These notes are a personal view of the appropriate timing of tasks for the Stratford-upon-Avon area and relate to my own management style - they are not intended to be a definitive guide!

• Check for stores and feed if necessary

• Check queenright if possible and unite if not - provided colonies are disease free
• Ensure all hives have at least one super, with spares over the crownboard
• Treat against varroa with thymol
• Check for stores and feed if necessary

• Continue thymol treatment until flow starts from rape, then ensure at least two supers on with more spare in the apiary over crownboards

• Brood inspections and swarm control
• Make increase

• Continue swarm control in early part of the month
• Extract rape honey – usually during first or second week
• Requeen colonies for the heather

• Prepare colonies for heather towards the end of the month – remove crop and put on empty supers
• Move to heather at end of month

• Remove crop from remaining colonies
• Start thymol treatment against varroa as soon as supers removed
• Continue thymol through August and early September
• Feed any colonies that are short of food

• Return colonies from heather after 5^th September
• Treat heather colonies with thymol as the supers are removed
• Extract heather honey
• Assess heather colonies for stores and feed if necessary

• Put on mouseguards towards the end of the month

• Treat for varroa with oxalic acid if necessary
• Feed colonies with fondant
• Pick up supers and put into store
• Protect colonies from woodpeckers

• Check security of hives
• Render beeswax
• Repair equipment
• Eat lots of honey!