- 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 1st October 12:30-4:30PM, Steeple Aston
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Recent Blog Posts
- ONBG meeting, March 2023 – new year, new lessons March 9, 2023
- Winter projects November 23, 2022
- ONBG Meeting, October 2022 – 10th anniversary gathering October 9, 2022
- ONBG meeting, June 2022 – Unlearning beekeeping June 27, 2022
- ONBG meeting, May 2022 – A Swarmy Bee Tea at Dee May 25, 2022
- The Sideboard Bees May 11, 2022
- ONBG meeting April 2022 – swarm prep May 5, 2022
- Trends in beekeeping March 6, 2022
- A visit from … December 19, 2021
- Blenheim bees – news article and response November 9, 2021
- ONBG meeting, 1st August 2021 – out-apiaries and TBHs August 7, 2021
- ONBG meeting, July 2021 – Blenheim wild bees July 23, 2021
- Bees at the fete July 11, 2021
- ONBG meeting June 2021 – another Bee Tea at Dee! June 12, 2021
- Drayton beehive on display May 12, 2021
- Lockdown winter projects February 27, 2021
- Book review: Treatment Free Beekeeping, by David Heaf February 9, 2021
- Horizontal hive types January 17, 2021
- Bees Without Borders: conference report November 23, 2020
- Winter is coming November 7, 2020
Tag Archives: Inspections
ONBG meeting, 1st August 2021 – out-apiaries and TBHs
20 of us picnicked at an out-apiary in rural Oxfordshire, to network, observe horizontal Top Bar Hive inspections and discuss the practicalities of out-apiaries. This out-apiary is sited in a corner of a small estate, whose owners are very committed … Continue reading
Posted in Apiary visits, Inspections, Meetings, ONBG, TBH
Tagged Inspections, Mycelium, Out-apiary, TBH
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Top Bar Hives, warts and all
This article first appeared in BBKA News, January 2020. Background Over the 9 years I’ve been using horizontal TBHs (HTBHs), I’ve seen many experiments in design and use. This article is intended to help those considering one find their way … Continue reading
Posted in Experimentation, TBH
Tagged BBKA News, HTBH, Inspections, Low intervention, Non invasive, TBH, Torben Fischer, Warts and all
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ONBG meeting & apiary visit, 30th July 2016
On a lovely calm day at the end of July, 20 of us gathered at Gareth’s place in West Oxfordshire to share a meal and see a large happy apiary. Gareth has not treated his hives for ~5+ years now … Continue reading
Posted in Apiary visits, Inspections, Meetings, ONBG, Warré
Tagged Apiary visits, Inspections, Meetings, ONBG, Warré
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ONBG meeting & apiary visit, 15th May 2016
14 of us met on a lovely late spring day at Carolyn’s home apiary in Fringford. We started as usual by sitting in a ring and introducing ourselves, our experience and where we live – this latter helps people link … Continue reading
Posted in Apiary visits, Inspections, Meetings, ONBG, Swarms, Warré
Tagged Apiary visits, Inspections, Meetings, ONBG, Swarms, Warré
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Hive records – why and how to keep them
Natural beeks often do not conform to many of the practices of more conventional beeks, one example being that intrusive hive inspections are much less frequent. Observations made at the hive entrance and through windows normally provide sufficient information to … Continue reading
To smoke or not to smoke !
I opened up my hive for just the second time this morning. I had my first swam – a cast – around 6 weeks ago. All looked fine through the windows – lots of comb being built & no slowdown … Continue reading
Bees and Biosecurity: Simple measures to control infections and keeping the bees happy.
Trees and Bees, the obvious top bar link. I have been promising to write something up for the blog for a few weeks now. What with the recent furore over Ash Die Back and other tree diseases its been one … Continue reading
Posted in Apiary visits, Books, Ecology, Hives, Honey, Inspections, Meetings, ONBG, Products, Research, Swarms, TBH, Wax
Tagged Ancient Tree Forum, Ancient Tree Hunt, At the Hive Entrance, Bees, bio-secure, bio-security, biodiversity, chalk brood, climatic changes, cross contaminantion, diseases, Drones, Environment, fungal spores, Garden plants, H. Storch, Hives, Inspections, life cycles, Microclimate, nature, OBKA, Parasites, pathogens, pollen, robber bees, smocks, spores, suits, Swarms, TBH, Varroa Mites, vectors, weather
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