The end of April already and I have not yet inspected a single colony. So far this year the maximum temperature that I have recorded in Tiddington was just 16ºC - and that only on four days. But it is not just the temperature - windy, damp and overcast days are not really suitable for opening colonies, especially in the spring when they are struggling to build up. Surely the weather must improve soon! Until it does, I intend only to ensure that colonies have sufficient space and food.

The poor weather has held back the rape, with very little sign of any flowers until well into April - very different from recent years and more reminiscent of the 1980s. However, if things do improve soon then we are likely to see some frantic activity, both by the bees and their keepers. Colonies will expand very rapidly and I suspect that we will see fairly high levels of swarming as a result of colonies having been confined indoors so much. All that we can do now is to be ready when (if?) it happens:

• Do you have a plan to control swarming?
• Do you know how to make an artificial swarm? (Ask for help if you need it.)
• Do you have spare equipment ready - that means boxes assembled and frames with comb or foundation fitted?
• Do you intend to rear some queens? May is a good time, but you will need to have equipment ready.
• Will you be ready to extract rape honey, probably at the end of the first week of June?
• I assume that you have stopped varroa treatment - yes?