Bees that produce Leatherwood honey in Tasmania are being relocated for the cold winter months, to ensure optimal productivity for the hives come springtime.
Around two-thirds of Tasmania’s honey production is produced from leatherwood blossom, a plant endemic to the western forests of the state. The unique honey derived from this area has a distinctive flavour and aroma, the basis of the commercial industry in Tasmania.
The winters in those locations are very harsh and the leatherwood trees are not producing nectar, so the beekeepers came up with a solution – moving the hives to warmer areas in northern Tasmania for a winter vacation.
Tasmanian Beekeepers Association president, Lindsay Bourke, said that the bees are relocated back to the Leatherwood trees on the west coast, in the World Heritage Wilderness Area, for the January-April honeymaking period.
“Keeping the bees healthy during winter is crucial for ensuring the survival and productivity of the colony come springtime,” said Bourke.
Beekeepers from across the area participate in moving the hives over a several week long period, sending the bees to parts of the state that are not so cold. Teena Blair from R. Stephens Honey in Mole Creek, said that it’s currently so cold that some of the hives have snow on them, an indicator that it is definitely time for them to be moved back to warmer areas.
“This time of year, the West Coast and World Heritage Wilderness Area can be extremely cold, and thus Leatherwood trees are not producing nectar,” said Blair.
“So we move the hives to farms in northern Tasmania where we can care for them to make sure they are ready for the coming spring and summer.”
When the hives are returned back from the west coast, critical maintenance is carried out to help the bees survive. Staff make sure the hives have proper ventilation and sheltered locations, and conduct a thorough inspection to check the queen's health, brood pattern, and overall colony strength every 14 days.
“In late autumn, we also make sure the hives have enough honey on them for the bees to feed on during the winter,” said Blair.
“We also take the opportunity to update our hive management database records so the quality assurance data is current.”
