Members AreaBBKA News Archive Magazines BBKA Forum BBKA EC and Office Who we are Executive > Link Trustees Compliance ADM BBKA Constitution Charitable Incorporated Organisation Risk Assessments Meetings and Reports Office Staff Insurance Public Liability Insurance All Risks Insurance Officer Insurance Bee Diseases Insurance Exams and Assessments Exams and Assessments of the BBKA Correspondence courses General Help Membership Classes and benefits Renew Schools Research Members' Resources Asian Hornet FAQs Branch and association resources BBKA Hive keeping record BeeBase Beekeeping Legislation Honey Show Rules & Judges Important Organisations for Beekeepers BeeConnected spray alert Leaflets Lecturers & Speakers RSS Feeds for members Winter Colony Survival Survey '18/19 Members' Events Members' News Feed the bees - NBU WARNING Due to the recent wet and cold weather beekeepers may wish to monitor their colony food levels closely, particularly in any splits, nucleus colonies or colonies where the entire spring honey crop was removed. In some areas of the UK, our Inspectors are concerned at finding colonies that are starving. Feed can be prepared from refined white sugar and water mixed at a 2:1 ratio or one of the proprietary ready mixed syrups available from beekeeping equipment suppliers. More information about mixing up sugar can be found in the Best Practice Guidelines no. 7 found on BeeBase. With dryer and warmer weather however, the blackberry, lime and clover may soon be in flower and colonies should start to bring in an excess crop, so it is also important not to feed unnecessarily and risk adulterating honey with sugar syrup. If you have any questions then please contact your local Inspector. Kind regards, National Bee Unit.