary 3B came to the rescue. They designed wasp traps for Mr Green and hopefully they will help help keep the hives safe from wasps.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Today was the first proper inspection of the hives. It’s a steep leaning curve for Mr Green but it looks like the bees are in good shape.

Four of out five hives are doing well and the focus now is on feeding the bees twice a week to get them ready for winter. Mr Green will be looking for Primary 7 helpers to make the feed and deliver it into the hives.