The June gap

It's that time of year again when there's a dearth of nectar and pollen sources, so the honey bees will be relying on their stores they've brought back for the colonies to survive.

In this part of Devon, we've had a good spring for the bees, despite the cold and wet weather earlier in the year. It's always tempting to remove the honey, but with June being a time when there's no food, I prefer to leave their supers on. With the colonies still growing, there will be thousands of new bees needing to be fed.

Honey is the best food, rather than fondant or sugar syrup. It contains a rich source of carbohydrates and proteins. Just like us, bees need a varied diet that flowers provide for them.

And the bees decide what they need. Some flowers are more beneficial in value. Similar to us, a slice of wholemeal bread is much better for us than a slice of white bread!