Back to Bees-ness
You may or may not have noticed that things have been a little quieter than usual on my blog posts and social media. Summer came and went in the blink of an eye. With a jam packed summer term of School Bee talks, taking on another client in my Exec Support Business, children at home all summer, AND the start of a huge building project at home; life has been pretty chaotic!
The Summer Buzz
The highlight for me this year, has to be the Bee Talks. So much of my time was spent packing up the bees, loading up my bee bus with all my resources, and hitting the road to visit lots of amazing schools and community groups across the Midlands. I think the tally is close to 1200 children and adult learners so far this year. The response has been incredible.
These sessions are always an absolute joy, its incredible to witness such enthusiasm for all things bees, pollinators and nature. And it is fantastic that so many schools and community groups are looking to engage with nature in their learning. If I can plant even the smallest seed of curiosity about nature and the environment, then I know I'm doing something right. It continues to inspire me to keep thinking big, when it comes to my nature based Bee School pipedream.
Sadly, our summer break and beekeeping season ended with a bit of a disaster, after the wasps destroyed a number of hives. To say I was absolutely devastated is an understatement. A cruel reminder how mother nature has her own plans. The wasps thrived but my bees did not. All I can do know is help prepare my remaining colonies for the colder months ahead, and get busy with preparations to start again next year. I've got lots of jobs in the bee shed to keep me busy.
Looking Ahead
While work in the hives winds down for winter, my attention is turning to cosier months indoors, or in the bee shed working my way down my to do list. We still have so much building work going on a home, so there isn't much cosiness to be had at the moment. But I can get busy cleaning kit, and rendering wax, and stocking up on beeswax candles. I've also had lots of schools already ask if I can revisit them next year. So I'll be working to get my diary filled up again for next year, and start working my way through my plans on some exciting new projects - but more on that soon!
Hopefully I can get my blogging and social media posting mojo back into a nice routine again too. So, if you got this far, thanks for sticking with me.
I wish you all a wonderful cosy autumn, (and fingers crossed my new windows and kitchen will be delivered before Halloween!)