Barbara Bradley Bee Farm
BARBARA BRADLEY BEE FARM has been producing delicious honey in the heart of Cheshire since 1990.
It is a small family concern run by Paul and Judith Arthur from their farm near the Cheshire village of Tarporley looking towards Beeston Castle.
Paul has been keeping bees since helping his father as a boy in the early 1950's. In those days keeping bees was very relaxing.
The amount of wild flower forage was abundant and the level of parasites and disease was not as high as the present day. The number of bee colonies living wild in the environment was very high.
BEES EVOLVED 40 MILLION YEARS AGO and reached the British Isles when these islands were connected by a land bridge to the European mainland. Honeybees have never been domesticated being wild insects living in natural cavities.
Ancient peoples discovered that if a container was provided bees would accept this as a home. Thus beekeeping started.
Honey bees remain wild but are now kept in wooden or plastic Hives that can be moved to allow the bees to forage on plants without having to fly far.
It is a small family concern run by Paul and Judith Arthur from their farm near the Cheshire village of Tarporley looking towards Beeston Castle.
Paul has been keeping bees since helping his father as a boy in the early 1950's. In those days keeping bees was very relaxing.
The amount of wild flower forage was abundant and the level of parasites and disease was not as high as the present day. The number of bee colonies living wild in the environment was very high.
BEES EVOLVED 40 MILLION YEARS AGO and reached the British Isles when these islands were connected by a land bridge to the European mainland. Honeybees have never been domesticated being wild insects living in natural cavities.
Ancient peoples discovered that if a container was provided bees would accept this as a home. Thus beekeeping started.
Honey bees remain wild but are now kept in wooden or plastic Hives that can be moved to allow the bees to forage on plants without having to fly far.
BEE COLONIES ARE NOW RARE IN THE WILD due to a parasitic Mite varroa destructor.
Bee colonies need regular treatment to kill the mites to allow the bees to survive.
Any bees which swarm in the wild will die due to the mites and the diseases they spread.
This means that colonies which are vital for pollination, producing seeds and fruit, are now all kept by man. Not tame but kept healthy in hives.
Bee colonies need regular treatment to kill the mites to allow the bees to survive.
Any bees which swarm in the wild will die due to the mites and the diseases they spread.
This means that colonies which are vital for pollination, producing seeds and fruit, are now all kept by man. Not tame but kept healthy in hives.
BEES ARE VEGETARIAN and gather nectar and pollen from plants to feed themselves. Whilst collecting pollen the bees spread the pollen from plant to plant. The value of this pollination or fertilisation is far greater than the value of any honey gathered and is worth many millions of pounds to the country.
BEES STORE HONEY IN WAX HONEYCOMBS built from wax produce oh their bodies. Honey is part of the bee's food. Pollen is the protein, Honey is carbohydrate. Honey is stored in honeycombs for use in the winter when no flowers grow. Excess honey is removed by the beekeeper leaving enough for the bees to survive the winter and start again in the spring when the flowers bloom again.
Honey is entirely natural and the amount of nectar produced by the plants depends on the weather. Good weather is warm with no shortage of moisture. If the nectar is produced abundantly the bees can collect it, but only if they can leave the hive. If it is too windy or wet the bees can't fly to collect food. Production depends on the weather.
Honey is entirely natural and the amount of nectar produced by the plants depends on the weather. Good weather is warm with no shortage of moisture. If the nectar is produced abundantly the bees can collect it, but only if they can leave the hive. If it is too windy or wet the bees can't fly to collect food. Production depends on the weather.
HONEY HAS BEEN VALUED by mankind from the earliest times.
It is a healthy natural food, the production of which enriches the environment as the bees pollinate the flowers they visit.
The taste of the Honey is derived from the source of the nectar.
The wide mix of flavours depends upon the trees, plants and herbs growing in the area around the hives.
It is a healthy natural food, the production of which enriches the environment as the bees pollinate the flowers they visit.
The taste of the Honey is derived from the source of the nectar.
The wide mix of flavours depends upon the trees, plants and herbs growing in the area around the hives.
In Cheshire there is still a great variety of wild plants.
In spring each year we take a number of hives to the local orchards at Eddisbury to pollinate the apple trees.
The hives are there only as long as the flowers are blooming and in the short time do not collect much honey. However while the flowers are open valuable pollination ensures that the maximum crop of apples will grow.
In spring each year we take a number of hives to the local orchards at Eddisbury to pollinate the apple trees.
The hives are there only as long as the flowers are blooming and in the short time do not collect much honey. However while the flowers are open valuable pollination ensures that the maximum crop of apples will grow.
SURPLUS HONEY IS SOLD in liquid or set forms. Set or granulated Honey, is the natural process by which Honey changes from the liquid to the set form.
Comb honey, is honey taken from the hive as it was stored by the bees and is eaten whole.
Comb honey is thought to be beneficial for a wide variety of ailments including hay fever. Honey contains various minerals and enzymes.
It has been used since ancient times for its antibacterial properties. Other products of the hive include Royal Jelly, Propolis, Pollen and Beeswax.
Comb honey, is honey taken from the hive as it was stored by the bees and is eaten whole.
Comb honey is thought to be beneficial for a wide variety of ailments including hay fever. Honey contains various minerals and enzymes.
It has been used since ancient times for its antibacterial properties. Other products of the hive include Royal Jelly, Propolis, Pollen and Beeswax.
To avoid overstocking and to make sure that the bees have enough food too many hives can not be kept in one place.
We make sure that only about ten hives are together in one apiary. With well over one hundred hives this means that the bees are spread over a large part of Cheshire.
Nature and the weather are variable and the hives must be checked regularly for signs of disease and to make sure that the bees have enough food.
This involves considerable travelling and expense on fuel.
We make sure that only about ten hives are together in one apiary. With well over one hundred hives this means that the bees are spread over a large part of Cheshire.
Nature and the weather are variable and the hives must be checked regularly for signs of disease and to make sure that the bees have enough food.
This involves considerable travelling and expense on fuel.
Not all hives gather a surplus over the year and those that do not have enough food to last the winter must be fed sugar syrup.
In the winter all the equipment must be overhauled and any repairs and renewals made.
Hives can be made ready and the bees checked for food at intervals.
All is made ready for the New Year when the weather will be warm and sunny it will only rain at night and the bees will be busy all year visiting carpets of flowers.
In the winter all the equipment must be overhauled and any repairs and renewals made.
Hives can be made ready and the bees checked for food at intervals.
All is made ready for the New Year when the weather will be warm and sunny it will only rain at night and the bees will be busy all year visiting carpets of flowers.
