- ONBG (OxNatBees) is an informal mutual support network for beginners and experienced beeks who aspire to practise bee-centric, low intervention, and chemical-free beekeeping in Oxfordshire. To join the group and share ideas, questions, information and experiences, please use this site's Contact Us form.
Next ONBG Meeting
Saturday 9th September, Steeple Aston – Warres, TBHs, feral colonies and preparation for winter
Twitter: @OxNatBees
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Recent Blog Posts
- Lore of the Honey Bee July 30, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 15th July 2017 – a rooftop apiary July 24, 2017
- OxNatBees exhibit at RSA Motivate July 14, 2017
- ‘Inspecting’ your bees – the low-intervention way July 5, 2017
- Neonicotinoids implicated again June 29, 2017
- Summer starvation warning June 17, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 13th May 2017 – swarms and exotic hives June 7, 2017
- Bees in trees May 29, 2017
- The ‘other’ bees: Steven Falk workshop May 22, 2017
- Cob beehive – an experimental top-bar hive adaption May 5, 2017
- Adapting to foundationless frames in a National hive May 2, 2017
- The Bee Meeting: North Tawton and South Leigh April 8, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 1st April 2017 – an emergency cut-out April 4, 2017
- Spreading the Bee Buzz #11 – Starting Beekeeping March 29, 2017
- Two swarms in the same hive: an update March 22, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 12 March 2017 March 14, 2017
- Beginners start here March 2, 2017
- Angry bees February 16, 2017
- Winter forage February 8, 2017
- Calm bees February 5, 2017
Author Archives: brianandfaith
Bees in trees
We were inspired by our visit to Pertwood farm and their support of a traditional honey bee lifestyle. (see here). After reading Jonathan Powell’s guide to tree bee keeping (get here) we thought that Oxfordshire could also host some of this practice. But … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Bees nest in a tree (not quite)
The picture shows an apple tree in the garden next door. Faith spotted the comb after the leaves came down in Autumn 2016. In between seeing it and taking this photo something has been munching the edges somewhat; it was … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Garden plants, Honey bee research, Local lore, Swarms
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Warre hive modification
Following on from the July visit to Gareth’s apiary, has anyone modified their hives? There are 3 stages: add some legs move the entrance up above the lower box add some extra insulation
Posted in Apiary visits, Meetings, Members, Warré, Workshops
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Pertwood farm visit, 13th August 2016
Eight of the ONBG headed to Wiltshire to visit the first tree hive to be setup in the UK. This is at Pertwood farm, a source of excellent muesli. Lower Pertwood Farm is a 2,100 acre farm that has been organic for … Continue reading
Posted in Apiary visits, Books, Hives, ONBG, pollen, Publications, Skeps
Tagged tree hives, Zeidler hive
3 Comments
ONBG meeting, 25th August 2015
10 people came to Brian & Faith’s place in Summertown Main topics covered: Autumn prep, feeding, honey, wax, wasps and badgers Desensitisation courses and stings. 2 or 3 of those present are on, or have completed a desensitisation course; results … Continue reading
Bees adapting to spaces
Problem – our new swarm had lost its queen Solution – Peter gave us a thriving swarm of his Botley bees Problem – they came in a single box approximately Warré width and length but 250 mm deep. My boxes are … Continue reading
