Norbiton Honey

09/12/2024

We can confirm that a dog chased and attacked a deer in Richmond Park yesterday. Sadly, the deer had to be put down due to the severity of its injuries. This is a deeply distressing incident.

Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and home to around 630 red and fallow deer, which roam freely in this wild landscape. The park is a sanctuary for wildlife, and it is illegal to allow dogs to chase deer. Dog walkers must ensure their pets are under close control at all times. If there is any doubt about a dog's temperament or recall ability, it must be kept on a lead or walked elsewhere.

Additionally, there are specific circumstances when dogs must be kept on a lead, such as during deer birthing season and in clearly marked skylark nesting areas.

Enforcement of park regulations is a matter for the Royal Parks Police, and we will continue to support their efforts in safeguarding the park. This event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible dog ownership in protecting the park’s wildlife and ensuring the safety of all visitors.

16/01/2024

Just to let you know.
Summer '23 honey all gone.
Hope for a good summer this year.

29/07/2023

Gosh. I had not realised how long it has been since I last wrote anything.
As some of you will be aware, due to a complex ankle fracture this summer, I am out of action.
My bees are being looked after by a wonderful friend.
And there will be honey. In due course.

Meanwhile I want to alert you to a serious threat to all UK bees. Honey bees and wild.

The Asian Hornet. Vespa Velutina.
Frequently mis identified in the press with horror stories and the wrong photographs.
This non native was accidentally imported into France some years ago.
It has spread through much of Europe and is now making an appearance in the UK.
We can't now hope to eradicate it.
The best hope is acurate information, observation and reporting sightings to the proper authorities by the public. YOU.

Please download the ASIAN HORNET WATCH app on your phone.
Good ID pictures, both of the AH, and other possibly mistaken insects.

16/12/2022

No pictures of bees or flowers today in this extraordinary cold snap.
But good news:-
I have HONEY FOR SALE in time for last minute shopping!
Card payment preferred.
£8.50 340g. £6.00 227g.

19/08/2022

Sorry everyone.
I am having issues with messager.
So am unable to reply in person just now.

Edit: Sorted now!

18/08/2022

227g jars sold out for now.
More in a week or so.

17/08/2022

Norbiton Honey
Now for Sale!

31/07/2022

11/07/2022

A hot and steamy day spinning the first honey out....needs to be strained and settled before jarring up!

08/07/2022

It won't be long now.........

08/07/2022

09/06/2022

While you wait for my honey this year, you might be interested in the Twickenham apiary honey!
Come early for honey. Sells out very fast.
Come for all the other activities too!

27/02/2022

A sunny day earlier this week.
The girls coming and going.
Bringing in pollen (probably crocus) which you can see on their back legs.
It is usually considered a sign that the queen is going about her business and laying eggs.
The pollen is the protein source, when mixed with honey and enzymes from the worker bees glands, that the larvae are fed .
The bees are probably also bringing in water, needed to dilute the stored honey for their consumption. Look at bird baths, dripping garden taps, plant saucers, anywhere that the bees can land without drowning on a sunny day, and you may see a bee at the edge drinking.
All this is a good sign.
But March is often the cruelest month for overwintered bees.
Supplies running low, and if cold, not good conditions for foraging for nectar or pollen.
So fingers crossed.

01/01/2022

Happy New Year!
Time to update what's going on with Norbiton Honey.
Last year was pretty bad.
I lost all 3 of my hives last March. The weather had been terrible for bees.
Come April I was able to buy a new nucleus ( half size colony with a laying queen).
They multiplied well, and threatened to swarm, allowing me to create a second hive.
Later in the year I picked up a swarm.
But it's not been a good year here for the bees to make surplus stores.
So I left them all their honey for the winter.
I hope that we get a decent spring and summer to come.
Resulting in sufficient honey to sell.
I'll keep you posted.

03/08/2021

As I am unlikely to have my own honey to sell this year. Get along to Twickenham on the 7th.
This is the apiary where I trained and now help with teaching.

Our Twickenham Apiary Honey is in the jars and it will be on sale

This will be sold at the Twickenham Apiary 41 Whitton Road Twickenham TW1 1BH and the 7th August between 13:00 and 16:00 ( If not sold out earlier)
This will be a honey sale only and we will not have any other parts of the apiary open to the public.

The honey will be sold at £8.50 per jar and we will accept card payment as well as cash.

It is unlikely that we will have any more public events this year so this will be your only opportunity to purchase honey

31/07/2021

As I am unlikely to have any honey to sell this year I would recommend getting along to Twickenham &Thames Valley Beekeepers Association 41 Whitton Road on August 7th.
https://www.facebook.com/287046001418091/posts/4032225576900096/

Our Twickenham Apiary Honey is in the jars and it will be on sale

This will be sold at the Twickenham Apiary 41 Whitton Road Twickenham TW1 1BH and the 7th August between 13:00 and 16:00 ( If not sold out earlier)
This will be a honey sale only and we will not have any other parts of the apiary open to the public.

The honey will be sold at £8.50 per jar and we will accept card payment as well as cash.

It is unlikely that we will have any more public events this year so this will be your only opportunity to purchase honey

11/06/2021

As I said last time, I have bees again, and, fingers crossed, they are doing well.
As I've said, Last summer's honey sold out before Christmas. So no honey available at the moment.
My new bees started out as what we call a nucleus, effectively rather less than half the size of a full, high summer beehive.
They have to build their numbers, and store sufficient food in the form of honey, a minimum of 20 kilos, to get them through the winter, before I can consider taking any they produce over and above that.
They may not manage all that growth and excess productivity this season.
So I cannot guarantee that I will have honey to sell.

However, I am a member of Twickenham &Thames Valley Beekeepers, and we hope to have a sale of our honey in a month or two.
I will flag it up here!

24/04/2021

Hooray! I'm a beekeeper again. A small beginning, but it's good to reek of smoke again!