Welcome to this bumper edition, the first of the new year and...

Bee Brief Publication

Bee Brief Bee Brief Bee Brief Bee Brief FebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruary 2011 2011 2011 2011

Monthly Newsletter of the Plymouth Branch DBKA

Chairman: Mr W Finnemore Hon Secretary: Mrs J French 18 Douglas Drive 5 Pinewood Close

Elburton Plympton

Plymouth PL9 8LR Plymouth PL7 2DW

Tel: 01752 404184 Tel: 01752 338279

E-mail: [email protected]

Hon Treasurer: Mr B Talling Newsletter Editor: Ms K Lovegrove

66 Horsham Lane 6 Blanchard Place, Boringdon Hill

Tamerton Plympton

Plymouth PL5 4NP Plymouth PL7 4DE

Tel: 01752 709470 Tel: 01752 342880

E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

Dates For Your Diary

Apiary Meetings

Sundays 10.00 am

March 13th. 20th, 27th

April 10th & 17th

May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

June 5th,12th, 19th, 26th

July 3rd, 10th, 17th,

24th & 31st

Contents

Editorial

New committee

Spring & Summer at the

Branch Apiary

Honey Show results

Christmas Social

Apiary Programme 2011 -

details

PBKA publication

assisted by Fred Poole

Welcome to this bumper edition, the first of the new year and the first for me

as your new editor. Over the past 2 years I have been assisting Fred, learning the

ropes from a semi-pro! This year we were elected in reverse roles.

Below is the complete list of the PBKA Committee as voted in at the AGM in

November, with the addition of Mike Lawrence who has kindly filled the

vacancy of Apiary Manager.

Office Holder Chairman Bill Finnemore

Vice-Chairman Fred Poole

Hon. Secretary Jean French

Hon. Treasurer Bernie Talling

Apiary Manager Mike Lawrence

Assistant Apiary Manager 1 Patrick Mansfield

Assistant Apiary Manager 2 Allen Blight

Librarian Matt Rawlins

Newsletter Editor Kathy Lovegrove

Assistant Newsletter Editor Fred Poole

Education Officer 1 Mike Hogan

Education Officer 2 David Milford

Social & Honey Show Secretary Trevor Bushell

Microscopists Kathy Lovegrove + Beverley Bailey

The committee has put together a full programme for the coming season,

providing something for members at all levels of experience. The aim is to

maintain and develop the club atmosphere which was achieved during the winter

meetings. The photos in this Bee Brief certainly reflect the happy mood and

good support for the more social side of our annual programme - our thanks

certainly go to Trevor for his enthusiasm and skills in co-ordinating this.

Spring & Summer at the Branch Apiary

This year all meetings will be held at the Branch Apiary on Sundays starting at 10

o’clock. Most Sundays are covered although all special events and Bank Holiday week-

ends are avoided. Full details of the programme are below.

Meetings are open to all members and will be led by someone from the Apiary

Team and/or the Education Team. The focus of the meetings will be linked to the

beekeeping season - the topic given for each date is for guidance only and may change

according to circumstances.

Mike Hogan is running the Novices Course aimed at those completely new to

beekeeping. The 11 sessions are sequential and will prepare novices for their first

colony.

David Milford is running the Beginners/Improvers Course for those with 1-3 years

experience of keeping bees. The content will be tailored to the needs of those wanting to

fill gaps in their knowledge & skills. The six sessions will also help members who are

preparing to take their BBKA Basic Certificate in Bee Husbandry.

Experienced members are asked to come and assist the Apiary and Education

Teams whenever possible - inbetween the important chats, of course!

Sunday Date Type of Meeting Focus

March 13th Open Tidy site. Construct new boxes/frames.

March 20th Open Spring inspection of colonies.

March 27th Open +

Novices (1)

Check colonies and equipment for season.

Introduction to course.

April 10th Open +

Novices (2)

Check colonies and equipment.

Introduction to the bees!

April 17th Open +

Novices (3)


What goes on inside the brood box.

Sunday Date Type of Meeting Focus

May 1st Open +

Novices (4)


Brood stages, drones and honey stores.

May 8th Open +

Beg/Imp (i)


Identifying needs. Problem solving.

May 15th Open +

Novices (5)


Colony build up. Swarm prevention.

May 22nd Open +

Beg/Imp (ii)


Swam tactics.

June 5th Open+ Nov (6)

Beg/Imp (iii)

Bee anatomy. The honey crop. (Branch apiary)

Mid-season problems. (Venue given later)

June 12th Open +

Novices (7)


Queens, workers, drones & Flowers.

June 19th Open +

Beg/Imp (iv)


Keeping your colonies strong.

June 26th Open +

Novices


Beeswax. Bee diseases.

July 3rd Open +

Beg/Imp (v) Check colonies and equipment.

Harvesting the honey crop.

July 10th Open +

Novices (9) Check colonies and equipment.

Honey extraction. Siting apiaries.

July 17th Open +

Beg/Imp (vi) Check colonies and equipment.

Diseases & end of season problems.

July24th Open +


Anaphylactic shock.

July31st Open +


Winter preparations. Course ends.

D B K A (PLYMOUTH BRANCH) HONEY SHOW

13TH

JANUARY 2011

No. Class Prize 1st place 2nd place

1 2 1lb jars of

light run honey Salter Cup M HOGAN B HOGAN

2 2 1lb jars of

medium run honey Edwards Cup B FRIEND B FINNEMORE

3 2 1lb jars of

crystallised honey Winnicot Cup F POOLE B FINNEMORE

4 2 1lb jars of

creamed honey Prize B FINNEMORE D MILFORD

5 1 pair of

beeswax candles Prosser Tray (No entries)

6 1 bottle of mead Prize P TALLING B TALLING

7 1 shallow frame

for extraction Prize T BUSHELL M RAWLINS

8 1 jar of honey,

labelled for sale Prize D MILFORD B FINNEMORE

9 6 1pz blocks of

beeswax Prize S MURPHY B FINNEMORE

10 Beeswax Open

Class Prize T CURNOW B TALLING

11 Honey sandwich Ward Cup B FRIEND B HOGAN

12 12 pieces of honey

fudge Prize M WICHELOW T CURNOW

13 Novice Class Prize (Not awarded) J RUSSELL

14 Open Class Prize B BAILEY G COCK

Results of the Honey Show.

2010 14 members entered 39 exhibits 2011 25 members entered 69 exhibits

2010 3 entries for Class 2 (Medium run honey) 2011 12 entries for this class 2010 3 entries for Class 11 (Honey sandwich) 2011 9 entries for this class

A good turn-out for this event

made the judge, Steve Ide, think

hard before awarding prizes.

Steve was pleasantly surprised

at both the level of support and at

the broad spread of winners. In

addition to two prizes per class he

awarded commendations to K

Preston in the Wax Open Class

and to B Baker for his Honey

Fudge.

He was so impressed with the quality of entries in the branch that he awarded

commendations in addition to the two winners per class and stressed his

recommendation for members to enter the Devon County Show, especially the

winners of the honey categories. Finally he urged those who were more successful

in the show to pass on their advice to other members. This would increase the all

round standards and levels of enjoyment for those taking part.

Trevor Bushell and Bernie

Talling recording the entries

before items are displayed

Bees change

the colour of honey The honey of a colony of

bees at an apiary in

Brooklyn, New York, has

turned red after the insects

feasted on waste liquid at

Dell’s Maraschino Cherries

Company, a cherry juice

factory!

Christmas

Social

Lunch

2010 Agents for the main manufacturers

We can supply all your

beekeeping needs -

Foundation Hives

Frames Jars

and many many more

John Harler

12 Hembury Park

Buckfast Devon

TQ11 0SE

Tel/Fax 01364 642517

\Mobile 07769878476

Email [email protected]

Please phone before you visit.

National Bee Supplies

LABELS EXTRACTORS

BEEHIVES SMOKERS

CLOTHING JARS TOOLS

FOUNDATION FRAMES

National Bee Supplies

Merrivale Road

Exeter Road Ind. Estate

Okehampton

Devon

EX20 1UD

Tel: 01837 54084

Fax: 01837 54085

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