Apiary Visit
This weekend the Apiary Team hosted a visit for Dunblane and Stirling Beekeepers’ Association members. The association has been instrumental in helping to get the Bannockburn House Apiary set up. All Apiary Team members attend the Winter beginners’ course run by DSBA before attending the Apiary the following spring for hands-on experience. The local association has also very kindly donated colonies of bees.
Nine members of the DSBA attended for an afternoon of beekeeping, history and cake. The weather was glorious and the house and grounds looked their magnificent best. The apiary is situated in a perfect spot and the visitors were impressed not only with the location, but the whole apiary set up built by volunteers.
Some of the hives were inspected and we were excited to see and mark our first mated and laying queen of 2023. The international queen marking system uses 5 colours in rotation (white, yellow, red, green, blue) and this year’s colour is red.
Following hive inspections, our guests were taken on a tour of the house and were fascinated by its history and historical importance. Cold drinks (too hot for tea and coffee) and home baking followed in the courtyard.
Post by Ilona
Ilona is the Head Beekeeper and leads the Apiary team.
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