Friday 18 March 2016

Newsletter March 2016

Dear Beekeeper

Lots of you came along last month to hear Clive de Bruyn talk about making nucs for different purposes, a collection of well-used boxes were displayed to give us confidence in having a go. He spent a lot of time chatting to members afterwards & enjoyed our hospitality.

Those who came to the Asian hornet workshop at the Bee Barn last week met Diane Steele the new Regional Bee Inspector, it was good to see so many DDBKA faces there; we all took home bottle traps to catch & identify the blighters if they do come. Hornet Queens will be searching for something sweet. They are attracted to Lipton’s peach tea apparently.
They make an initial nest then make another high in trees, looking like a wasp nest only bigger.
The method for making traps can be found on the BeeBase website.

APIARY
Still too chilly for hive opening though if you are like me, you will be keen to know what is happening inside the hives. Pollen is being taken in, a good sign, to feed larvae & my bees are eating a lot of candy. The forecast for March doesn’t get above 12 degrees C, low for bees & the wind is relentless.
So try to be patient, my records show that I didn’t open hives last year till the end of March.

There is a record card for you to adapt & print on our Downloads Page. Very necessary if you have more than one hive!

Do you sell Kentish products? Are you an Artisan producer based in Kent? Are you looking for sales outlets for your products? As part of a trial to support small businesses, Kent County Council Libraries, Registration and Archives can offer you a stall to sell your products at Ramsgate Library.
The trial will run for a limited period between 10.00 – 16.00 on the following upcoming dates:
17,18 &19 March 2016; 31 March,1& 2 April 2016; 14,15 &16 April 2016; 28,29 & 30 April 2016.

Bookings and payments to be made in person, during this trial period, in Ramsgate library but you can register your interest and discuss a provisional booking. Sue Fordham | Area Manager | Dover & Thanet districts | Libraries, Registration & Archives | Sandwich Library, 13 Market Street, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9DA sue.fordham@kent.gov.uk for details

River Fete in Dover is a lovely family occasion where we have had a stall, but sadly cannot attend this year. It is on Sunday July 10th from 11 to 4. Is there anyone who would like to take our place this year, selling honey, showing live bees [always a draw for crowds].
Please let me know asap & I’ll put you in touch with the organisers.

The West Sussex Beekeepers’ Association is again organising a Bee Market and Auction for the benefit of its members and non members with beekeepers attending to buy and sell from a very wide area. The event will take place at Chichester College's Brinsbury Campus in Pulborough, West Sussex on Saturday 23rd April 2016. Auction details, Guidance Notes and the Entry Form can be downloaded from www.westsussexbeekeepers.org.uk/auction.html . The Auction catalogue will be published online after 19th April. For further details contact Graham on email secretary@westsussexbeekeepers.org.uk or phone 01403 752493 Mobile 07761 349281


SUGARWATCH! For those stocking up for spring/autumn feeding, Farm Foods have cane sugar at 39p per kg

Best wishes

Maggie