This evening there was thankfully a break in the atrocious rain for Hannah & Gil to return to the hives. In fact the bad weather has meant that the small hive haven't actually lost much chance of foraging while they've been shut inside - as we weren't able to make any fondant to feed them.
We were totally unsure as to whether the small colony would have survived their latest trauma.
However - when we removed the cover and lifted out the 'holy follower board' - sure enough there were bees climbing out of the hive from both sides. We had been told of other beekeepers attempts at merging colonies resulting in pairs of bees attacking each other in midair, but there seemed to be no animosity between any bees at all.
Fingers crossed, we do seem to have managed it - of course the only way we will really know is by finding dead bees in and around the hive next visit, but we think that's unlikely.
Our next adventure will be making some sugar fondant to feed them through the winter (or Autumn if this rain continues much longer)
Poor Pudsey Bees
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