Welcome to a new and exciting year for both you and your bees. To help maintain the health of your hives, here are some simple yet effective reminders, tips, and ideas each month that will keep beekeeping sustainable for everyone! As an ordinary beekeeper myself who is attuned to the cost of such endeavors while simultaneously entranced by nature's wonders, I am well aware of how the hustle-and-bustle can take its toll on our time-so let us make sure our beloved bees remain happy and productive with minimal effort.

Your bees' resources

While you may assume your hives are well-stocked this time of the year, do not be lured to open the hive for a look. Instead, gently lift up the back end of it slightly and get an idea of its weight-that should give you a good indication as to whether there is sufficient food inside or not.

In addition to the hive's weight, most of the remaining heavy will be honey and pollen supplies. If you're uncertain how much food your bees have stored, put a 1kg or 2.5kg bag of fondant on top of the crown board for peace of mind. Even if they don't consume it that season, keep it in storage because you might save them from hunger later on! To get an indication at winter's end whether any food stores are left over, practice hefting each hive towards autumn. With this process, you'll know for sure when spring arrives if your bees still have some reserves saved

Treatment of varroa, if necessary

Now is the perfect opportunity to learn how to monitor Varroa levels in your bees, if you haven't done so already. Monitoring will help you recognize when it's necessary to treat them—Varroa remains the most significant threat currently facing honeybees in the UK.

To best apply trickle-feed oxalic acid to your hive, separate the boxes rather than lift them off the crown board. This allows for a seamless repositioning of the boxes and will permit them to reseal any gaps under their own weight as you carry out this procedure. The bees currently lack access to propolis that is warm enough for them to effectively fix back into place; therefore, they don't want or need disruption at this time-of-year which could potentially break up their cluster habitation.

With a collective effort, beekeepers should treat Varroa only when necessary rather than administering treatment routinely. In doing so, UK bees may eventually become more resilient or tolerant to mites and learn hygienic habits in managing their populations. Research suggests that within a decade we could be capable of having bee colonies that don't need any treatment at all!

How safe and secure are your bees?

If your apiary is in a secluded area, then strapping and wrapping your hives might be the prudent thing to do. However, most beekeepers can ensure their hives are stable and safe from inclement weather by simply leaving them untouched with only propolis securing the boxes together. But if you're expecting snow or storms anytime soon, make sure to check afterwards that all entrances remain open for easy access and that your hives are still secure.

Inspecting your bees

The most straightforward advice is to avoid opening your hive unless you have to. Watching the entranceway of the hive is how you should inspect your bees' activities. On a bright, temperate day, some of them may leave for cleansing flights. If there are dead bees on the ground below your hive, don't be alarmed; it's natural for older bees to die off during wintertime!

Improve your beekeeping skills

January is the perfect time to set your goals for 2021. How many hives do you want to keep this year? Now's also a great opportunity to renew membership subscriptions and decide which meetings, events, self-learning courses, and training sessions you'll attend in order to stay up-to-date on all that's happening in beekeeping. After all, when it comes down it - teaming up with other beekeepers can be hugely beneficial both for your bees and yourself! Sharing ideas while providing support (and receiving some too) is highly recommended when things don't turn out as expected.

Know your bees

Are you curious to know the temperature at which your bees fly? Those that take off in cooler conditions (under 10°C) have proven themselves hardier than those who don't make an appearance; a characteristic especially helpful when it comes to spring and autumn forage gathering. If you spot any activity, be sure to document the temperatures - your observations could prove invaluable!

As queens become older, it might be expected that they could pass away due to old age during the winter season. If your queen is three years or more in age, take into consideration this likelihood of death and don't feel too guilty if it occurs. Lastly, keep in mind that there won't be many brood members at this moment, and you can anticipate a brief bloodless period early next month.

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