Oh beehive!

The hives are out in the forest. I reckon it could be a good year for the bees and therefore for honey; it's been a bumper year for heather and ling.

Hives of activity

Signs warn 'Caution Bees at work'. It's that time of year in the forest when the bees do their thing. The heathland is radiant, her purple cloak in full bloom, flowers all brimming with nectar, and clusters of hives now hide amongst the scattered clumps of gorse set to exploit natures bounty in the pursuit of glorious bee gold.

Oh Beehive

Two faces of bees in the forest, professional bee keeping hives placed out to exploit the forests heathery bee gardens, and a wild colony hidden in one of Red Rise's oaks. You see the professional hives out every year (soften a dozen or so grouped together), the forest has one of the largest beekeeping associations in the country, and produces some fine honey. The wild colony I first spotted one spring some years back, each year I've checked on the colony, and they appear to be doing okay. I don't know how long it'll endure though, a queen only has a 3 to 4 year lifespan. I don't know if the colony then disbands or another queen steps up and the colony continues on.  Thinking about it, I'm sure it was longer than 4 years ago I first came this tree.