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Episode 3

Series following Martha Kearney through her beekeeping year. In spring, as the colonies become overcrowded the bees become likely to depart in a swarm with the queen.

Spring has well and truly sprung and the hives are going from strength to strength, but that brings with it a problem of its own - the swarm. As the colonies become overcrowded, the bees become likely to depart in a swarm with the queen, leaving just a few behind to rear a new queen. It's a natural process, but for the beekeeper it can be a disaster, leaving the hive all but empty with little prospect of a harvest of honey.

Martha discovers methods to control the swarms, including clipping the wings of the queen, but she also meets a natural beekeeper for whom wing clipping is horrifying. When one of her hives swarms, Martha's neighbours leap to the rescue and she harvests the first honey of the year.

30 minutes

Clip

Music Played

  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem in alium (Proms 2015)

    Orchestra: The Cardinall鈥檚 Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Martha Kearney
Series Producer Tom Sheahan
Executive Producer Chris Shaw
Executive Producer Emma Read
Executive Producer Clare Paterson
Production Manager Emma Wood
Sound Recordist Tom Curry

Broadcasts