Neville

About four years ago I help a friend's father to move some of his hives and the bug bit me!

In the beginning of summer last year I bought a breeding hive from one of the local bee keepers and left it next to a wild swarm at a co-worker's home with the idea that they would move to my hive in time - a month later the bees were gone and the hive full of termites!

Beginning of December I put the hive next to a meter box that housed an old settled swarm - On enquiring at the end of January I were told the council killed the swarm two days after placing my hive!

At the beginning of February 2006 I received a call from somebody that wanted to get rid of two wild swarms and three hives - the beginning of my bee keeping story! Lucky for me there was only one wild swarm in an old tractor tyre filled with dirt that I unfortunately had to poison (and to make sure no birds got to!)

I placed my new hives about 50m away from the house on a nice big rock and go there quite often to say hi!

As seen on the photo's the hives needs some attention:

I definitly learned a lot with the loading and transporting of the swarms - just gives you a idea of the amount of learning still due! For example the weight of a full hive and super! Do not try and move it alone!

As I work and look after my new "families" the story will be told here, and will appreciate any comment. As Herman, the previous owner of these hives said: "Anything you read will be just the other way round in real live!"