Beekeeping - Short and Sweet

Episode

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  Episode 404: Go With The Flow 09.08.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Brood Breaks, The end of the nectar flow, and the first sighting of wasps in the apiaries. All mean one thing, for me, here in Norfolk, it looks likely the Summer honey production phase of the season is over. Maybe it’s time to turn my attention to extraction. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 404 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Refra...
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  Episode 403: Time For The Splits 02.08.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: July is a great time to make up any splits that you want for overwintered nucleus colonies. For me, I’m taking a slightly different approach this year. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 403 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Old Castle Farm Hives - Six Frame Dual Poly Nuc Thorne Beehives Bailey Board Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books...
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  Episode 402: Hottest Inspections Ever! 26.07.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: It won’t have gone unnoticed that this week has been quite warm! The UK’s Hottest June day ever, set not so far away from me, and, on that day, I had to carry out several inspections. It felt like someone had thrown a bucket of hot water over me while I was wearing my bee suit! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 402 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to pro...
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  Episode 401: Happy Father's Day 19.07.2026 17mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Happy Father’s Day, and, I have a question for you, and it’s one not just for the Dad’s out there. Have any of your colonies become hopelessly queen less this season, more than in previous years? We’ve had quite a number of nucs that have now become hopelessly queen less. Luckily, I’m queen rearing! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 401 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help u...
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  Episode 400: Honey Production Colonies 12.07.2026 19mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Episode four hundred, who would have thought it. And we celebrate by being chased away from the apiaries by some very heavy rain showers. It’s all going to change though as we head into some warmer weather and with it the start of the Summer nectar flow. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 400 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Thorne Beeh...
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  Episode 399: Mind The Gap! 05.07.2026 17mnt

  In this week's Podcast: We're well on our way towards the Summer solstice, now that we're in the month of June and colonies in all apiaries are building well. Nucleus colonies have surprised me over at the fishing lakes, but I've also found a number of colonies that are on a brood break, could this be as a result of the June Gap? Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 399 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and...
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  Episode 398: Queen Rearing Questions 28.06.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Lots of beekeeping happening this week, the weather has cooled, just a little, and I’ve been asked some questions about my preferred method of queen rearing and asked my views on Summertime moving of bees. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 398 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Courses at Thorne ...
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  Episode 397: Heatwave Beekeeping! 21.06.2026 20mnt

  In this week's Podcast: It’s all change, the colder weather of just a week ago has suddenly shifted into a weekend heatwave and that could put beekeepers at risk. Time to be sensible and avoid opening up our bee hives during those very hot periods in the day. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 397 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beek...
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  Episode 396: Slowly Drawn Comb 14.06.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: The cooler weather has definitely caused our colonies to slow down the wax production, that’s had a knock on effect in getting foundation drawn as comb, and the downturn in temperature has also meant grumpy bees! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 396 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Courses at Thorn...
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  Episode 395: Rain Delays Inspections 07.06.2026 20mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Wouldn’t you just know it, on the one day I really needed to carry out some inspections, it’s rained. It was cold, and it just kept raining all morning, the result, next day, yep, swarming! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 395 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Li...
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  Episode 394: Spring Honey Crop 31.05.2026 16mnt

  In this week's Podcast: The weather has been typically Spring like, warmer days, but with chilly nights. The double brood method has worked well in managing Spring growth and the Spring Honey Crop is growing nicely. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 394 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby ...
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  Episode 393 More Swarms and Nectar Flows 24.05.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: It’s been yet another swarmy week with another two collected from my own apiaries. We have a nectar flow at the farm, and I’m using that to draw out more frames of foundation. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 393 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 202...
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  Episode 392: Colony Spring Growth 17.05.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Swarm number two safely collected, and it was a big one! If you’re collecting swarms, always go with a bigger box than you think you’ll need, stay tuned to hear why! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 392 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 2026 Thorne B...
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  Episode 391: April Showers & Cold Inspections 10.05.2026 19mnt

  In this week's Podcast: We’re off and running and in April, that means very changeable weather, intermittent showers, and some chilly inspections days. I had this just yesterday and although the bees behaved themselves, they certainly let you know you’re not welcome. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 391 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies...
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  Episode 390: Spring Stings and Swarms 03.05.2026 19mnt

  In this week's Podcast: My plans for a gentle stroll into Spring were thrown off track this week when I received a call telling one of my colonies had swarmed. It was just the 2nd of April, too late for an April Fool’s joke, and so my season begins! Listen in for the full story and my surprise at feeling my first, new season sting! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 390 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing a...
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  Episode 389: A Cold March Week 26.04.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Well the week of warmer weather has suddenly turned cold and with it, a halt to my early inspections. We’re always busy though and with that in mind, I’ve been back to the workshop catching up on Spring preparations. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 389 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Courses at T...
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  Episode 388: The Excitement of First Inspections 19.04.2026 19mnt

  In this week's Podcast: First inspections, such an exciting moment in the season. An opportunity to have a quick look, at how our colonies have coped with the long winter months. This is just what I did during the week and it was a mixed bag as ever! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 388 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonies For Sale Beekeeping Co...
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  Episode 387: First Spring Inspections 12.04.2026 17mnt

  In this week's Podcast: Early inspections are just around the corner and with it, an opportunity to see how our colonies have fared over the Winter months. If you do take a look, do you know what you’re looking for? Listen in to hear what I think you should be checking out. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 387 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Nucleus Colonie...
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  Episode 386: Shook Swarm & Bailey Comb Change 05.04.2026 18mnt

  In this week's Podcast: As we head into Spring beekeepers will, no doubt, be contemplating various techniques to use on their hives to maximise the seasons honey crop. Techniques such as the Shook Swarm and Bailey Comb Change are useful ways of replacing comb and reducing pests and disease loading in your hive. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 385 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us cont...
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  Episode 385: The Demaree or Split Board Method 29.03.2026 19mnt

  In this week's Podcast: The Demaree method, honestly, I’ve always failed with it, on the other hand, my version using a split board is so much more effective and reliable. An important consideration for me when our seasons can be so short. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 385 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content. Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Li...