Training Update

Both the 2020 Novice course and the 2020 BBKA Basic Assessment training commenced this month. 
See Training for more information.

We look forward to welcoming the Novices at future social meetings and apiary sessions.

Tasks for March

March weather is very changeable, but a number of tasks and checks are needed in preparation for the coming season.

 Firstly, when it is warm enough for a quick inspection which will not chill our colonies (at least 10°C), check:
  • Is there sufficient food? 
    If not, feed with pollen and/or fondant
  • How many frames are filled with bees?
    Check for Nosema if colony is weak
  • Is the Queen laying?
  • Remove any dead colonies and investigate cause
    Sterilise hives as necessary
 
When the weather improves (say 14°C):
  • Carry out a detailed inspection for diseases and varroa levels.
    Take all necessary remedial action before the honey flow begins
  • Replace older dark combs
     
  • Look out for swarm cells and ensure the colony has sufficient room

At any time:
  • Prepare hive record cards for coming season
  • Remove mouse guards
  • Prepare clean brood boxes and frames with foundation

Above all - look forward to spending time with your bees !

Bees Abroad Talk

On Monday 10th Feb, as part of our programme of evening meetings, we had the great pleasure of John and Mary Home talking to us about BEES ABROAD. They spoke particularly about the work they had done with groups in Kenya and individuals of the Masai people. 



We were shown how Bees Abroad had helped many in relieving their poverty, by not only producing honey for sale, but a variety of hive products; which had helped them to provide an extra family income and enabled children to attend school.  

Of particular interest was the way in which they were helped to build their own top bar hives and to use their own initiative in their construction. We also learned about the lengths they go to protect the hives from other creatures, such as the proverbial honey badger, dung beetles and elephants.  Adding to this challenge is the abandoning nature of the African bee.

The evening included a display of  the work of the charity and some of the wonderful products produced.

At the end of the evening, we had great pleasure in presenting John and Mary with a cheque for £300.

This sum, which will go to help their work, had been raised over the past couple years from all the kind donations to the collecting tin from members at meetings, last year's skep course and the woodchip and sugar supply sales. Can I take the opportunity to thank all of you that have contributed and it was wonderful to see how our money will be spent.

Chris Tomlin

John Home (L) accepting the cheque from Chris Tomlin (R)

Bees in the News

Study reveals evolutionary clues to honeybees' social complexity
See link

Dates for the Diary

Upcoming events include:

BEES ABROAD  
Monday 10th February from 7.30pm
Talk by invited speaker from the Bees Abroad charity. 
See beesabroad.org.uk
Bees Abroad
Location: The Meeting Room, ABC Boatyard, Scarfield Hill, Alvechurch (postcode B48 7SQ)
See Map

    NEW NOVICE COURSE
    Commences Monday 9th March




    BEETRADEX 2020
    Saturday 14th March from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
    Biggest Beekeeping show in 2020
    See Beetradex

    Location: Hall H2 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire (postcode CV8 2LG)
    See Map




    BBKA SPRING CONVENTION
    Friday 3rd April to Sunday 5th April
    See BBKA site


    Location: Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire (postcode TF10 8NB)
    See Map
    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) SITUATION

    NEWBKA SOCIAL MEETING
    Monday 13th April at 8:00pm
    An informal get together, where individuals can talk to other less or more experienced bee keepers.   Friends, relatives and non-members are very welcome.
    Location: The Bowling Green Inn, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove (postcode B60 4BH)   
    See Map


         
    COUNTRYTASTIC
    Thursday 9 April at 10.00am 
    Food and farming event for children.   Worcestershire Beekeepers will be putting on a beekeeping display with observation hives, honey tasting and beekeeping equipment.
    Location: Three Counties ShowGround, Malvern (postcode WR13 6NW)
    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) SITUATION

    WORCESTERSHIRE BKA 138th AGM
    Saturday 18 April at 2.00pm   
    Location: Hagley Free Church, 109 Worcester Road, Hagley, Stourbridge (postcode DY9 0NG)



    RHS MALVERN SPRING FESTIVAL
    Thursday 7 May at 9.00am to Sunday 10 May 
    Worcestershire BKA attending.
    Location: Three Counties Showground, Malvern (postcode WR13 6NW)
    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) SITUATION
    THE THREE COUNTIES SHOW
    Friday 12 June at 9.00am to Sunday 14 June
    Worcestershire BKA attending.
    Location: Three Counties Showground, Malvern (postcode WR13 6NW)
    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) SITUATION


    HANBURY COUNTRYSIDE SHOW
    Saturday 4 July at 9.00am to 6.00pm
    We will be attending !
    Location: Park Hall Farm, Hanbury, Redditch  (postcode B96 6RD)
    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) SITUATION
    ANNUAL JOINT HONEY SHOW
    Saturday 5 September at 8.30am
    Hosted this year by NEWBKA.
    Location: Hagley Free Church, 109 Worcester Road, Hagley, Stourbridge (postcode DY9 0NG)

    Honey Show at Hagley Village Hall on September 7th 2019


    It was a wonderful honey show at Hagley Village Hall this year. It represented an incredible demonstration of the wide range of honey products that honeybees produce. The show comprised mead, wax candles, honey cake, frames of honey, liquid and soft set honey. The forage that the bees have been working provided the whole range of colours of honey through from very light to black honey from tree sap.

    The judge commented he was impressed by the standard and as a result it was a challenge to pick out the winners. The NEWBKA members provided some great entries and as per the pictures there were some excellent wins by our local members - well done to all who took part.







    Dates for the diary & social meetings

    There are some great events coming up and these include:

    • Thursday 29th August from 7.30pm: speaker evening in the upstairs room of the Hanbury Turn public house - Dave Bonner on 'preparing bees for winter'
    • Saturday 7th September: The local honey show for NEWBKA held at Hagley Village Hall. Booking in of entries from 8.30am - 10am. Awarding of prizes from 1.30pm. (see Ed Payne's e-mail of 20.08.)
    •  7.30pm Monday 9th September: The next social meeting at The Bowling Green Inn - please bring along a sample of your honey for general tasting
    • Saturday & Sunday 28th & 29th September Malvern County Honey Show (see entry forms attached to Ed Payne's e-mail of 28.08.)
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