Drought on the Berkshire Downs

William Woodley, Beedon, Berkshire - 6 September 1906:

"The first necessity at present is a supply of water in districts such as my own, where drought has prevailed for some six or seven weeks. Every pond and water-course is dried up, and I find it as necessary to supply water to the bees as in the spring and early summer months. Our bees are very quiet just now, the long spell of heat and drought has parched everything up. There are no flowers for the bees to visit, in fact, I never remember the fields so bare as they are now, the aftermath of clover is everywhere dried up, not a flower for the poor humble bee except a Scotch thistle here and there in the old leys."

Extract taken from the British Bee Journal. From my research for a book I'm writing about William Woodley: bee-farmer, showman, writer. 🐝🌿💧📖

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