April — Why You’ll See More Bees in April: The Start of the Busy Season

April is the month when bees feel unmistakably present again. On sunny days, you’ll notice
foragers zig‑zagging through the garden, drones emerging, and fruit trees humming. Inside the
hive, the brood nest is expanding, and the colony is preparing for peak spring flows. Here’s
what’s going on and how you can help.
Inside the Hive: Growth Mode

• Brood Expansion: With more pollen arriving (from willow, dandelion, fruit blossom, maple,
  field mustard, oilseed rape in some areas), the queen increases egg‑laying.
• Population Curve: Worker numbers begin climbing towards a late spring peak.
• Drone Production: Male bees (drones) start appearing — a sign the colony is preparing for
  swarm season and mating flights.
  Foraging Patterns in the North East
  Temperature thresholds: Honeybees typically fly more at 12°C+, with sunshine and light winds.
  Microclimates matter: South‑facing walls and sheltered urban gardens can bloom earlier than
  exposed rural sites or uplands. Weather whiplash is normal for the North East.
  Flowers That Fuel April

Fruit blossom (apple, pear, cherry, plum), dandelions, maples & sycamore, flowering currant
(Ribes sanguineum), native bluebells (avoid Spanish bluebell spread), early herbs (rosemary,
thyme, chives).
What You’ll See at the Hive Entrance
Pollen pants on foragers, orientation flights by young bees, guard bees managing busier traffic.
Gentle Advice for the Public
Plant blossom trees; delay regular mowing; make a water station; avoid spraying, and if
essential, spray in the evening and never on flowers.
Beekeeper Corner (For the Curious)
First full inspections on consistently mild days: checking brood in all stages, queenrightness,
space, and disease signs. Space management with supers to relieve congestion. Swarm prep
begins — have equipment ready.
What About Bumblebees & Solitary Bees?
Expect queen bumblebees searching for nests and solitary Andrena emerging. Provide bare,
sunny soil patches, bee hotels with 5–8mm tubes, and early flowers.
North East Notes
Beaches and clifftops can create warmer microclimates; earlier activity in Tyneside/Teesside
versus higher Northumberland. Inland frosts still possible; use frost cloth on tender flowering
plants if needed.