Welcome to the website for Penrith Beekeepers - information and news on beekeeping in the beautiful Penrith and Eden district of Cumbria. If you have any comments, content, photos or wishes for the site please drop me an email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thanks, Neil Cruickshank

Come along to our informal pub chats! Last Monday of the month..

Next one is Monday 27th February at the Lowther Castle pub, Hackthorpe (on A6 between Shap and Penrith), 7pm. Bring a jar of your honey (if you have some) for a honey tasting session.

The last meeting was attended by 8 members and we had a very interesting chat over a pint or two, subjects ranging from Richards curious green honey to the numer of static caravans around Ullswater! Some good tips were gleaned on winter feeding, shook swarming and more...

This is in addition to our scheduled winter meetings, details here, and is a chance to have a general chat over a drink, get to know your fellow beekeepers and discuss any subject you like. If you are not a member of Penrith BK but are interested to find out more, then come along too!

Are you interested in starting beekeeping in 2012?

Our initial plan of an intensive beekeeping course this year has had to be revised and we are now going to run a 2 day intro to beekeeping course on Sat 7th and Sun 8th April. The course will comprise of a day and a half of theory followed by a half day practical introduction to the hive. It is ideally suited to complete beginners or new beekeepers wanting to expand their knowledge. The course will be led by Neil Cruickshank, a local beekeeper. The cost of the full 2 day course will be £70.

Alternatively, you can attend the first day as an introduction to beekeeping at a cost of £35.

The course will only take place if we can get a minimum of 10 participants.

Places will be limited so if you want to reserve a place, please contact Neil Cruickshank on 01931 715027 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you can't make these dates, Greystoke Cycle Cafe near Penrith have a range of conventional and natural beekeeping courses as well as hive building workshops in spring 2012. Click here for more information.

Winter Programme of Events can be seen here

Being updated at present

Check out the new GALLERY

- if you want to add your own photos, you just need to register here

SWARM ALERT!

If you see a swarm of bees (anywhere in Cumbria), we can help to safely remove them and give them a good home.

Click here for what to do and who to contact.

In our members apiaries...

A new little section where I pass on what's going on in members apiaries - maybe you can glean some information or advice and if you have any comments or gems to post, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

January 1st 2011

Chris Holmes is about to treat his colonies with Oxalic acid as an anti-varroa measure

Andy Burne: "Opened up my 10 hives the other day and all strong (was bit worried after cold spell) I am now feeding them fondant."

Neil Cruickshank has 5 colonies without losses so far and has fed fondant to 3 of them so far

John Wills reports losing 2 colonies (with 12 remaining) although of the two lost one had a laying worker at the end of summer and the other was only covering 2 frames.

January 9th 2011

Chris Holmes gave me a great tip regarding winter feeding: If you are feeding fondant over a feed hole in a crown board, make sure the crown board is oriented so that the fondant is as close to the cluster as possible. This will involve lifting the crown board briefly to check the cluster position. Chris says that he has seen bees starve rather than make the journey just several inches to the fondant in cold weather.

A tip from John Wills on the same subject: If you have bags of sugar left over from the autumn feeding and they have gone 'crusty' on the surface, they can be fed directly over a feed hole by simply tearing some of the paper bag to expose the crust.

February 25 2011

Chris Holmes reports heavy colony losses - possibly due to high varroa mite numbers as Autumn turned to winter. Neil Cruickshank has noted bees bringing bright orange pollen into the hives from Snowdrops. He has also placed pollen patties made from Soya flour, brewers yeast and heavy syrup with honey on his colonies.

March 3 2011

Richard Backhouse reports bees bringing pollen to his hives.

April 2 2011

Spring pollen sources being collected eagerly by the bees. Photos of Neil Cruickshank's bees bringing willow (bright yellow) and possibly yew (grey) pollen to the hives.

April 22 2011

Superb weather - many pollen and nectar sources are available at once. Neil Cruickshank's colonies are foraging on dandelion, cherry, blackthorn and sycamore is just starting. Colonies building rapidly, Neil is supering.

April 23 2011

Andy Burne and Neil Cruickshank have taken bees to the Rape flower, watch this space to see how we do!

May and June 2011

Wow, time flies! Well, my experience at the rape was not good! I took one colony which at the time of transport was building well with lots of sealed brood and an imminent population explosion. I went to take a look after a week or so and was dismayed to see very few bees entering and leaving the hive. On inspecting I found the queen present and laying but the population of the hive seemed very low. Poisoning? Bees absconding to Andy's hives which were between mine and the flowers? Anyway, after several weeks I removed the colony which had produced no surplus and had very low stores. It is now building strongly and shoudl be ready for the heather!!