Brighton & Lewes Beekeepers

09/06/2026

This was of great interest to us https://fb.watch/HDwuLqRyxl/

11/05/2026

There’s still a clear gap between real honey and what the public thinks honey is.

Here's how the supermarket offerings measure up, from delicious offerings at M&S and Waitrose to bitter spreads that make your teeth squeak

04/05/2026

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May the 4th be with you… and with your hive 🐝✨

While galaxies far, far away have lightsabers, here in the apiary we’ve got something just as powerful — a thriving, buzzing force keeping our world in balance. From the Queen leading her colony like a true Jedi master, to workers maintaining harmony across the hive, nature’s rebellion against disorder is always in motion.

So today, we’re not just celebrating … we’re celebrating the real force that keeps life blooming: the bees.

Guardians of the hive, we are. 🌼🐝⚔️

02/05/2026

https://apimondia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/All-the-Properties-of-Beeswax.pdf Apimondia has published a paper on the properties of beeswax.

26/04/2026

We know our honey tastes good, we would like to think it's the best.
We sell in local shops in our patch of Brighton and Lewes, at summer fairs and this year we will be at The Patcham Duck Fair and The Societies Fair in Lewes in August and The Makers Market in September at Jubilee Square Brighton.
If you use this link https://www.brightonlewesbeekeepers.co.uk/ go to our home page where you will find local producers and some contact details to purchase direct from our beekeepers!
Enjoy and thank us later...

The Brighton and Lewes Division of the Sussex Beekeepers Association is open to anyone interested in beekeeping. We cover an area of Sussex ranging from Por ...

21/04/2026

The BBKA conference has made its message clear. Importing bees is not necessary and hazardous because of the threat of also importing small hive beetle and tropilaelapse. As beekeepers our aim should be to find a way to improve our husbandry and share our work with other beekeepers. We can improve our stock, and produce more honey and hive products with good husbandry. These BBKA news special issues are usually full of the latest research and handy reference tools. There will be references to research and further reading on the topic. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1285322233805221&set=a.299817849022336&__cft__[0]=AZbvA9y7wubuXq1sc8LkQgg2zX11Qb0CATBm3eabZOUYTLStZ0enr5dD5tff5vjOjgz1KyOmxKokZYr8XW-b2qydmeTU0Ev1GwVvnC0GGkCO9joCAYsI1mIhVmZvR1AMHG2t2pdOGrdZv9dEdLvjDPTZqTLvni1Ej8RQxV8Hu3hX5XjSViiBcU2vFPZGp0wz-jgbLF1rsNvLuaCAz8zB5Hhp&__tn__=EH-R

This new BBKA Special Issue is written for beekeepers who have moved beyond the basics and are seeking practical guidance to support their ongoing journey.

https://www.bbka.org.uk/shop/bbka-news-husbandry-developing-expertise

14/04/2026

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When I requeen early…⚠️

If a queen isn’t performing how I’d like early in the season, I’ll usually look to replace her.
Doing it early gives the colony plenty of time to build properly.
It just keeps everything moving in the right direction.👍🐝

14/04/2026

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BBKA Basic Assessment - application deadline 30th April
This practical evaluation covers manipulation and equipment, natural history and beekeeping, swarming, swarm control and pests and diseases.
A great way to measure your early skills .

Details on Member Hub
Ask your local exams secretary for a link to apply
https://memberhub.bbka.org.uk/login/index.php

14/04/2026

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Great question—this is something many beekeepers wonder about.

What is the expected longevity of pollen and bee bread within a hive, and under what circumstances should aging stores be discarded?

Fresh pollen: Collected by foragers and stored in cells.

Bee bread: Pollen that’s been mixed with nectar and enzymes, then naturally fermented—this makes it more digestible and preserves it.

📌How long is it viable?

Fresh pollen (unfermented)
👉 Best used within a few days to 1–2 weeks
👉 Loses nutritional value quickly if not converted

Bee bread (fermented pollen)
👉 Can remain usable for several months inside the hive
👉 Under good conditions, it may last through a season (3–6 months or a year especially in cold climate regions)

Fermentation acts like a natural preservation system, protecting nutrients and preventing spoilage.

📌Should old pollen or bee bread be discarded?

Usually, no—bees manage this well themselves. But there are exceptions:

Keep it if:

-It looks fresh, slightly moist, and compact
-Bees are actively consuming it
-No strange smell (it should smell slightly sour/fermented, not rotten)

Consider removing if:

-It’s dry, hard, or chalky
-Shows mold or unusual colors
-Has been unused for a long time (especially in weak colonies)
-Frames are very old/dark (general comb replacement rule)

Point to note as beekeeper

Even though bee bread can last months, its nutritional quality slowly declines. Strong colonies constantly refresh pollen stores, so very old reserves are usually ignored anyway.

👉 A good practice is to rotate out old comb (every 2–3 years) rather than worrying about individual pollen cells.

07/04/2026

National Geographic picture of the year (?)