On Friday 10 April Lee, Mick and I checked out Beedicca’s colony at our apiary site (where we keep the ABKA bees). They were looking good (see the photo below) and we knew it was time to plan to take them back to Cliffe Castle. Jonathan and I collected the bees from the ABKA Apiary yesterday evening and after a night in the boot of my car, they returned to Cliffe Castle this morning, Monday 13 April. Steve and I transferred them from their winter poly nucleus box to the obser

Some fine weather at our ABKA Apiary on 31 March, when we checked how Queen Beedicca and her girls were doing. Pleased to find she is now laying on 4 frames of comb – just like Beeyonce, when we returned the bees last spring. It’s almost time to bring them back now, but it will probably have to be after the school holidays this year. Keep an eye out for more updates to find out when you can see the bees at Cliffe Castle for the new season. In the meantime, Lee kindly took thi

Dear Visitors, Due to an early Easter and some very changeable weather, the observation hive colony is not yet strong enough to be brought back to Cliffe Castle in time for the start of the school Easter Holidays. But we will keep an eye on how the bees are doing and hope to return them, safely, very soon. The Observation Hive Team for 2026, is: Steve Johnson, Lee Brotherton, Anthony Calvert and Linda Schofield, with help from Mike Barlow and Mick Berry as needed.

2025 Cliffe Castle Bee Blog #9 Well, that’s all folks! Last night (8 September) at 7.30pm Steve and I collected the bees from Cliffe...

2025 Cliffe Castle Bee Blog #8 Mike Latham and I checked the bees this morning (1 st  September), on a cool and windy day. Even though we...

2025 Cliffe Castle Bee Blog #8   Lee and I found our new queen to be laying on 4 frames in the colony at today’s inspection (18th...

2025 Cliffe Castle Bee Blog # 7 Anthony and I checked the bees this morning (11 August) and I marked her blue (rather heavy handed – she...

2025: Cliffe Castle Bee Blog #7 Can you believe that it has taken from 5 May to 4 August to finally find a laying queen in our little...

2025: Cliffe Castle Bee Blog number 6 Sunday 11 May brought a very warm morning for Lee and I to check the observation hive for a viable...

Blog number 5 - 5th May 2025 Today, Anthony, student beekeeper Jacqui and I found that the spring build up in the observation hive...

Blog number 4, 28th April 2025 Steve and I checked the observation hive this morning - and what a change in the weather from last week!...

Blog number 3 - 21st April 2025 A chilly, wet, morning for Lee and I to check the observation hive today, but it was necessary. Bee-Yonce...

Blog 2 - 14th April 2025 Anthony and I checked the observation hive this morning and found Bee-Yonce and the gang in good shape. She is...

The bees are back in our wooden observation hive at Cliffe Castle for the new season.

A glorious autumn day at Cliffe Castle was the perfect setting for our honey show as part of the Museum's annual Apple Day event. Our...

Congratulations to young visitors Lilly and Joe, both aged 9 years, who suggested the name that was chosen for our new queen of 2024. She...

2024 Cliffe Castle Bee Blog #18 If you visit Cliffe Castle now, and any time before the Easter school holidays 2025, I’m afraid you will...

2024 Cliffe Castle Bee Blog #17 Anthony and I checked the bees this morning (2nd September), the last inspection before they go to their...

Lee and I were joined by Caroline, from the National Bee Unit team*, when we completed our weekly check today. Caroline was visiting to...

After a glitch last week that prevented us from completing an inspection, Steve and I visited this morning to find our new queen has...