Our Bees
It all starts with the bees
Our honey begins with the bees that live and forage around Wolfclyde, gathering nectar and pollen from the changing flowers of the surrounding landscape.
Each colony has its own character, its own queen and its own story. We care for them throughout the seasons, always putting the health and welfare of the bees first.
Beekeeping through the seasons
A honey bee colony never stands still. In spring, the queen begins laying in earnest and the colony expands rapidly. By early summer, tens of thousands of bees may be working from a single hive, foraging across the surrounding countryside.
As the seasons change, so does our work. We inspect the colonies regularly through spring and summer, manage swarming, monitor their health and make sure they have the space and stores they need. As autumn approaches, the focus changes to preparing each colony for the long Scottish winter.
Spring
The colony expands rapidly as the queen increases her laying and the first major flows begin.
Summer
Colonies can reach tens of thousands of bees, with workers foraging from dawn until evening.
Autumn
Honey production slows and our attention turns to colony health, stores and preparing for winter.
Winter
The colony clusters inside the hive, living on the stores gathered during the season while we disturb them as little as possible.
Every colony is different
No two colonies behave quite the same. Each has its own queen, temperament and rhythm. Some build rapidly in spring, some produce more honey, while others are noticeably calmer — or rather more determined — when we open the hive.
Learning those differences is part of beekeeping. Regular inspections allow us to understand each colony, spot problems early and make decisions based on what that particular hive needs rather than treating every colony in exactly the same way.
