All the autumn jobs completed, all colonies have been treated, fed and are packed for winter. In reality it doesn’t mean much, it’s only a matter of weeks before the winter jobs. Meanwhile we can focus on other tasks such as assembling new frames and cleaning up used equipment.

Merry Christmas! Our winter sale has started with discounts and offers across the range of beehives, equipment and honey. All available at paynesbeefarm.co.uk now and throughout January.

A quick trip down to the new forest to check that batch of bees and then the last few Sussex apiaries on the way back. That’s the January hive checks done! I know it’s February already, but it’s only just 😊

After a few years of being absent from the yearly shows we are back! This is our one and only show for this year so it’ll be a great opportunity to come and meet some of the Paynes team, check out our poly hives and nucs and grab a bargain too. See you at Telford thebeekeepingshow

New electric gates fitted at the bee farm with this beautiful bespoke design. Thanks to Regency Ironworks Ltd for doing a fantastic job.

Crocuses are out in full colour now at the bee farm and looking spectacular. Great to see bees on it too.

Anticipation is building as we prepare for thebeekeepingshow all preorders are packed so now loading the vans and filling the remaining space up with stock.

Fantastic show today at Telford, many thanks to @thebeekeepingshow for hosting such a great show. A big thank you to all our customers. It was great to meet old friends, see new faces and meet up with fellow beefarmers for a good chin wag.

Back to our normal routine of prepping for the coming season. Out checking hives for weight today and moving lots of newly painted and prepared nucs. These will be used for early splits and for queen rearing. We are putting them into locations to hopefully save us time later.

Our wooden supers are getting a new lick of wood paint which will also provide them with another 4 year’s protection. Once painted the apiary code is then stencilled on and what a difference it makes! I can’t believe how fantastic they’ve turned out. One happy beefarmer!

The consumption of stores seems to have increased since our last checks in certain apiaries whilst in others hives are still really heavy and need no additional feeding. This is more noticeable in those colonies that already had fondant on as the packs are almost empty. #bees

Started to move supers to outer apiaries to save time later on. Once it warms up and spring is properly here time is of an essence so any time saving we can do now is a big help. No need for the gym today! #beekeeping #beefarmers #bees #keepingbusy #noneedforthegym #work

New sign for the bee farm! Many thanks to The Sussex Sign Company #beefarm #beekeeping #localhoney #honey #bees #beekeepingequipment #beekeepingsupplies #FamilyBusiness

This apiary is going to look pretty as a picture when all these bluebells flower! Bluebells are a great early spring food source for honey bees and other pollinators. This apiary is next to some woodland which is full of bluebells so plenty of forage for the bees #bluebells #bees

Not much snow here and what there was is fast melting. But it made everything look picturesque for a time #snowday #freezingcold #crocus #feelslikewinter

Bees making the most of the break in between the rain showers. The pussy willow is out in flower and the bees are on it, loads of pollen going in the nucs this morning. #Pollen #bees #spring #beekeeping

A quick peek in a few colonies today, first time this year as finally stopped raining and 14C. Really happy with what we’ve seen. Most of our main hives are now on double brood boxes. #beekeeping #bees #honeybees #queenbee

Bees have really expanded at this nursery apiary over last 2 weeks! Half the apiary are on triple boxes. These queens are from our first batch of grafts last year. Several splits from them last summer, overwintered brilliantly. Happy days. #bees #polyhives #beekeeping #honeybees

Been a slower start to the spring honey season, so far we aren’t finding much honey in the hives. However there’s a couple of apiaries where the stronger hives have made a good start though #bees #honey #beekeeping #spring #nectarflow #honeybees

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Paul Payne on Tuesday 21st May 2024, a much loved husband, father, father in law, grandfather and cousin as well as a smiling friendly face to all our customers and all that knew him. He will be very much missed by us all.