June Newsletter

Dear Members

I’m doing this on Monday 26^th and it has been pouring with rain all day. The bees must be so confused. It was really hot last week now it’s more like winter today. Rich left at 2.30am to go back to work in Hull but I think the weather’s much better up there. There’s a lot of good events coming up in June so do try and get to as many as you can. These things are all put on for your benefit! Dave continues to improve; he’s going to lead the Bee Safari on June 21^st.

We extend a very warm welcome to:-

Mr James Robinson from Llanveynoe

Mr David Kelly from Adforton, Leintwardine

Mr Christopher Woodward from Craswall.

Ms Lin Scrannage of Bristol (soon to live at Presteigne)

All these have done the Practical Course this year and we look forward to seeing them at some of our meetings.

We have some seats left so if you make a last minute decision to come ring me straight away and arrange pick-ups etc. I could really do with a few more seats to be sold so please think about it and let me know.

I think there will be something of interest for all the family including hot air balloons and a huge craft fair.

This provides an ideal opportunity to see how other members keep their bees, discuss problems and pick up and exchange ideas and see our beautiful countryside as well.

Dave Williams will accompany you and will be looking at the hives with you so it should be a fun day but also informative.

From Ross, Hereford or the South, go on the Abergavenny road from Hereford. Turn onto the B4348 to Peterchurch at Lock’s Garage. At Vowchurch turn left on the B4347. Go past Abbey Dore Farm Shop on the right and David’s premises are on the left hand side. Look for the Wye Valley Board.

If you are coming to us at GVApiaries it would be good if you’d let us know then we can get enough chairs out etc.

If you come to us for lunch we can go in ‘Convoy’ to Roger’s and Geoff’s. If you can only go to one of them directly please telephone for instructions.

At Bridstow Primary School near Ross-on-Wye, a garden party which has an environment theme.  It is from 12 noon to about 4.30pm.  The school give meal/drink vouchers to any volunteers manning the stand.  The Herefordshire Nature Trust are attending and the local radio station are opening the day and presenting live from the show.  There is plenty of room for our mini-marquee near their wildlife area apparently. Anyone wishing to help should contact Suzanne Wenzcek.

beginning of May. Enthusiasm made up for a lack of bees: like so many other people we lost one of our hives during the winter. After some lively discussion and a cup of tea the group headed out into the sun and opened up the hive. Whilst the adults looked at bees, some of our younger members even tried a bit of pond dipping!  The group then continued on to Burton to an out-apiary site run by Geoff Hardy. I think that we all envied his site location in a lovely cider orchard next to a huge field of currant bushes. Those bees certainly don't have to travel far to work.  Thank you to everyone that made the effort to come and to Geoff for letting us invade his apiary. It was lovely to see everyone and we hope that the Bee Safari will be blessed with the same good weather.

These have again been attended by a very enthusiastic group of would-be beekeepers, a very nice bunch of people most of whom are now members. 10 people did the course this year, a much more manageable number. Most are going to take the Basic Exam.

There may be a lot of them about soon. If you are looking for a swarm then please let me know as obviously we are the first people who are contacted when swarms appear. Even if you do not really want a swarm would you be willing to help members of the public by removing one in your area. If so, again please let me know.

Deposit of £40 plus a hiring fee of £10 for the first hire, but only £5 for subsequent hire in the same season. The Extractor is usually kept at Golden Valley Apiaries and is available to members. Give us a ring if you would like to hire it, likewise if you would like to borrow any books from our Library.

Hi everybody.

Here we are again in the middle of a somewhat unusual season. It would appear from reports that most people experienced quite heavy losses. This year, with this in mind I have done quite a bit of research. I have spoken to C.S.L. and numerous other sources about colony collapse disorder, and it would appear that it is down to our friend Varroa creating a niche for other pathogens to gain hold. Perhaps we will gain further understanding of this as time goes on. However, I would like to draw your attention to history. We have always experienced losses in beekeeping, long before varroa arrived and there has always been a seasonal variation in the numbers of colonies lost. The current situation is just about manageable, with proper treatment, and control. We have been told to monitor levels of mite. I suspect that the mite levels are higher in some colonies than in others. It is with this in mind that I would suggest you look harder for this pest in your bees. In most cases losses are due to varroa indirectly. I personally have monitored colonies for many years, and I still stand by my original thoughts on this matter. Indeed, some of the best colonies I have seen this year are colonies which have received no special treatment, apart from treating for varroa, old comb present, little or no hive management, and yet the bees seem to be just as strong in these hives. I am yet to be convinced about some of the recent techniques being suggested in some quarters, and indeed the added expense in this approach. I would not disagree with keeping equipment, frames and foundation in good order to facilitate a good standard of keeping bees but there is always a happy medium. We must not lose sight of what bees require, one of which is temperature regulation. Routine monitoring for varroa, the raising of Queens from good stock will all play their part. I have observed colonies doing their very best to restrict the air flow into the hive by putting a curtain of propolis at the entrance. If they carry out this sort of behaviour, are they trying to restrict the air current in some way? I would suggest this is being carried out by the bees to regulate the temperature within the brood nest. How can we abandon all that we have been taught for over half a century without proper research. This does not mean we should not try and improve and try new ideas. We are all in a changing situation, and to this end, we must measure our new developments very carefully, before recommending to other beekeepers.

Mrs Sue Crooke has a ¾ acre garden in Barton Rd Hereford and would like to know if any beekeeper would like to put a hive of bees in it. Telephone: 07970184032