Doug Beard is a beekeeper of 35 years experience based in Essex and taught by the late Ted Hooper. He is a very practical man and makes most of his own equipment.

His talk was very interesting, especially on the subject of spring feeding. The pertinent points are summarised below:

• As a general rule use heavy syrop for feeding (recipe below) except for Spring time
• Always feed in the evening to minimise robbing by other colonies
• If your bees don't take their syrup in the main Autumn feed he has found that usually that signifies a problem in the colony
• Pollen = protein, nectar = carbohydrate. The former is ude for making new bees, the latter for feeding the colony
• In Dougs opinion if you need to feed fondant during winter then your Autumn feeding was inadequate
• The aim in Spring is to get your colonies strong to take advantage of the first nectar flows (often rapeseed)
• Use pollen patties made from Feedbee (commercially available, see recipe below)
• Place the patties on top of the frame bars. You'll need to make a spacer to raise the crown board an inch or so.
• As weather warms use light syrop if needed
• Monitor hive stores by hefting the hives

Recipes

Heavy Syrup

(Makes 2 gallons for Autumn feeding)

• 16lb white sugar
• 8 pints boiling water

Light Syrup

(2 gallons)

• 13.5lb white sugar
• 9.5 pints boiling water

Candy (Fondant)

(1 inch slab 10" x 12.5")

• 5lb white sugar
• 1 pint water

or

• 3lb white sugar
• 2 pints heavy syrup

Dissolve sugar in liquid. Heat to 235 F (soft boil). Cool to 140 F. Beat until milky in colour then pour into baking tray to set.

Pollen Patties

(Approx 2.5lb)

• 1.5lb pollen substitute
• 12 fl oz light syrup