- 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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Join 297 other subscribers
Twitter: @OxNatBees
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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: Winter
ONBG meeting, March 2023 – new year, new lessons
Twenty people convened at Gilliane’s to share thoughts on bees, and rather a lot of food. A recurring theme was winter mortality and factors affecting this: weather, hive design and climate change. Greeting and eating Food is a marvellous social … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Experimentation, Hives, Meetings, ONBG, TBH, Warré
Tagged climate change, ivy, Winter, Wireless
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Lockdown winter projects
Have you ever wondered what beekeepers do in winter? My own strategy is to try and eat my own weight in honey. Others are more industrious. Here are a few examples our group has shared over lockdown.
Winter is coming
The Winter Cycle It’s getting cold at night – time to fit mouse guards! You may see dark stains or frost on landing boards early in the morning – this is the humid breath of the hive condensing as it … Continue reading
Winter survival surveys show ‘treatment-free’ works
Each May OxNatBees surveys our members for information on winter losses. This graph shows losses year by year, compared with other surveys. The stand-out point is that our losses for untreated hives populated by local bees (blue “ONBG” line) are … Continue reading
Posted in Members, ONBG, Pests, Research
Tagged Beeinformed, overwintering, Survey, Winter
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Spreading the Bee Buzz #10 – Surviving Winter
The latest in our series on beekeeping for a village magazine – written for non-beekeepers, and to suit the broad range of ages and knowledge among the readers. Over winter insect life disappears from our gardens. The frosts have killed … Continue reading
Observations with an Infrared Camera
The seasons are turning: we have days of fireworks and poppies, of squirrels skittish on ripe conkers, and clock-hours turning back. I worry about the bees. As I walk, misty-breathed beside the Thames, I think of them huddled together in … Continue reading
Posted in Experimentation, Hives, TBH, Technology
Tagged heat, infra-red, Insulation, overwintering, TBH, temperature, thermal, Winter
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Spreading the Bee Buzz #6 – Spring cleaning
Below is the latest in our series on beekeeping for the village magazine. Having covered the basics last year, with an article every 2 months, we’re now going into things in a bit more detail, but still writing in a … Continue reading
Oxfordshire Natural Beekeeping Group 
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