Have a look at our Diary Dates page for updated details of our forthcoming Winter Talks.
Why Are Beekeeping Suits White?
Ever wondered why bee suits are generally white? This article proposes a number of answers. Have a read and see if you agree. https://lifewithbees.com/why-are-beekeeping-suits-white/
Do the best Die Young?
Disturbing new research in the USA has concluded that Honeybee life spans are 50% shorter today than they were 50 years ago. See: https://phys.org/news/2022-11-honey-bee-life-spans-shorter.html
Award Presentations at the AGM
As part of our 2023 AGM this week, awards were presented to (left to right):
- Mike Bickerton - Joint Honey Show - Joshua trophy for highest aggregate score
- Mark Street - BBKA - Basic Assessment with Credit
- Greg Hunt - Joint Honey Show - Novices Trophy
Congratulations to them all.
Winter Talk - Observation Hives
Make a note in your diaries for our Winter Talk on Thursday, 1st December, at 7:30 pm in the ABC Boatyard meeting room at Alvechurch Marina. Tim Vivian will give a talk on Observation Hives: their management and use.
Swarms in Tricky Places
Have a look at our Photo Gallery to see some of the difficult spots that our Swarm coordinator, Steven Wall, has had to tackle in order to recover a swarm.
Come along to the Combined AGM and Social Meeting
Would all our members please note that the 2022 Annual General Meeting of NEWBKA is being held on Thursday 17th November at 7:15pm in the meeting room at the ABC Boatyard, Scarfields Hill, Alvechurch, B98 7BQ.
This is your opportunity to find out more about what your association has been doing in 2022 and ensure that the Committee reflects the wishes of the members as far as possible.
The AGM will be followed by a Social meeting at the Weighbridge pub next door at around 8:30pm. Both members and non-members are welcome to attend and talk bees over a pint !
What you always wanted to know about Swarms, but were afraid to ask - Part 2
Meanwhile back in the UK, Honeybee swarms have been found to generate more electricity per metre than storm clouds...........................
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2343843-honeybee-swarms-generate-more-electricity-per-metre-than-a-storm-cloud/
What you always wanted to know about Swarms, but were afraid to ask - Part 1
Have a look at the link below, which outlines some surprising results from recent research into Swarms - using a CT scanner. For example, did you know that a honeybee can lift up to 35 other bees !
https://phys.org/news/2022-10-bees-x-ray-machine-peer-swarms.html
Next Social Meetings
Our next Social meetings are on Monday, November 14th and December 12th, starting around 7:30pm
Everyone is welcome - whether you are a longstanding member or just want to find out more about beekeeping.
Come along to the Bowling Green Inn, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4BH.
How Busy are YOUR bees ?
At this time of year, our colonies are starting to wind down. However, some bees continue to make the most of the few hours of sunlight (as may be seen in our photo gallery). How busy are your bees?
Avoncroft Orchard Apiary Sessions
Please note that, after a successful season, the weekly sessions at the Avoncroft Orchard apiary have now finished for 2022. We'll let you know when they restart in the Spring.
NEWBKA Needs You !
At the AGM later this year, Ed Payne will retire as NEWBKA Secretary after serving for the maximum allowed period of 4 years.
We now need another member to come forward and continue all the good work done by Ed.
If you are interested, please contact Ed at:
edtopbananapayne@outlook.com
and he will arrange to talk you through what is involved.
Please remember that we all benefit when members like Ed are willing to contribute some of their time to NEWBKA.
Thank you.
Joint Honey Show - Tips !
A reminder that the 2022 Joint Honey Show is being held at Hagley Free Church on Saturday 17th September. All NEWBKA beekeepers are invited to enter - whether in the Honey, Mead, Wax, Cake or other categories.
Alex Bignell has kindly provided some tips for entrants below:
Below I have set out a few tips which I have picked up over the years of entering items for honey shows. These are personal observations and particularly aimed at those who are considering entering for the first time and are a little daunted by the prospect and the paperwork.
Jars of Honey
These must be 1lb jars, are entered in pairs, and it is important that the two containers match in all respects - same batch of honey and jars, same style of closure - don’t mix metal and plastic lids.
Liquid Honey
I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that judges are looking for honey that is ‘clear and sparkling’, yes well I’ve certainly seen jars of honey that are somewhat cloudy but have still won prizes so perhaps you shouldn’t be too concerned if your final entry is not entirely clear as I guess that some honeys will never clear completely.
However, some cloudiness may be due to minute air bubbles, which are inevitable created when bottling. These will rise to the surface in time, so the thing to do is bottle your potential entries well in advance of the show (5-7 days if possible).
Dissipation of these minute air bubbles is aided by keeping the jars warm, perhaps in an airing cupboard. The bubbles end up as froth on the surface of the honey, often around the rim, which judges prefer not to see.
The trick is to slightly over-fill the jars, as you will remove about a quarter to a half of a teaspoon of honey in the process. Using a tapered teaspoon or coffee spoon, carefully remove the froth and a minimal amount of honey which you can always eat afterwards.
This brings us to how full should your jars be when you finally put them in the show. Judging is based on ‘honey ready for sale’ so a 1lb jar should contain a pound of honey. The only way the judge can assess this is to see how well a jar is filled. The rule of thumb is that, when held up to the light, the judge should not be able to see a gap between the bottom of the lid and the surface of the honey – anything less and the jar is underfilled and this will count against you. Also, he does not want to see jars which are overfilled. You should end up with the surface of the honey being about 2-3mm below the glass rim of the jar.
When the judge opens your jars he is assessing the honey’s aroma so it’s good if you can finally close up you jars a couple of day before the show so that this aroma can develop. Obviously, the lids you use should be clean and dry to start with but may become a little contaminated with honey in transit to the show. The judge is not bothered by this – don’t be tempted to put on fresh clean lids when you get to the venue. But take along a soft dry cloth so that you can give your entries a final polish as you set them up at the show.
When you book in your entries you will be given a pair of entry numbers written on sticky labels which should be affixed tidily close to the bottom of the jar (about half an inch up).
Honey Cake
Honey cakes are not difficult to make, particularly as all the ingredients are prescribed. If you make one do not be tempted to add any extra ingredients to spice it up – the judge is hoping to get a flavour of the honey used (perhaps a dark honey with a bit of ‘bite’ is the best) and will know if anything extra has been added.
The secret of a successful cake lies in the cooking, as honey cakes are notorious for easily getting burnt. The cooking temperature and timing given with the recipe are only guides – some people lower the temperature and extend the cooking time others turn the oven off a bit early and leave the cake in the oven to finish off in the residual heat – it’s up to you and your knowledge of your oven. The best way to exhibit the cake is to put it on a suitable plate (not your best china) and cover the lot with cling film.
Finally, give yourself plenty of time to book in and set up your entries – I would allow at least 20 minutes. Arrive early and avoid the last minute rush.
In summary having read the guidance notes and my little diatribe you’re probably still feeling somewhat uncertain about entering the Honey Show – don’t be. Why not take a couple of your best looking jars of honey from the same batch, appropriately filled and enter them in the Closed Branch (only open to NEWBKA Members) Class 9 (Light Honey) or Class 10 (Medium or Dark Honey) competition, without worrying too much about what I’ve said above or even the Guidance Notes.
Better still enter another couple of jars of the same honey into the Open Classes 13 or 14 (open to members of all three branches).
If you are a Novice (defined as a member of any branch who has not won a FIRST prize in any class in any previous Joint Branch Honey Show) you can enter a single jar in the Novice Class 26 and possibly you can run up a honey cake and enter Class 23
Don’t worry if you are uncertain whether your honey is light or dark, take a guess (most honeys are light) and ask on booking in.
Come on and join in – I’m sure you’ll find it rewarding and fun.
Alex Bignell
Next Social Meeting
Don't forget our next Social Meeting on Monday 12th September - at the Bowling Green Inn, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4BH
These meetings start around 7:30pm and are open and friendly get togethers, where you can talk to other bee keepers, both new and experienced.
All are welcome - including anyone who would just like to find out more about beekeeping before taking the plunge.
A Curious Tale
The end of the season was approaching and clearer boards were being placed, ready for super removal.
On one hive (#4)earlier in the season I had lost the queen and, despite their best efforts, the colony ended up queen-less (maybe a bit to do with me too). Forward to a few weeks later where a section of brood from a very nice colony (#3) had been inserted and a queen cell was produced - so I left them to it.
Back to the near present. The clearer board was on and I was all ready to take off the super. I opened the lid and the bees hadn’t cleared!! It look suspiciously like they were not prepared to move down, so knowing they were in need, I took the clearer board off and left them to it.
Cut to a recent inspection where I was curious about the super, so that was the first thing I checked. I was doubly curious because a number of the frames had been cut out (used for cut comb) and so the bees were unlikely to use them without building them up, and at this time of year that would be the last thing they would do.
Starting with the centre frames I took one out. There on a super frame was a beautiful hatched queen cell!! Ah 🤔 That’s why they were reluctant to go down into the brood chamber. On an adjacent frame was a beautiful native dark queen - laying!! (What looked like worker brood. )
What did I do? It’s obvious - I removed the Queen excluder and put the super back on top hoping the queen would return to the brood chamber. It was only some time later that I thought there could also be another queen in the brood chamber (didn’t check🤦🏼♂️).
So a number of unanswered questions arise (answers on a postcard):
- Why did the bees move a worker egg (actually there were two qc’s) up into the super and build a queen cell up there?
- How did the ‘super’ queen get mated?
- Was there another queen in the brood chamber?
- Will the colony survive?
Watch this space for updates peeps.
Mikey B.
Joint Honey Show
Make a note in your diary - the annual Joint Honey Show is being held on Saturday 17th September at Hagley Free Church.
Polish up your best jars of runny or set honey, shine your cakes of wax, fill your bottles of mead or bake that honey cake and bring them along to the show !
Next Social Meeting
Don't forget our next Social Meeting on Monday 8th August - at the Bowling Green Inn, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4BH
These meetings start around 7:30pm and are open and friendly get togethers, where you can talk to other bee keepers, both new and experienced.
All are welcome - including anyone who would just like to find out more about beekeeping before taking the plunge.
The Court Leet approves our Honey once more
At Avoncroft Museum on Sunday, the Bromsgrove Court Leet sampled the honey from our Orchard apiary hives. After due deliberation it was pronounced to be of excellent quality and fit for consumption by citizens and visitors to the Manor of Bromsgrove. See the Photo Gallery for pictures from the day.
(Trying to) Keep it Simple
Beekeeping is never mundane. Every year has brought its roller coaster challenges and opportunities to learn and 2022 has been no exception, with a generous mixture of good and bad events:
+ A good Spring crop
- Local rapeseed led to early crystallisation
+ One really strong colony running on brood and a half
- This colony still produced a massive Swarm, despite close inspections
+ Swarm captured !
- Half the swarm would not remain in the nuc despite a wet and cold night (2 Queens?)
+ One colony now on 5 supers
- Another has Drone Laying Queen, with remedial action being unsuccessful so far
So, an eventful year so far, but every experience is an education.
I hope your year has seen more "+" and fewer "-". Let us know !
Gary TJ, Treasurer
My 2022 Beekeeping Season
I started the year with two colonies that over wintered well. I was intending to increase to 4 hives this season. I captured my first ever swarm, in April and bought another swarm off Gary our Treasurer. Both these are now in hives and developing well after a slow start. I extracted some spring honey with a lot of oil seed rape in it from my older hives which was very nice.
In May I was approached by a near neighbour who wished to have a couple of hives on their property, “To help the planet’s future”. They did not wish to become involved in the upkeep but just wanted some bees to watch from a distance while doing their bit for the environment. Sourcing bees in May proved quite difficult as last year’s nuclei had gone and this season’s not ready yet. I bought some bees from Blorenge Mountain Bees which have were hived successfully despite an unexpected thunderstorm right in the middle of the moving process. Welsh bees are obviously used to being rained on!
I now have 6 colonies to look after, 4 on site and 2 in an out apiary, which is enough for me, as all of my equipment in now in use. My bee shed is looking rather emptier than before but has taken on a new role becoming an adventure playground for some very persistent wasps. All six hives are producing honey and I have extracted summer honey from the oldest hives again.
2022 is developing into a good year for me and hopefully for everyone else in NEWBKA.
Ed Payne
Secretary NEWBKA
A Hot Day for Honeybees with Hot Lips
Have a look our Photo Gallery for some lovely photos of bees keeping busy, despite the weather.
Photo Gallery
Have you looked at our Photo Gallery recently?
If you have any photos you'd like to share, please email them to neworcsbeekeepers@gmail.com
All contributions are welcomed!
Next Social Meeting
Don't forget our next Social Meeting on Monday 11th July - at the Bowling Green Inn, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4BH
These meetings start around 7:30pm and are open and friendly get togethers, where you can talk to other bee keepers, both new and experienced.
All are welcome - including anyone who would just like to find out more about beekeeping before taking the plunge.
Dates for the Diary
Please note the following dates for your diary:
Saturday May 28th Avoncroft Windmill Apiary Inspection. 10:30 am with Tim Vivian.
Saturday June 4th Avoncroft Windmill Apiary Inspection. 10:30 am with Adam Lovick.
Saturday June 11th Pershore College Day (more details to follow later)
Monday June 13th Social Evening at the Bowling Green Inn 7:30 start (all welcome).
Next Social Meeting
Don't forget our next Social Meeting on Monday 9th May - at the Bowling Green Inn, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4BH
These meetings start around 7:30pm and are open and friendly get togethers, where you can talk to other bee keepers, both new and experienced.
All are welcome - including anyone who would just like to find out more about beekeeping before taking the plunge.
You can count on Honeybees
If you ever wondered just how smart your bees were, spend a moment to read the article below.
What it's all about...........
Have a look at this lovely video made by the Twickenham and Thames Valley Beekeepers Association for their Centenary to show what it's all about.
Ever Wondered About Honeybee Tongues?
New research has yielded some surprising discoveries about honeybee tongues. Click here
Next Social Meeting
Don't forget our next social evening at The Weighbridge, Alvechurch on Monday 4th April, starting at 7:30pm. All welcome.
Spring Convention Reminder
Don't forget the Spring Convention at Harper Adams University, TF10 8NB, for three days immersion in ‘all things honeybees’ during 8th to 10th April.
Your three-day or single-day Wristband Ticket (not Trade Show only) gets you admittance to all the day's lectures. These cannot be booked - just be at the lecture theatre in good time.
Many workshops are now fully booked, so several extra have been opened to meet demand. Any places remaining after 29th March (when bookings close) can be reserved at the Convention from Friday 8th.
Key dates:
10th March – last date for accommodation held at Telford’s Southwater Hotels: Ramada & International.
29th March – last date for advance bookings of Wristband Tickets, Workshops, Dinners & Tent/Camper/Caravan pitches. Whilst Wristbands are available on-the-day, these are cheaper in advance.
Saturday 9th April 08.30 – 16.30: Convention Trade Show - One Day Only
This is the major Trade Show of the year. Meet the traders; inspect the kit; handle the hive tools; try on that new bee-suit; trade-in beeswax; collect pre-orders; learn from Speakers Corner, and so much more. Tickets available only on-the-day, just £6.
For full details and to book, see: www.bbka.org.uk/spring-convention-2022-updates
Next Social Meeting
Don't forget our next social evening at the 'Bowling Green', Stoke Prior on Monday 7th March, starting at 7:30pm. All welcome.
Easy Ways to Help Bees
Hannah Miller at DIY Gardening has published a very useful guide for gardeners with actionable steps they can take to prevent the decline bee of the bee population.
See our Useful Links page or click here: https://diygardening.co.uk/help-bee-population/
2022 Novices Course
Our 2022 Novices Course is now full. However, please use the link below for the contact details of other branches within the Worcestershire Association which are running Beginners courses.
Please Help Prevent Honey Fraud
We need the government to overhaul and update the labelling of the honey sold in the UK. This is the first step in reducing the amount of ‘so-called’ honey sold in our supermarkets that contain very little honey produced by bees.
Please sign the online petition below and ask your friends to sign it. This affects anyone who loves honey!
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/607735/signatures/new
Next Social Meeting - Monday Feb 7th
Don't forget the pub evening at the 'Bowling Green', Stoke Prior on Monday 7th February, the first pub meeting since Christmas, starting at 8pm.
Alex will be bringing several buckets (for use as bulk honey containers) and a large bag of soft-wood shavings - always useful for smokers, but you'll need a plastic bag to take away your share!
Neonicotinoids - BBKA request for support
You are probably aware that a derogation has been approved by the Minister for Agriculture allowing the use of a banned pesticide (Cruiser SB: Thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid) to be used on sugar beet in 2022. This pesticide will be applied to seed as a dressing before planting if a high aphid count is seen. Aphids carry a virus known as Yellows which adversely affects some crops.
The BBKA is totally opposed to the use of this and similar pesticides due to their effect on not only honey bees but other pollinators, and the wider environment. The BBKA has considered the use of the HMG petition system, however, with a decision due on the 1st of March 2022, we believe that sufficient time does not exist for a petition to be raised. As this matter is urgent, will you please register your opposition to the use of this type of chemical by signing any petition which opposes the use of any of such damaging pesticides.
A petition has been started on the government website. Enough signatures on this link https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/606788 forces the government to discuss it in the House of Commons.
Two other such petitions are https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/bee-killing-pesticides-comeback-george-eustice/ and https://party.coop/bee?mc_cid=56537078b8
The ‘precautions’ for the use of this chemical to ‘protect’ pollinators is to ban any flowering crops (or ground cover) in the soil where this treated seed is used for a period of 32 months following the crop planting and the use of herbicides to prevent flowering of any weeds (wildflowers?).
Therefore, there cannot be any forage for Bees or other Pollinators for 3 years in any land used to grow crops treated with this chemical. This will be effectively at best a green monoculture with no forage for any pollinator. If any pollinators survive they will STARVE.
Please express your opposition to the use of this chemical by supporting any suitable petition and writing to your MP. You can find the contact details for your MP by using the link below and entering your postcode.
2022 Spring Convention
A reminder that the Spring Convention will once more be held at Harper Adams in Shropshire, 8-10 April 2022. This is a unique opportunity to bring the national beekeeping community together again, after two years of lockdowns, cancellations and virtual events.
Choose from more than 20 lectures and 40+ workshops, together with the Trade Show and the usual opportunities to meet old (and make new) friends from around the country.
The key date to know about is that Bookings open on 31st January!
Can You Help ?
One of our members has an unusual query and wonders if anyone would be able to help:
I was checking my 2 hives today to see if they needed any additional feed. Several wasps are coming and going from the hives. I opened them up and the cluster of bees is there in both hives. What should I do about the wasps? Are they likely to have a queen or is it more likely that they are just a few rogue wasps who have found somewhere warm for the Winter? Do you know if anyone else has experienced this? I've no idea what to do.
If you can provide any answers or advice, would you please email them to neworcsbeekeepers@gmail.com
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