Going to the gym

Although I am one of the madder part of humanity, which spends far too much time in a gym in an unlikely attempt to get fit, the title is not about me, but about the bees. Today two contraptions known as 'bee gyms' came through the post. Various modules are spread out on the square frame where the bees, by climbing through them, scratching past them or rubbing over them, can remove varroa mites. Apparently they like this and will use the gym (although in my humble opinion the gym is more a scratching post than a gym). While I am slightly skeptical, I am also prepared to try anything that might keep the varroa count down. So next time I inspect the hives - first inspection of the year, with pupils, of course! - I will add these little pieces of health equipment.

Parallel bars, wooden horse, frames and scratching areas - all in a bees' gym