Pollination

Bees help pollinate our apples and pears, and every year we rent hives from a local beekeeper. During a warm spring day when the apple trees are in bloom, the orchard is immersed in the sound of busy insect wings.

Every now and then (despite the best endeavours of the beekeeper) a hive will develop a second queen, and she will depart surrounded by her own entourage. This swarm will find a place to settle. When we find one we alert the beekeeper who will literally knock it into a box.