Thursday 23 November 2017

Newsletter Nov 2017

Dear Beekeeper

Thanks to all who entered & attended the Honey Show at Shepherdswell last month.
Chris has sent a note appreciation & a list of the 2017 results to members with the emailed Newsletter. A great turnout for the new venue, considering the weather, but we need more set honey entries next year, please - more everything really!

Winter approaches. Your bees, which worked so hard for you in the summer, should now be well-fed & tucked up in their hives with a mouseguard or low entrance at the front & protection from woodpeckers around the exposed woodwork [or polystyrene - vulnerable too!]

Check every so often that your hives are safe from strong winds, animals, vandalism, etc and that entrances are clear. Otherwise, they should be left alone till you decide on a varroa treatment in early January. That will give an opportunity to briefly check that the bee cluster has accessible food. 


Thank you:
DDBKA owes a vote of thanks to Allyn Thomas who has re-roofed the apiary shed & fitted it with gutters & a water butt. It should now be serviceable for another few years. Well done!

Annual General Meeting
The year draws to a close & it’s time for the AGM.
Members will have received with the Newsletter the minutes of the 2016 AGM and an agenda, plus the accounts from the Hon Treasurer.

ELECTIONS
All the association offices will be up for election at the AGM.
It is important to broaden the pool of members willing to take on responsibilities, so please, if you're a member of DDBKA, do not be shy about standing - your contribution is needed.
But please note: Only Registered members can be nominated & hold offices.

If nominating some-one, please check in advance whether your nominee is willing to stand.
Each nominee needs a proposer and seconder.
You can nominate yourself if you wish to take a role, but still need a proposer and seconder. Associate members may nominate and vote, but cannot stand.
Please phone or email nominations to the Hon Secretary before the AGM as she will need to prepare ballot papers in the case of any contested elections.
Most post holders are willing to stand this time, but that doesn’t prevent posts being contested.
As you see, we need a Vice Chair; Jean stepped in & served well for 2 years, many thanks to her.

Think of a member who gives regular help to DDBKA, maybe with catering, demonstrating, mentoring, giving advice, helping at the apiary etc. Ask if they’d like to join the committee, get them nominated!

Office
Current holder
Remarks
Chair
Dick Bunting
willing to stand again
Vice Chair
Jean Mozley
retiring
Secretary & Membership Secretary
Maggie Harrowell
willing to stand again
Treasurer
Philip Nicholson
willing to stand again
Show Secretary
Chris Holdstock
willing to stand again
Examinations  Secretary
Jackie Thomas
willing to stand again
Training Secretary
Mary Hill
willing to stand again
Delegate
Peter Crow
willing to stand again

Consider also if you might like to become a mentor to a beginner,  loan a hive as a beginner [only 2 left!], host a summer meeting, go on the 2018 swarm collectors list.

This month’s meeting – the last of the year

Saturday 25th November at 2:30 p.m. at Alkham Village Hall CT15 7BU

·         Any outstanding library books to be returned please.

·          Tea [£1] and raffle as usual.

·          Following requests from members, we will have a small sale table at indoor meetings. Bring along any redundant/surplus equipment you’d like to sell or pass on to others.

·         Please try to bring a small contribution to the refreshments to give an early festive feel.

 
Hope to see you there,
Best wishes,
Maggie

Thursday 9 November 2017

Newsletter October 2017

Dear Beekeeper
Your bee colonies should now be well fed & have decent stores to see them through the winter. The sunny weather has seen them flying & active, but nights can be chilly & they will be clustering. 

I will be reversing my brood + a half boxes soon to put the full super box underneath. This leaves the brood mainly at the top, well-placed for the January varroa treatment of Api-Bioxal [an approved varroacide].

Mouseguards can be put on entrances & woodpecker protection added around the hives. You can purchase wraps to protect the hives or try chicken wire around them.

News of Beginners’classes in the spring 2018
Rob Philpott will run the DDBKA beginners’ course in a new heated workshop that is now near completion at his home address right next to their apiary in Temple Ewell.
A copy of the application form and timetable is available HERE; the course covers 6 weekly evening sessions in February & March 2018, covering all aspects of bee society & management through the season.

Best wishes.
Maggie.

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Honey Show Announcement


THE DOVER & DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL HONEY SHOW AND COMPETITION

is to be held in the

Shepherdswell Village Hall
Cox Hill, Shepherdswell, Dover
CT15 7N

on

Saturday 21st October 2017 at 2.30 pm
Trophies to be presented at approx. 3.15 pm
 
ENTRY IS FREE
HONEY AND BEEKEEPING-RELATED ITEMS WILL BE ON SALE
 
COMPETITION ENTRIES WELCOMED FROM NON-MEMBERS
 
 

Monday 25 September 2017

Newsletter September 2017

Dear Beekeeper
 
Tremendous thanks to Steve & Linda Boyce for their hospitality at the August meeting on Romney Marsh. Not that easy to find, as I discovered, but a lovely spot for bees. A car load of beekeepers from Walmer never actually made it - forced to seek refreshment! It was hot & the 27 hives were all active, one was defensive. 
We removed the full frames for Steve to extract, lucky man. Thanks to all, especially those who brought food.
 
Kay Wreford, our Seasonal Bee Inspector, explained why certain beekeepers were inspected more than others, on the traffic light system:
Green:   left alone unless request a visit, probably rural & isolated
Amber:  still almost under the radar as not in areas of previous infections
Red:       yearly visit, near docks/port, a likely point of entry for Asian hornet, small hive beetle.
But inspectors will come if requested by a beekeeper.
 
 
Disease Alert: EFB identified again within 3 km of Nonington - make sure you're registered on BeeBase for alerts.
 
This month in the apiary:
Varroa treatments should be removed by now & concentrated feeding should aim to be done by the end of this month. Use strong sugar syrup [1kg white sugar to 630ml of water] or Ambrosia syrup. 35-40lb of stores is recommended for a normal sized colony.
The queen excluder can be removed as bees use the space as they wish.
Depending on the weather I’ll let mine go a bit longer to see how much ivy nectar they bring in, that’s their preference after all. But many beekeepers find ivy honey a nuisance as it sets very hard & the bees never seem to eat it all. You may be left with frames needing to be melted down next spring.
 
DDBKA Honey Show!
October 21st Shepherdswell Village Hall 2:30 pm (note the new venue for this year)
I hope you have had time to look at the 2017 schedule & see what you’ll enter. Personally I have no honey left after a poor summer season & local demand, so will try harder with wax & confectionery! 
So choose your best jars, make sure they are clean & clear & the right weight & go for it! 
And do remember that members can enter open as well as members’ classes.
The wax classes are a steep learning curve, but very satisfying, also mead making.
The closing date for entries is 14th October. Chris will send you the stickers in the s.a.e. which you must enclose with your entry form. 
Confectionery entries don’t have to be made with your own honey – it may be your first year!
Read the regulations carefully. They may seem picky, but it leads to fairness for all.
 
This month’s meeting:
The last outdoor meeting of the year!
Saturday 30th September at the DDBKA out-apiary CT15 4AD 2:30 p.m.
It is along the Shepherdswell Road, near Eythorne as you head towards Shepherdswell, on the left, Parking in the next field. 
  • Mary will work with beginners; she may discuss equipment & tools with the group. Others will demonstrate at DDBKA hives. 
  • Each hive will have its stores assessed & counted for the winter, 3lb for a full super frame, 5lb a full brood frame. Feeding of Ambrosia to start if not already started. DDBKA has 3 English feeders & 2 budget wooden feeders. The poly hive has its own feeder.
  • Bring clean suits, wellies & rubber gloves. Bring glasses if you wear them! We will have suits to borrow for beginners & observers.
  • Return your Library books & choose another.
  • Tea [£1] and raffle as usual. Bring your own mugs!

Hoping for fine weather!
Best wishes,
Maggie.

Monday 14 August 2017

Newsletter August 2017

Dear Beekeeper

What a strange July meeting! Too wet to bother the bees, yet 55 people turned up to chat, stand in a field or under a gazebo & think about bees. Amazing! Thank you all, especially those who brought food.

A disappointing summer honey crop seems to be my lot, as well as many of you. The dry weeks followed by what we have now, wet, windy & cool, have made the bees stay at home & consume what little they had. 

So the need now is for treatment against varroa mites and making sure the bees are settled for winter. There will probably be an influx of stores in September when ivy flowers come out, much loved by bees for their abundant nectar & pollen.


The National Bee Unit has issued a warning re high varroa mite numbers.
We have Apiguard varroa treatments for DDBKA members @ £1.75 per tray. You need 2 trays per colony, plus an eke or shallow box, so get yours at the August meeting.
This link shows how to apply Apiguard for those who have not used it before:
http://www.vita-europe.com/products/apiguard/#HowtouseApiguard

Don’t forget to put in an insert & count the mite drop weekly & divide the number by 7 to find the daily drop. Over the 4 week period it is reputed to be 93% effective, numbers should decrease after an initial high drop. Clean the insert between monitoring counts.

We also hope to have Ambrosia bee syrup for sale to members at this month's meeting.

Apiary Wednesdays
Dick & Peter’s Wednesday 6:30 pm sessions at our Eythorne out-apiary CT15 4AD are successful & busy, people needing a problem solved, hands-on experience, or some equipment.
Beginner members are especially welcome.
Dick now has a blog which you can check to see if a session may be cancelled due to poor weather, check from 3pm on the day:
http://eythornebees.wordpress.com


This month’s meeting
Saturday 26th August at Steve Boyce’s apiary on Romney Marsh at Marshlands, TN29 0PY.

Steve has now put all his bees into polystyrene hives, a real enthusiast for bee health in these hives. He will convert you, or try to! There is a purpose-built apiary which he has created giving shelter from the marsh winds.

Steve has also arranged a visitor; Kay Wreford [bee inspector] will be there to go through with us what an inspector does & is looking for, when they come & inspect our hives, to make us less nervous!

To get there, consider a car share. The route obviously depends on your starting point, but once you arrive at Marshlands, there is a turning between 40 & 42 which leads to the apiary.
Bring clean suits, wellies & rubber gloves. Bring glasses if you wear them! We will have suits to borrow for beginners & observers.

Return your Library books & choose another.

Tea [£1] and raffle as usual. To save a lot of carrying, please can you bring a small contribution of food to share at this meeting, DDBKA can provide tea & coffee. Bring your own mugs!

I hope you come along; it is very useful to see other apiaries.
Best wishes.
Maggie.

Tuesday 18 July 2017

Newsletter July 2017

Dear Beekeeper
 
Colonies should now be at their peak numbers to collect nectar for the usual summer flow.
To that end members have been uniting small colonies and spare nucs to achieve a maximum gathering population. 
 
Some of the uniting has been forced due to instances of laying workers or drone-laying queens.
These two problems have the same result if left – a colony full of drones & little else – doomed!
 
Laying workers can develop when a colony has been queenless for over 3 weeks.
Laying workers show multiple eggs in worker cells leading to lumpy, distorted comb. To rectify, shake the entire colony off the combs at a distance from the hive; unite the ones which fly back to a good nuc or small colony.
 
A drone-laying queen is viable, but useless & must be killed & replaced. She may have been poorly mated.
 
Varroa Mite
The National Bee Unit has issued a warning re high varroa mite numbers.
We have purchased Apiguard varroa treatments for DDBKA members @ £1.75 per tray.
You will need 2 trays per colony, so come & get yours at the July meeting.  You will also need an eke or shallow box to allow space for the tray above the brood after you have taken off your honey crop. It is essential that you treat your colonies against this constant problem, whether with Apiguard [a thymol treatment] or an alternative.
 
Apiary Wednesdays
Dick & Peter’s Wednesday 6:30 pm sessions at our Eythorne out-apiary CT15 4AD are successful & busy; members needing a problem solved, hands-on experience, or some equipment.
Beginner members are especially welcome.
Dick now has a blog which you can check if a session may be cancelled due to poor weather, check before 3pm on the day: https://eythornebees.wordpress.com/
 
International Meeting of Young Beekeepers
The BBKA report that the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB), held recently in England, was a big success. It was reported on BBC Radio 4 Farming Today [before 6 am!] but can be accessed via this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08x4rdq
It will also be covered on BBC1's Countryfile on July 23rd 7pm.
 
Wasps and Hornets
More things to worry about! An Asian Hornet nest has been found in Jersey. Wasps are becoming evident here. Also hive thefts in Sellindge. Stay vigilant! Get your wasp/hornet traps out.
 
This month’s meeting
Saturday 29th July at Beech Grove, Forest Drive, Nonington CT15 4FB.
  • There is a purpose built apiary with Langstroth hives, very interesting to see, in a woodland setting. Bring clean suits, wellies & rubber gloves. Bring glasses if you wear them! We will have suits to borrow for beginners & observers.
  • Tea [£1] and raffle as usual. All refreshment monies will go to our hosts, the Bruderhof community, who provide lovely food & friendly hospitality.
  • Return your Library books & choose another.
I hope you come along, it is very useful to see other apiaries.

Best Wishes.
Maggie.

Wednesday 21 June 2017

Newsletter June 2017

Dear Beekeeper
 
I hope all the Registered Members received their 2017 BBKA membership cards with the June copy of BBKA News. It is a peel-off card on the address sheet.
If you haven't received it, please contact me.
Look after it! Your membership number is on for future reference.
 
The phone calls regarding swarms seem to have eased off a little, but some calls went unsatisfied as beekeepers ran out of equipment to accommodate swarms. If you have agreed to be on the swarm collection list, remember that swarms are collected for the general good; to help the public & enhance the reputation of beekeeping, not just for your own apiary.
 
One of our far-flung members, Del Warden from Petham, has been busy; he collected 6 swarms from one garden in Chilham in the space of 3 weeks! Is this a record?! 
 
As stated last month, prevention of swarms can be achieved by weekly inspections & keen eyes.
 
The apiary at Eythorne has flourished, being a source of hands-on experience & lately of honey. Approx 80 lb of honey has been taken, plus some baker’s honey melted out from last winter’s stores.
Dick will have some at meetings to sell to members & visitors who may not have any yet.
 
Let me know if you are still looking for bees to populate your hives or to get started.  
 
GOOD NEWS!!
Two of our members, Mick Delieu & Charles Barnick underwent the BBKA Basic Assessment earlier this month & both passed. It is a practical & oral examination & the first step to any qualifications. Well done to them both, and to Mary for her coaching!
 
Dick & Peter’s Wednesday 6:30 pm sessions at our Eythorne out-apiary CT15 4AD are proving successful & busy, bringing together members needing a problem solved, hands-on experience, or some equipment to loan.
They make beginner members especially welcome, so use it as a drop-in or however you wish.
 
The National Bee Unit has issued a warning re possible starvation of colonies after honey has been extracted or a colony has been split. Feed syrup [2:1 white sugar to water] if you are concerned.
 
This month’s meeting CHANGE OF VENUE
 
Due to circumstances beyond our control & that of the Bruderhof community, we are swapping the June & July meetings. July 29th will now be held at Beech Grove, Nonington.
 
Saturday 24th June at the DDBKA out apiary at Eythorne Court, Shepherdswell Road, Eythorne CT14 4AD 2:30 p.m.
It is along the Shepherdswell Road, in Eythorne as you head towards Shepherdswell, on the left, near a black wooden building. We park in the next field. If you are a new member or visitor, please make yourself known, we get busy! 
  • Mary will work with beginners, & other pairs will demonstrate at the club’s hives, the progress of colonies can be followed each month & compared with your own. Bring clean suits, wellies & rubber gloves. Bring glasses if you wear them! We have suits to borrow for beginners & observers.
  • Return your Library books & choose another.
  • Tea and cake [£1] and raffle as usual. Bring your own mugs!!!! 
I hope you will be able to come along & that the weather stays fine.
 
Best wishes
Maggie

Wednesday 24 May 2017

Newsletter May 2017

Dear Beekeeper

60 or so beekeepers & visitors came to the first apiary meeting (April), including three new members. 

The sight that greeted early arrivals was a large swarm on a low branch resting on the fence – an ideal collection position! They were soon boxed up safely. Later it was discovered they had come from the top bar hive. Many Q cells were removed, leaving a choice one to take over.

Mary showed beginners how a hive & colony begin to build in the spring.
She wishes to remind you that leather gloves are difficult to clean so, if used, need to be covered by disposable latex gloves. However, rubber gloves are the preferred alternative (e.g. Marigolds).

May has proved to be a very swarmy month so far. Dick, Roy & Brian have been all over, others too. As beekeepers we need to be aware of how to prevent swarms. It is not a matter of simply destroying Q cells as you will be sure to miss one & they will certainly try again. 
If you see Q cells, first make sure the Q is still there & find a way to separate her from the colony in an artificial swarm or nuc box. Many beekeepers don’t seem to have enough spare equipment! If you have hives then you will need a couple of nuc boxes, at least, to accommodate the summer increase - it’s what bees do!
If the Q has gone, then you have lost half your colony & possibly caused nuisance to neighbours.

So do weekly inspections.
The rape flowers are over, so get the rape honey extracted asap, as soon as it starts to be capped - it can set hard in the combs if left.

Equipment Loans
Loans of our equipment to DDBKA members [only] are now being managed by Eric Cattell who lives in Shepherdswell - many thanks to him.
We have a 9 frame radial honey extractor and a couple of 4 frame tangential extractors, all manual.
Also 2 solar wax extractors to melt out solid honey/old comb, plus a couple of refractometers.
Honey Extractors will be loaned for a maximum of 3 days at a time due to demand and must be thoroughly cleaned before return.
Contact Eric on his mobile or by email (not on his home landline number) - see Maggie's email to members dated 19 May for full contact details.

Wednesday Afternoon Apiary Sessions
Dick and Peter’s Wednesday 6:30 pm sessions at our Eythorne out-apiary have been successful so far, bringing together people needing a problem solved, more hands-on experience, or to borrow some equipment. [NB. If you do borrow anything (or have done recently), please make sure you phone or email Eric Cattell with details.]
They want to make beginners especially welcome, so do use these sessions as a drop-in or however you wish.

This month’s meeting
Saturday 27th May at the DDBKA out apiary at Eythorne Court, Shepherdswell Road, Eythorne CT14 4AD 2:30 p.m. It is along the Shepherdswell Road, near Eythorne as you head towards Shepherdswell, on the left, near a black wooden building. We park in the next field. If you are a new member or visitor, please make yourself known, we get busy!
  • Mary will work with beginners, & other pairs will demonstrate at the club’s hives, the progress of colonies can be followed each month & compared with your own. Bring clean suits, wellies & rubber gloves. Bring glasses if you wear them! We have suits to borrow for beginners & observers.
  • Return your Library books & choose another.
  • Tea [£1] and raffle as usual. Bring your own mugs!!!! (By the way, did anyone pick up my yellow mug with a bee painted inside???)
I hope you will be able to come along & that the weather is fine.
However, I'm afraid I shall not be at the May meeting as DDBKA has a stall in Canterbury Cathedral gardens on Sat 27th [11-4pm] & Sun 28th [2-5pm]. Come along to that on Sunday if you can!
 
Best wishes.
Maggie

Monday 24 April 2017

Newsletter April 2017

Dear Beekeeper
 
Last month we had around 80 members & friends to our meeting addressed by Derek & Elaine Mitchell on the topic of hives & heat loss. Great to see visitors from other associations!
He is the scientist, she the beekeeper. An afternoon of concentration followed with many graphs, but his message was clear, bees need insulation all year round to efficiently maintain their ideal temperatures. He showed his hives made from thick Recticel insulation board, solid floors, which colonies inhabited all year, cooling as required in the summer.
The infra red pictures of winter heat loss from Nationals & polys showed their inefficiencies. 
Warm & humid conditions are best for honey bee eggs & larvae. If relative humidity is over 80% varroa mites cannot breed! He looked for conditions as like a hollow tree as possible.
Search for this address for more information on this: eigentek.com/paper.pdf
 
 
I hope everyone has cleaned up their hives & checked thoroughly for the presence of the Q, brood, larvae & eggs. Also look for how much stores the colony has. Nectar is coming in fast from rape fields & you need ample room for the bees to store & process it down to below 20% water.
Weekly inspections are needed now. 
Several reports have come in about Q cells developing, the season is early due to the warm spell of weather. 
I had 2 weekends away, so left my bees for 12 days, found sealed Q cells on return. Fortunately the Q was still there so swarm control was possible: 
She was removed with the frame she was on, a frame of food & one of brood + 2 frames of foundation in a nuc box to home. The bees were released at dusk & are now being fed with syrup. 
Hopefully the open Q cell left in the original colony will develop in time to head them up in a couple of weeks. Another day would have seen them swarm, causing nuisance & loss of 50% of my honey gatherers!
Old, dirty or damaged frames should be moved to the back of the colonies to be replaced, 3 a season is a minimum. If they contain brood, move just a step backwards, but never split the brood nest.
 
Here you can download a hive record sheet which you can adapt to your needs.
Once you have more than one colony it is so easy to muddle them up! I know.
 
Members: Please let me know if you are looking for bees to populate your hives this Spring or to get started.
 

Apiary Management:
As you may know Dick Bunting and Pete Crow have taken over management of the Association apiary. 
Dick tells me say they are planning “Apiary Wednesdays”, when all members are welcome to come along at 18.30 each Wednesday evening to carry out hive inspections and other work that needs to be done, like artificial swarms, making up nucs, scraping and scorching hive parts, frame making and the like. This, they think, will be useful for beginners and less experienced beekeepers.
It will also be an opportunity to talk through problems with others, and generally socialise. Hopefully if we get a good mix of experience and newer beekeepers we will make light work of things.
The usual rules re clean beesuits and wellies will apply.
Leather gloves are discouraged, but if you must wear them they should be covered with Nitriles.
Dick will say more on this at the April meeting.
In the meantime we have a new Poly hive, and also a Langstroth with plastic foundation so that members can see these in use and consider if they might want to consider them. Our thanks are due to Patrick Murfet at Bee Equipment Ltd who supplied it free of charge. 
 
This month’s meeting  

  • Saturday 29th April at the DDBKA out apiary at Eythorne Court, Shepherdswell Road, Eythorne CT14 4AD 2:30 p.m. It is along the Shepherdswell Road, near Eythorne as you head towards Shepherdswell, on the left, near a black wooden building. We park in the next field. If you are a new member or visitor, please make yourself known, we get busy!
  • Mary will work with beginners, & other pairs will demonstrate at the club’s hives, the year has started early, but the progress of colonies can be followed each month & compared with your own. Bring clean suits, wellies & rubber gloves. We have suits to borrow for beginners & observers.
  • Return your Library books & choose another (members only!)
  • Tea [£1] and raffle as usual. Bring your own mugs!
I hope you will be able to come along & that the weather is fine.
 
Best wishes.
Maggie.
 
 

Saturday 25 March 2017

Newsletter March 2017

Dear Beekeeper

Kay Wreford, our seasonal bee inspector, gave a very interesting talk last month, informing & alerting us to 2 pests which might come here, Small Hive Beetle & Asian Hornets.
Keep alert! Get hornet traps out to catch possible queens.

So far so good with bees here; it is time to remove mouseguards & woodpecker protection. The weather has been unexpectedly mild; bees have really woken up & started exploring. 

Not much nectar as yet, but fields of oil seed rape near me are near to flowering. A good-sized population of bees will be needed to take advantage of a crop that bees love for nectar & pollen.

If you have concerns about the stores your colonies have left, then change from fondant to liquid syrup, it will encourage the Q to increase her rate of laying & is easier for the bees to take down.

Use syrup made with white sugar & water, 2lb: 1pint [1kg: 800ml].

Inspections
Use the next window of good weather [approx. 15C] to open the hives; take a clean empty brood box with you, scrape the floor of your first hive, & put all the frames from the first hive in the clean box, in the same order. Place that on the clean hive floor, add a super & Q excluder if needed, then thoroughly clean the used brood box before moving along in rotation, scraping & blow torching as you go.
Look for signs of varroa too; a member was anxious after a mite drop of 4 or 5 a day.

Let me know if you want to join or leave the list of swarm collectors & were not at previous meetings. Only registered members can be on the BBKA list, organised on a post code basis to find the nearest available person.

Also, tell me if you are looking for a mentor as a new beekeeper for 2017, or to loan a National hive for your first year of beekeeping, to save expense.

Remember that DDBKA Membership will also enable you to borrow honey extractors in the summer; also we have 2 solar wax extractors to lend as other bits & pieces. We hope to offer members reduced rates on varroa treatments in August as well as Ambrosia as an autumn bee feed.

Management of the Eythorne Apiary
Dick Bunting & Peter Crow have kindly offered to take over the running of our Eythorne out-apiary.
They are grateful for the offers of help from members via the membership forms.
Volunteers will come along to organised sessions, Dick & Peter want to make beginners especially welcome, & plan some changes at Eythorne.

Thank you too to the team which is busying itself each month to provide teas for our meetings, very necessary; Mavis, Pam & Maggie were a hard act to follow!

At last, after a lot of reminding & chasing, our capitation list has gone off to BBKA. We now have over 100 registered members this year. Thank you all.

We have been contacted by an estate in St Margaret’s Bay offering space for a couple of hives on 12 acres of garden & woodland. Please let me know if this interests you.
Obviously experience is necessary, but the estate manager is willing to assist & learn.

This month’s meeting

Saturday 25th March at Alkham Village Hall CT15 7BU 2:30 p.m.

Our speaker is Derek Mitchell, a well-known lecturer who has addressed the Spring Convention in the past on this subject: Heat, heat loss and honeybees. We are fortunate to have him as a speaker on a subject which should interest everybody.
Members from other Associations have shown interest in attending too.

Tea [£1] and raffle as usual

I hope you will be able to come along.

Best wishes,
Maggie.

Friday 17 February 2017

Newsletter February 2017

Dear Fellow Beekeeper

As I write, our bees are still quiet, the weather is cold, but mild days will bring them out to visit the snowdrops & crocuses you have planted for pollen. 
Continue with fondant if you have started - early March is the colony’s most vulnerable time to succumb to starvation. 
New brood should appear soon, but there are fewer winter bees to care for it. 
Check your equipment; the season will be here before you know it!


DDBKA Membership:
Thanks to the many who have already paid their 2017 subscription, either at the January meeting, directly into the bank or by post to Philip. I know that some have moved away & some have given up beekeeping - we will miss you. 
Membership of DDBKA enables you to loan a hive (for your first year) and also to borrow honey extractors in the summer. We also have 2 solar wax extractors to lend as well as other bits & pieces. We also aim to offer members reduced rates on Ambrosia bee feed syrup in the autumn and varroa treatments. Plus we have honey jars in 1lb, 12oz and 8oz sizes for sale at cost price, but only to current members.

Click HERE to download the 2017 Subscription form if you wish to join or re-join.
Please get it sorted asap if you haven’t yet done so - we close the Spring list soon after the end of the month. 
Thank you!

Swarm Collectors:
Let me know if you want to join or leave the list of swarm collectors & were not at the AGM in Nov. BBKA have sent me their list for updating on their website, remarking that it was snowing at Stoneleigh at the time of contact!

Also, tell me if you are looking for a mentor as a new beekeeper for 2017, or to loan a National hive for your first year of beekeeping, to save expense.

Invitations from Thanet BKA to two talks:
Thanet BKA has kindly invited all to come along to a talk by Kay Wreford, our Seasonal Bee Inspector. She will be speaking on EFB & hive hygiene, both very relevant last season.
The only charge will be for refreshments.
Sunday 19th February at 2 pm
Taddy's Barn, East Northdown Farm, George Hill Road, Margate CT9 3TS
ALSO:
A talk by Bob Smith on Queens & Queen Raising - The Theory.
This talk will be followed by a practical session with Bob in June to which visitors will be welcome, numbers permitting. 
Tuesday 28th March at 7.30 pm
Salvation Army Community Hall, 1 Tothill St, Minster CT12 4AG
This is a brand new hall on the main road into Minster from the Thanet Way. Look out for the TBKA sign on the railings.

Central Association of Beekeepers
Spring Meeting, February 18th from 10:30am to 4:30pm
At Roots & Shoots, The Vauxhall Centre, Walnut Tree Walk, London SE11 6DN
Bring your own lunch. Three science-based lectures related to beekeeping.
Free admission, donation to expenses welcome.

FOR SALE 
Honey Extractor: Nine frame radial manual food grade polythene extractor for sale.
This also includes a slightly temperamental motor, probably needs servicing. The extractor was in use with the motor in 2016.
£200 buyer collects. Contact Mary Hill by email at mary.hill43@btinternet.com 

National Hives:
Penny Rickards is leaving beekeeping. She has 4 National hives, almost new, to sell. Old Wives Lees area.
£150 with 2 supers, £165 with 3 supers. Contact Penny on 01227 730602.


This month’s meeting 

Saturday 25th February at Alkham Village Hall CT15 7BU 2:30 p.m.

Our speaker is Kay Wreford, very well-known as our seasonal bee inspector.
She will be speaking on Alien Invaders, exotic pests we may encounter, Asian hornets & Small Hive beetle. It is no good just hoping we’ll never meet them; the Asian Hornet is just over the Channel!
Please pay your subs at the meeting if you have not done it before! Remember to use a sealed envelope with your name on it for your form & payment - it can get confusing! Please also remember to fill in the back of the form.
Your subscription pays for: BBKA membership including monthly magazine, BDI insurances, our newsletter & speakers plus allows you access to our loan kit, and to buy our cost-price honey jars, bee feeds and treatments, and lend books from our library.

Tea [£1] and raffle as usual.

I hope you will be able to come along.

Best wishes.
Maggie


Monday 23 January 2017

Newsletter January 2017


Dear Beekeeper

At the time of writing, my bees & the DDBKA bees at Eythorne are all alive and have been given a winter treatment & a feed of candy, 'just in case'.
 
If you are registered on Beebase [as I trust you are], you will have received an alert from the National Bee Unit about the mild weather leading to bees venturing out more and consequently using up their stores for energy more quickly. So keep them fed; fondant/candy is the only suitable feed in winter. 

 

The 2017 Subscription Form is now available (all last year's members should have received a copy by email or post). To download a copy click on the format you wish below (PDF or MS Word):
Please return your completed form and pay your subscription by 28th Feb at the latest!
 
All should be clear, but please notice the ways to pay section and also the part on page 2 about helping your Association to run smoothly.
 
Let me know if you want to join or leave the list of swarm collectors & were not at the AGM.
Also if you are looking for a mentor.
As yet, we have no beginners wishing to loan one of our 4 National hives for their first year.
They are available at no cost, just return it as it was given in April the next year. The initial outlay for equipment can be pricey, so a loan might just suit, once you become a member of DDBKA.
 
Membership will also enable you to borrow honey extractors in the summer & also we have 2 solar wax extractors to lend as well as other bits & pieces. We hope to offer members reduced rates on varroa treatments in August as well as Ambrosia bee syrup as an autumn bee feed.

LAST CALL FOR BEGINNERS' TRAINING!
Mary Hill reminds you of her Beginners' Course being held on the 25th February & 25th March, just before our Association monthly meetings at Alkham Village Hall, costing a total of £20, running from 10am to 2pm both days.
The course covers equipment, siting your apiary, the life of a colony, the beekeeper’s year, swarms, pests and disease control and prevention. An opportunity as a refresher & to ask questions in a friendly group. You must be able to attend both sessions.
Application Form HERE.

I have heard from our Regional Bee Inspector, Diane Steele [who is leaving this post], about the Annual SE Region Report, covering matters such as honey yields, pests, incidences of disease etc affecting our region & further afield in 2016.
The Annual SE Region Report is available to download HERE.

BBKA Annual Delegates Meeting:
Peter Crow was our representative at this meeting on January 14th, he was involved with propositions & debates which he will sum up briefly at the January meeting.

This month’s meeting is:

Saturday 28th January at Alkham Village Hall CT15 7BU 2:30 p.m.


Our speaker is Bob Smith, very well-known as an inspiring teacher to many of us. He will be speaking on some of the things bees collect & their uses, but principally about pollen, how it is gathered and used as vital nourishment for our colonies. Don’t miss it!
Please pay your subs at the meeting if you have not done it before, remember to use a sealed envelope with your name on it for your form & money, it can get confusing! Please remember to fill in the back of the form. 

Your subscription pays for the BBKA monthly magazine and membership, insurances, newsletter & speakers.
I hope you will be able to come along.
Best wishes      
Maggie