Chris Manton

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

Appox. 400kg of Ivy off 235.

1.7kg avg.

Broadly similiar to a crappy heather year! Lot less work too.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@Janis__T @GlenHeathrHoney @calluna4u I think what laurence has done at black mountain honey is pretty cool. I think overall it'll increase interest in the industry and drive sales for nucs and such. It won't appeal to everyone though.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@Janis__T @GlenHeathrHoney @calluna4u I make videos during the season but they tend to be shite and only attract about 300 views. I quite enjoy doing it though but as a money maker it's a non starter.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@GlenHeathrHoney Actually I think it's 10 now. But anyway trying to cut subscriptions where possible

Nothing against x/twitter though by far the best platform IMO

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

Not much going on at the moment. I may cook an egg and follow my 9 month old up the stairs. Very little bee work to note but I am looking forward to nurturing my 12 danish buckfast nucs next season.

Blue tick had to go. Couldn't justify the £8

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

Ivy

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

I'm probably going to start doing breeding work next season (of the bee kind not the human kind - 2 is enough) & will document my progress here on x

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

Bit of an over estimate LOL

More like 10 buckets

Not a great ivy year although 1 or 2 sites have done best part of a super

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

IVY is delayed but has perked up A LOT

I'm predicting a bumper crop. Bees are strong and there's practically NO WASPS so huge nectar up for grabs.

Personally, I'm aiming for 1T off 240.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@calluna4u A bit above average then. Is that what you're seeing?

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

Good to see british honey at a great price for sale at Sainsbury. Only one range though which is a bit worrying. Whats also worrying is the rampant food inflation & honey isn't matching that rate of inflation.

Seemed to be selling well though. 1 picked up while I was browsing.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@GlenHeathrHoney I agree, it negatively affects my mood if I'm being attacked all day.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

Flighy I'm fine with. Grabby and they're gone.

I'm a bit worried about 2nd & subsequent generations losing their positive attributes. Not expecting an easy ride, will probably take 10 years+

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

It's harder than you'd think reducing numbers. Short of petroling them.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

I went from 450 at the start of last season to 320 to the start of this season.

I'm now on.239. It's a deliberate culling process mixed with a sprinkle of complacency & apathy.

The remaining bees are super, though! Most of the angry ones are gone.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@GlenHeathrHoney Of course it's our competitor. Most people view honey as honey and as finances are streached more will move over to the cheaper product.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

40k for a new L200. We paid lass than half that in 2016 for ours.

Are we getting x2 for our honey? No

Honey production is becoming too capital intensive like many other forms of farming.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@GlenHeathrHoney Yeh but ours was a new one.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

This is the start of my queen breeding journey. This I hope will rejuvenate my enthusiasm. I won't be tolerating aggression and swarminess any longer.

12 drone mothers of Danish buckfast heritage. Old galls, 3 years old I think.

Well 11 actually, 1 has been killed already.

[Chris Manton @ElmTreeBees]

@Longsidehoney Did they collect anymore?