Cloudforest One, Lahinch
Return of the bees!
We were so sad when our first hives failed on Cloudforest One last year, and we knew we wanted to make sure they thrived when they returned.
We’ve found a new beekeeper, Hergen, who builds his own hives based on Layens and National frame hives, and over the last few months he has gradually reinstated the native Irish Honey Bee population in our Cloudforest One forest, a designated NIHBS conservation area.
Buzzing along nicely!
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Buzzing along nicely! 〰️
May 2023
Unfortunately last year we lost the bees in our Cloudforest One hives. So we were delighted to be introduced to a fantastic local beekeeper Hergen Bayer, who’ll be introducing his handmade National-style hives and his native Irish honey bees to our Cloudforest One site.
Hergen spent time crafting the hives throughout April and May, and will transfer them to the site at the most suitable time.
June 2023
The hives are installed on-site, ready and waiting for the bees. Hergen brought the bees down in their NUCs a few days later. Storms and bad weather delayed the rehoming slightly, but they were settled in nicely by the end of the month.
Hergen is working on Building his Layen-inspired hives over the winter, and will be bringing them to our Orchard in Cloudforest One in 2024.
September 2023
Unfortunately, we’ve lost one of our smaller hives - with all the rainy weather the girls just didn’t get out to forage enough. Kim popped up to watch Hergen feeding the remaining hives that need a boost, so they’re in the best possible shape going into winter. Have to say, that fondant pack looked quite tasty!
We also sat down to a delicious treat collected from one of Hergen’s more established hives on another site, some amazing raw honey that went down an absolute treat with fresh Brennans bread and real Irish butter!
