feed the bees!

A swarm of bees was hanging from a rowan tree over the mill pond when we returned from a family outing today. It looked large and quite settled to my untrained eye, and it seemed that the bees we have been meaning to keep had found us. I called David, the local expert, who came directly - armed with two protective suits and a swarm box. The tricky bit was to get this potentially angry August swarm from its branch over-hanging a steep drop into a small plywood box, and then swiftly close the lid on them. The latter was David's job, having dangled the box precariously out over the empty pond, which had been  hurriedly secured in my old landing net. My job was to climb up the tree, lean out along the branch, and lop off the bit from which they hung. I was most thankful for the suit and veil, though actually I'm sure I would not have been stung without it. The task was completed successfully, if without much elegance, and we were pleased to see the bees quickly settle into their new temporary home. At the gloaming David returned. Meanwhile I had set up the hive he kindly lent us, and we took the swarm, now a wonderfully calm though voluble and weighty buzz in the box, up to the top of the garden - me carefully carrying, David just behind, and my Mum, Dad and pyjamaed niece Claudia bringing up the rear.
So the swarm has now been shaken into it's new (hopefully) permanent home, the top floor being a feeder loaded with a gallon of sugar syrup to help them settle in. We are all very excited and pleased with the new residents, and hope they remain happy and hard working for many years!