We have a wild colony of bees in the eves of the north side of the church. In the summer months you can see large numbers buzzing in and out. We understand there are records of a colony being there for almost 100 years; and probably they have been there a lot longer. They choose a site like this as it is both protected from the weather and they like to fly from shade into the light. They do no harm, and indeed, are very welcome assets to our community.
In 2019, as part of our making the churchyard more wildlife friendly, we bought a beehive log. This was paid for by the CCF and the PCC – 50% each. Beehive logs have been proven to be much more thermally efficient than modern thin-walled hives. Better insulation reduces stress and energy consumption, maintaining warmth during winter; it also helps to prevent overheating in hot weather.
The cavity in the log corresponds to the natural tree cavities’ shape and size that bees naturally use. As a result the heat is usefully concentrated at the top of the cavity during the construction of a new nest. Colonies then are able to build long uninterrupted combs and to sit under their honey stores during the winter; thus avoiding isolation starvation.
The log hives are fashioned from trees blown down in storms or felled when at risk of falling. The log is fitted with a top cover board and rain cover. Bees like to be off the ground, ideally 12-15 ft . Matt Sommerville (the maker of our log) installed it for us and gave a fascinating talk to the village on helping bees in the wild. Giving our bees an ideal residence and not interfering with the colony in any way (including leaving the honey entirely for the bees) means we are likely to be helping the bee population grow and become more resistant to the diseases that farmed bees are susceptible to.
The log was installed with a thatched “hat”; largely for cosmetic reasons but it did also provide additional insulation. As thatches do, it deteriorated over the years and has now been removed. We are looking into a replacement before next winter. Bees began to populate the log within a few weeks of it being installed and has been very active ever since. If you would like further information on bee-logs please see www.beekindhives.uk.
Cathy Evans