Date of Honey Show

The date of the local joint honey show, for members of the Kidderminster, Hagley & Stourbridge, and Northeast Worcestershire branches, is Saturday, 9th September 2017.  As usual the show will be held in Hagley Free Church hall.  Further details shortly.

Forthcoming social events

I hope your bee keeping year is going well and your girls are working hard collecting all that wonderful nectar that is out there at the moment and producing lovely honey!! This leads me on to say that the next social occasion is at: 

The Bowling Green  ~ Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove. B60 4BH on Monday 14th August 

It's an ideal opportunity for you to turn up and chat to fellow beekeepers about how your season has progressed. If my bees are willing to give up some of their stores, I will bring some along for you to have a taste. If you would like to do the same, we could end up with a great session trying to identify what plants our bees have been collecting from. Please try to attend if you can. I will be there from 8 o'clock in the front snug.

The last social occasion was the Bee Safari which was a great day out. Members travelled around the area, observing bees and beekeeping situations, chatted to apiary owners, had a great lunch and were very kindly chauffeured about by two land-rover owners. I'm hoping that we will be able load up a few photos of the day onto the website, so you can see how well it went. An event I'm sure we will run again next year.

On Wed 11th October there will be a 'Bee Movie' night, held at Bromsgrove Rugby Club. This will include a short talk and a variety of films. Please make a note of the date - further details to follow. 

All the very best 

Chris Tomlin (Social Sec)

Swarm Co-ordinator

Message received from Steven Wall

I am taking on the role of 'swarm coordinator' from Angela Lovick.  

If you would like a swarm and feel able to collect it yourself, please email me your contact details and let me know when would be the best time for you to go out and collect the swarm.  If you would like a swarm but require me to assist you then also contact me and advise me of your availability.  To advise on days and times of availability email me in first instance,  esofs.stevenwall@gmail.com

Apiary meetings

AVONCROFT APIARY
Weekly meetings take place on Tuesdays at 11:00 am.  Those attending should meet in the Avoncroft Museum car park.  This apiary is managed by Alex Bignell and Bob Pargeter.

JINNEY RING APIARY
Weekly meetings are on Saturdays at 10:30 am, commencing 13th May.  These sessions are for new beekeepers to ask questions and gain experience, and for experienced beekeepers to pass on their knowledge and skills.  This apiary is managed by Rob Greenaway and Alan Woollhead.

More NEWBKA social events

Dear Member

On the social front I have in preparation a variety of events for us all to go along to and enjoy. It is my aim this year to offer you some different and exciting bee opportunities and activities and for them to take place across our association area.

Following a very successful and enjoyable evening on Monday 27^th March at The Hopwood House Inn I would like to let you know that there will be three more of this type of occasion (meet for a chat/ drink). The next is on Wed 26^th April at The Swan public house in Chaddesley Corbett and there will be further ones in July and September. If you have never been to a ‘Bee Social’ why don’t you come along?  You never know, you might quite enjoy the good company and support of the association.

I also have in preparation the following:

* A members, friends and family BBQ in June

* A ‘Bee Movie’ night at Bromsgrove Rugby Club on Wed 11^th October

* End of year meal and presentation night.

Details of each of the above will follow as they are finalised.

There is also another event on Saturday 27^th May for which I am looking for a little help. This is a

‘Bee Safari’

The day will consist of taking a group of members around our area to see different apiaries, beginning at 11am for coffee and finishing approx 5pm. This will give them the chance to see a variety bee keeping situations and the opportunity to chat to owners (please note this would not involve any hive inspections for a variety of reasons). Lunch and drinks will be provided and there will be a charge of £9pp to cover costs. There is also in planning a follow on evening event, which it is hoped will be open to all members.

I am though looking for the following help from you-

• Would you like to be on the Safari? (It may be most suitable for less experienced members)

• At present we have 3 very kind offers of different apiaries to visit (commercial, small out apiary and a large garden situation with several hives). It would be great to offer two more, where the owner is happy to have around a dozen visitors. If you have just one hive or several and think you would like to be involved then please contact me as soon as you can. There is a reward and inclusion in the Safari.

• An additional Jeep/Land Rover Defender owner who would like to drive on the Safari day and will be included in the visitor list.

Please, please, please if you think you would like to help and be involved in this day can you contact me by email at tommoman28@googlemail.com as soon as possible. You will find my other details in the membership list.

Can I also ask everyone who is a member to make a note of the above dates and try and support as many of these occasions as you are able. As an association we are committed to supporting you and every other member of NEWBKA in every way we are able with your beekeeping and it would be great to see you at some of the above events.

Best wishes

Chris Tomlin

(Social Secretary)

Social Evening on 27th March

Dear Member

I thought it would be a good idea if we held a relaxed social occasion for members to attend. On Monday 27th March at the  Hopwood House (pub and eatery), Redditch Rd, Alvechurch, Birmingham B48 7AB, which is close to junction 2 of the M42. I will be there from 8 o'clock onwards if anyone would like to join me and chat to others. It would be great to see as many members partners, friends etc. this pub is known for it's food and selection of real ales, so if you would like to eat then chat, chat and eat or just drink and chat come along!! 

Looking forward to seeing you there

Best wishes

Chris Tomlin (Social Sec) tommoman28@googlemail.com

Winter Talk: Bees Abroad

For the last of this season's Winter Talks, David Evans spoke about the work of Bees Abroad.  The organisation promotes community beekeeping in the Third World, particularly in Africa, by teaching communities how to maintain thriving colonies and to market hive products, thereby improving their standard of living.  David, who has worked on Bees Abroad projects in Kenya, described some of the problems facing Kenyan beekeepers, including safari ants and honey badgers.  At the end of the meeting, David was presented with a cheque, a donation to Bees Abroad from NEWBKA.