Shropshire Beekeepers' Association

 

 

Newsletter : September 2005

 

1.      Editorial

Congratulations to:
  • Ray Green who won a 'Very Highly Commended' award for his frame entry prize at the World Honey show held at Apimondia in Dublin recently, and
  • John Perkins who has passed the BBKA's Basic Assessment in Beekeeping.


In memoriam
Reg Foulkes, beekeeper, of Wellington, Shropshire Born 16th November 1920. Died 11th July 2005. Steve Watkins writes: We spent time together amongst the bees and he was an inspiration and a mine of information. Reg was a very special and generous man who always had time for me and made my two boys feel like they were the only boys in the world. He always referred to me as a 'pal' and in the final years of his life I was honoured to be thought of in that way. One thing I could surely say about Reg is that he loved his bees and I hope I am as passionate as he was when I am in my 80s. Sadly missed but well remembered.

 

2.      Next Meeting

The new season of indoor meetings starts this month with a presentation by Pam Gregory, postponed from last March, talking about "Bees Abroad", different races of bees and so on. Pam is the past Bee inspector for Wales and has extensive knowledge of keeping bees in different countries. Her talk will be illustrated with slides. So join us on Wednesday, the 14th September, for what promises to be an interesting and informative start to the autumn programme. If you have not been to an indoor meeting before, the venue is the Rosa Room at Radbrook College in Shrewsbury and the starting time is 7.30 p.m.

Please note also that the October meeting (on October 12th) will be our AGM when the Committee for the coming year will be elected. During the past year the Committee has been reconsidering aspects of the Constitution of the Association and proposals for changes may be tabled for discussion and adoption. It is very important that any such proposals are thoroughly considered by members as they would affect the management of the Association in the future. More information about this will be circulated to members before the meeting.

 

3.      Committee Meeting 21st June 2005

Correspondence: received now mostly via e-mail: -


SBKA Constitution: The following questions were discussed:
  • Would it simplify matters at the AGM (and avoid potential problems) to ask members to vote only for committee members and not the officers (or not all of the officers) Other officers could then be elected by the Committee at its first meeting after the AGM?
  • Should we define a maximum size for the Committee (even though we are unlikely to be overcrowded)? Again this could be helpful at the AGM. If a deadline is put on nominations before the meeting and the number of names put forward is fewer than the total size allowed, those members could go forward without there having to be a vote. Additional nominations (for any further vacancies) could then be invited from those present.
  • Should we define a term of office for committee members (say, three years) so that we don't have to put everyone up every year (they could be eligible for re-election for further terms of office)? Again this might simplify proceedings at the AGM - and might encourage new blood if not faced with all the 'old guard' being proposed en bloc.
  • We already have Full & Associate membership. We also recommend Life Membership of SBKA for members who have made an outstanding contribution to the Association. Do we need a further category of membership in recognition of long service e.g. "honorary vice-president" and if so what privileges should the post carry, if any? Consideration was also given to a category of "Student Membership (i.e. a member under 18 with a reduced subscription fee but full membership entitlement).

Discussion on the above issues was the first stage towards the drafting of an amended Constitution to be put the AGM in October and further discussion will take place at the next meeting.

Other issues
  • Peter Hampson gave an update on the current costs and state of development of the Website
  • Brian Goodwin is working on the winter programme and will give an update at the next meeting.
  • Arrangements for the Shrewsbury Flower Show were discussed and plans finalised.

 

4.      Report on the Shrewsbury Flower Show 2005 by Ray Green

After what seemed to be a slow start to the installation of the Bees, Honey & Wine display tables, the feeling at the end of the four days was that things had been comfortably completed on time. This was due mainly to the commitment of the team who turned up from all parts of the county, from near and far, and worked well together under the watchful eye of Ray Memory who was passing his knowledge and experience on to others. A hard act to follow. Thank you Ray & Shirley for your commitment and support over the years.

Unfortunately, the entries in the Show Classes were down by over 20% this year but a number of good exhibits were to be found on the show benches. The Judges were asked to make as many comments as possible to encourage and help exhibitors. The Honey Tasting and Sales area again was very popular with 13 producers, including 2 Associations, supplying over 1400 individual units including liquid and creamed honey, heather honey, Chunk honey, Honey and Nuts, Cut Comb, sections and 'Bears'. Approx. 8500 'tastes' were taken by the visitors to the show across the two days and over the variety of honeys. Some purchasers were local but I heard one from South Wales asking for Cut Comb. The observation hives are always a point of interest and prompt many questions, along with the education / young peoples display which, this year had some interesting frames made up to give an approximate weight of a frame with bees and honey etc. This year also there was a list available for anyone wanting to attend beekeeping classes; this was signed by 4 - 5 local people, 2 in Wales and one in Hertfordshire. Their names have been passed on to the relevant areas.

I would like to take the opportunity to pass on my thanks to all who were involved in any way to make the Show a success again. I will not mention individuals as this is always a recipe for upsetting people when you miss their name off the list!   However, the areas that people helped in were:

Thanks also to the North Shropshire, Oswestry and Ludlow Associations for the support provided by their members in many ways.

 

5.      Work Ahead by Robin Chapman

The beekeeping year goes round at an ever increasing rate; or so it seems to me. Beekeepers themselves increase their experience as the years go by. However, there are those of us who haven't been keeping bees for that long. To these people I primarily write. The work to be done in the autumn divides into that which must be done before the start of the colder weather (later will be too late) and the work that can be delayed into the cold weather. But all the work is aimed at being ready for the start of next year's season. This will start when the queen will be encouraged by the winter worker bees to lay some eggs to start some brood as early as January.

Feeding with sugar syrup. It's the winter worker bees that are so important. The recent summer has not been good for building up a strong colony. To build up a strong colony, it must be fed sugar syrup (2 lbs sugar in 1 pint of hot water) before the autumn chill sets in. This syrup will be either stored or consumed by the adult bees. They will also continue to feed the queen to keep her laying winter worker bees. Feeding sugar syrup is a very good investment for the spring.

Old brood comb. In August the bees will have put honey into old, black or damaged comb which still remains in a brood chamber. This honey is precious winter stores and cannot be wasted. However, if old or damaged combs are identified in early autumn they can be suitably marked so that they are quickly removed next spring. If they are placed close to the brood chamber walls they will be empty of honey in the spring. Mark in any way (a coloured end; a drawing pin; a cross on the frame).

Ventilation. To allow air to pass through a hive the crown board is lifted so that a match or similar object can be placed at each corner between it and the brood chamber. To prevent condensation on the under surface of the crown board place a piece of old carpet over the crown board.

Open mesh floors. It has been recommended that a colony should be on an open mesh floor throughout the year. Unless the colony is really strong it will not be able to form a large enough cluster in the cold months of January, February and March when warmth is so necessary for the queen to lay eggs for early brood. I suggest an open mesh floor until the first frost appears. Then close the opening leaving just enough space for ventilation. This can be done by either replacing the tray or putting an ordinary plain floor, reversed, underneath the mesh floor.

Protecting against vermin and vandals. Protecting a hive is relatively simple. The entrance is either closed down to an opening no more than % in. high by 3 to 4 inches wide or fitting a mouse guard to prevent a mouse entering the hive to make a nest in the brood combs. The hive itself is protected against woodpeckers by either putting chicken wire netting round the whole hive or securing some flapping material on each side. The roof is prevented from blowing off by putting a heavy object on top. Vandals usually just knock a hive off its stand. Make sure that the hive has a good footing on its stand or even lash it down.

Protecting shallow combs. Shallow combs usually are those that have held honey and have been extracted. After extraction the cells will be wet with honey. Combs can be stored either wet or dry. I prefer dry and I place wet combs in a super in a hive and above the crown board. The Porter Escape opening in the crown board is open to allow the bees access to clean the remaining honey from each cell. After a day or so the cells will be dry and repaired. Wet and dry combs should be protected against the wax moth. Depending on the number of supers the method can vary. They can be placed in a freezer or they can be stacked and wrapped in plastic sheeting and secured with sticky tape.*

Cleaning woodwork, frames and combs. We all know that beeswax and propolis become more brittle in low temperatures. The time to clean woodwork etc is as the temperature drops - and one is less inclined to venture into the shed or garage. Go on, do it before Christmas. Then smugly sit back and read a good beekeeping book. Celia Davis' The Honey Bee inside out will tell you a lot about a bee.

(Adapted from an article in Honeybee Times [Wiltshire BKA] Autumn 2004; courtesy BEES) *In the original the writer recommended storing dry combs with chemical protection againt waxmoth. This is now illegal so what further advice would our experienced members offer new beekeepers? Contributions to the editor please.

 

6.      Round and About

Ludlow & District BKA: 9th - 11th September, Ludlow Food & Drink Fair: Demonstrations & Sales
Saturday 24th September : last apiary visit of the year to Andy Vanderhook's apiary near Cleobury Mortimer (map ref. 698788) Tel: 01299 841379

North Shropshire BKA: Last out-apiary meeting on September 17th at Pim Hill. Details: Mike Harris Tel: 01939 232302

Oswestry BKA: This year the Committee has decided to change the format for our Annual General Meeting and Dinner arrangements. It will be held at the home of Mary & Anthony Rigby, Honeysuckle Cottage, Haughton, West Felton. on Saturday 8th October (7.30 p.m. for 8.00 p.m. - cost £10, pay on the night) Please let the secretary know if you wish to attend, either by 'phone (01691 654448) or letter. RSVP - 1st October. Please make an effort to attend - this evening promises to be an excellent social evening.

 

7.      A Lesson In Beekeeping From A Delightful Lady

This is a shortened version of a report by Susan Hayday that appeared in the Ludlow & District Beekeepers' Newsletter -July 2005

On Saturday 18 the June, as guests of the Shropshire Beekeepers, we visited Mrs. Natalie Hodgson's lavender fields, (just the other side of Bridgnorth) and her unique collection of beehives. Mrs Hodgson has been keeping bees for over fifty years, but as she remarked with glee, 'They've never kept me'. There is a bee viewing tunnel, covered in black netting, for visitors to walk through without wearing any protective clothing, where they can have a close look at the hives working. Mrs Hodgson doesn't believe in disturbing her bees too much and certainly had fairly impressive weighty supers which we helped remove. She doesn't bother about moving the bees down to the brood boxes; just carries the supers a small distance away and waits until the bees have all returned to their hive before attempting to take the supers further away.

As very new beekeepers it was interesting to actually see the varroa mite on drone larvae, which we'd removed with an uncapping fork. As it was pointed out - 'the eye is at the other end; this dark spot is the mite'. Emergency DIY repairs were made to the frames of some of the brood boxes, one even when the queen was present, which was pretty impressive. We were also able to see what happens when double the proper bee space is inadvertently used - huge amounts of brace comb. Also of interest were the quite different colours of the bees in some of the adjacent colonies; perhaps the distinctive brightly painted hives helped to prevent 'drifting' in spite of the close proximity.

One of the first hives we inspected was very full of bees, but there was no sign of any brood. It was thought at first that the large gathering of bees was probably evidence of robbing but after a longer chat and further examination it was decided, on the evidence that pollen was visible on some of the returning bees, that these bees were definitely going home to their own hives and not robbing, so there was probably a queen which was not yet laying.

The Shropshire lads entertained us all afternoon, working steadily through Natalie's hives and happy to give her a helping hand. It was absolutely delightful to see this 92-year-old lady standing her ground when helpful advice was being offered which she declined to take, as she'd been beekeeping a great deal longer than any of us present. The afternoon was finished off with a lovely tea provided by Mrs Hodgson, complete with Victoria sponge cakes. We were all invited to sit down and eat properly ('there's no future for an old sandwich, you know …')! Long may she continue.

 

 

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