Newsletter, June 2023

 Newsletter June 2023

Dear beekeeper,

Thanks to all who came last month, almost 50 of you! I had barely arrived home afterwards when there was a swarm call; John Feasey was able to collect & rehome. The number of calls has decreased now, still the usual bumblebee ones though.

I hope your hives are looking good, building up their population nicely after the shaky start to the year, maybe you have a super or two with capped honey ready to be extracted. 

If your colonies are in an area which grew oil seed rape, then get your honey crop extracted as soon as possible, as it will solidify quickly in the comb. Honey from the bumper hawthorn blossom we have seen this year, will give you more time to take action.

Now the biting NE winds have ceased & we have some heat & sunshine at last, don’t forget your bees need water nearby.

DDBKA has honey extractors you can loan for a £10 refundable deposit if they are returned clean as borrowed.      Contact Eric: 07741 483051

 

I had a novel experience last week, there were several queen cells in one of my colonies, I was about to reduce their number when I saw one was brownish at the tip, looking ripe & ready.        So, I picked off the end carefully with a point on my hive tool & the queen fell wriggling into my hand!   I caught her in a queen clip & back at home transferred her into a hair roller cage with newspaper covering the bottom end. She was put, in her cage, in a queenless colony. 3 days later all the newspaper had gone, so I am hopeful she has been accepted & will fly off to be mated shortly.

There have been several enquiries re membership this month, so I hope they will come along to the June meeting on the 24th

The funeral of Maggie Marlow, wife of our former Chair, Brian, will be at Barham Crematorium on June 19^th at 4pm followed by refreshments at the Holiday Inn, Whitfield. She was always a sterling support to Brian & also to DDBKA, often helping with our refreshments.                                             

Unfortunately, I shall be away, but all are welcome to pay tribute to a sunny, cheerful lady.

                                                         HONEY JARS For MEMBERS                                                                                                                           Now at Unit 12, AB Crush panel beaters, opposite the Shepherdswell turning on the A2 to Five Oaks, Geddinge         CT4 6RY.        The procedure remains the same, order to me, payment to Philip, collection on a Friday from 11 to 12, it is a really busy site with vehicles, deliveries etc.                                    PRICES: 1lb jars, including lids, in boxes of 72 £23.50                 

12oz jars SOLD OUT- discontinued                                                                                               

8oz round jars & lids are £34.50 for 128                                                                                                                                                                                             

5 boxes of 1lb jars left now, 2 boxes of half pound jars left.                                                            I lb jars & half pound jars are still available at the above prices; once that old stock is sold, the new stock prices will be £30 for 1lb jars & £45 for half pounds.

WBC HIVE FOR SALE                                                                                                                                         

One base on legs, sorry, solid floor                                                                                                            One porch lift complete with sliders. 3 plain lifts, One roof, One deep internal box, 3 shallow internal boxes, Queen excluder, Crown board.                                                                                                        Although the hive could benefit from a coat of paint, it could be put into action straight away 

 £75 Collect from Colin Evans at Hythe   01303 266819                                                                                                                                                                  

UPCOMING EVENTS featuring DDBKA – Show season starts soon,

• Kent Show                    July 7,8,9 
• River Fete 11-3             July 16
• Nonington Fayre 1-5     July 16   
• Eastry Fete 2-5            July 22   
• Beefest Captain’s Gardens, Deal     August 28
• Dover Urban Fete, Pencester Gardens, 10-4 September 23                                                                                                                                                                                

This month’s meeting:  Saturday 24^th June     2:30 pm

At the Captain’s Gardens in Deal, opposite Deal Castle. CT14 7BA                        Limited car parking space there. We have been invited by Tony who has 6 hives there. 

It was formerly a market garden, revived by members of the Deal community, now has vegetables, flowers, hops & 200 fruit trees. Chairs & tables will be provided, but no toilets. Car sharing strongly recommended. Space for only 8 cars, so find a quiet spot elsewhere in Deal & walk a bit or use the Deal Castle car park, English Heritage members free, but all must buy a ticket.

 If you are a new member or visitor, please make yourself known, we get busy!                 Please remember your beesuit. We shall have a register for you to sign. Please pay regard to safety considerations.

• ·    If you haven’t picked up your emergency contact card it will be a chance to do so.
• ·        Tony has 6 hives to inspect, clean suits, boots & gloves required
• ·        Tea [£2] & raffle as usual      Bring your own mugs!!!

See you there,

Maggie