North Herts news by Graham Beesley

If a swarm in July ain’t worth a fly, what’s a swarm in August worth?

This thought occurred to me when I had a call from an interested member of the public  at 8.00 pm on the 10^th of August to tell me that a swarm he’d seen the previous Friday was still hanging in a tree  in spite the weather having been good over the weekend. The other thought that occurred to me as I stood at the top of a 10 foot step ladder, in the gathering dark with a gentle rain beginning to fall and extremely stroppy bees stinging my arms was, that I might be getting a little old for this lark.

In July when the two Peter’s, Fogle and Heath, visited our association site at Standalone Farm we had agreed, with some relief, that swarming must be nearly over for the year. Since then I’ve been and collected another three swarms.

 I enjoy collecting swarms. I find people are fascinated by bees, it’s a great opportunity to do some PR and build up ones stocks. And when it goes right one feels like a magician performing a conjuring trick as they march into your box.

Our thanks to Peter and Peter for a competent inspection and to Janet Kirtland and David Mathews for being such wonderful hosts, providing such a lovely tea and letting us inspect their hives. It was one of those afternoons that you would have liked to have gone on for ever.

I find it very reassuring to get the thumbs up from our seasonal bee inspectors who seem to me to be very good value for money.

On the subject of apiaries we have been fortunate to have been given two new sites for association members to use. Letchworth Heritage Foundation, owners of our association sites at Standalone and Nortonbury, has given a site in Willian for our use and Wyvale Garden Centre in Stevenage have given permission for us to keep bees there. The latter was as a result of Derek Richardson, John Hill and Frank Everest giving of their time to man, (person?), a stand at Wyvale on the longest day of the year. I hear it felt like it too. This was part of a national environmental awareness day for Wyvale. John even got his photo in the paper, though unfortunately as a bumblebee expert.

Anyone who is interested in keeping their bees on either of these sites please give either Christine or me a call.

The honey is harvested, the Apiguard is on, only feeding to do and then we can enjoy a well deserved rest. Our first meeting of the Autumn/winter is the third Tuesday of the month, the 20th October. Any suggestions from members for our itinerary  through the winter would be most welcome.

SE Herts news by John Mumford

The attendance at Phil Amer’s apiary on 19th July was dismal, just a few committee members and ONE other member. It is not fair on our apiary meeting hosts, when they put in such a lot of effort to hold a meeting in their apiary and it is snubbed in such fashion.

The HBKA Bee World Day at Capel Manor on Saturday 19th. September is fast approaching and I have had no volunteers from members of SE. Herts Division willing to give a little time to help set up and man the event. I suppose it is a reflection of the attitude of all members in todays society, where maximum advantage is taken of everything, and nothing is returned. I am now adopting the attitude that, “if it happens it happens, and if it don’t it don’t, and why should I care either way !”

Not since 1976 when there was a severe drought from February on, can I recall the bees having such a miserable summer. The main Honey Flow never really got started before it finished a few days into July. Supers were left unfilled, the bees took to robbing like crazy, the Wasps and  Hornets plagued the hive entrances; pollen was very scarce, and Queens were taken off lay, and the Drone were thrown out in mid July. My bees had to tough it out with as much help as I could give them, (shade - entrances - ventilation), and I only carried out inspections before 10.00 am. or after 6.00pm.

Swarms continued into August. One swarm had been in the tree for 5 days - the Local Council had advised the householder that if left they would just go away! There was just a trace of wax on the branch they had been on, and by the number of crawling bees I though there was something wrong with them. I robbed my Q’cage Candy Jar and put the contents over the ventilation screen of my swarm box. The next evening when I collected them to take them to my apiary all the candy had gone and the Patio was clear of dead bees. They have since taken down 2 gallons of sugar syrup and are doing just fine.

I have nearly finish my extracting (mid August) and I am having to leave frames of honey on because the brood chambers are absolutely empty.

A simple but effective Wasp Trap. An 8 to 10mm hole in the neck of the bottle. Load with rotting fruit, jam, or old diluted honey. Yes you will trap a few bees, but not as many as the trapped wasps and hornets would have taken anyway.

20th August : - I have just heard of a colony taking down a full FOUR pints of syrup from doughnut rapid feeder in TWO HOURS! Now that may be some kind of a record, but not one to necessarily be proud of.

The final nail in the coffin for all the Grease Pattie Connoisseurs is that Pura has been taken off the shelves at Sainsbury’s, and everywhere else. I have not yet found a suitable substitute. Trex is far too soft and runs all over the place at hive temperatures.

The recent publicity beekeeping has got is not all a good. I have had a quite a few calls from members of the public who think that they would like to take up beekeeping. I tell them to download the Thorne’s catalogue from their web site, and explain that it would cost about £1000.00 to start up. I suggest that the best advice I can give them is to ‘go and lay down in a dark room until the urge wears off’. I then offer them a visit to my apiary to see some bees close up. No one has taken up that offer so far.

It makes you think about why we keep an expensive box of stinging insects at the bottom of the garden and then have a struggle to a) keep them in the box in Summer, and b) to keep the damm things alive through winter. Beekeepers must be bonkers.

The last Apiary Meeting of this year will be at the Association Apiary on Sunday 6th September, when I may need a hand to take off any surplus honey. We meet at Baford Church at 3.00pm.

The next Committee Meeting will be at 8.00pm. on Thursday 10th September at 23 Andrews Lane.

St Albans news by Eileen Remnant

The St Albans Beekeepers Association winter meeting will be on Friday 23rd October. We have a speaker from the Woodland Trust, who will bring us up to date on the Heartwood project of woodland expansion and planting programme. The meeting starts at 8pm and is at the United Reformed Church Hall, Watford Road, Chiswell Green AL2 3HG. All members of Herts BKA are invited to this talk, and any friends and/or family with interest in this topic.

Welwyn News by Tamora Leslie

Sometimes it may be difficult to get volunteers to man stands at thevarious events promoting beekeeping throughout the year. I am sure that the thirteen who donated their time to cover the Hatfield House Country Show from 21st to 23rd August felt that their time was well spent. Apart from the interaction with a very interested public and the delighted faces of the children looking at the observation hive, time on the stand allowed the volunteers to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine in abundance. The smaller Autumn Food Fair, although a smaller event, might provide a similar opportunity to promote the Association. The annual event at Capel Manor will be taking place on 20th September so we will be looking for helpers for that date, together with supplies of honey and honey related items. This year's last meeting at the Apiary will take place on Saturday 5th September. The final meeting usually covers winter preparation including final bee treatment andfeeding, and although a little early - outer hive protection against the likes of woodpeckers and the protection of stored comb against mice and wax moth. Best wishes.

Bee World, Capel Manor, 19th September

Please don't forget Bee World this year.  Local groups are preparing to demonstrate extraction, microscopy, pollination, honey sales, an observation hive, etc. Please come along and support HBKA.  Capel Manor is at Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RQ, just south of the A10 junction with the M25.

September 2009

Editorial

Welcome to the new style Herts Bees newsletter. For those of you that read the printed version there will not be too many changes. For those reading it on the internet you will see lots of subtle changes that will make the site easier to use and also more interesting. The old site will gradually be migrated across so check back for further updates.

Secondly, many apologies to all readers for the absence of the July/August edition of Herts Bees. A family wedding, holidays and a very busy time looking after my bees at the end of June meant that this edition was not printed. It is available on the website and is available in print form if you would like to contact me.

As I have indicated, it has been a very busy summer with many swarms to be collected, multiple artificial swarms from the same colony (3 from one of mine) and tons of honey. I have taken off 390lbs this season - not bad from just two colonies at the start of the season.

In this month's newsletter we we have some great news concerning a new type of beehive brought to market by Omlet, the people that make the interesting "Eglu" chicken houses. We have an offer to test a new type of varroa treatment and also are reminded about how long we have had to worry about the dreaded parasite.

It is the end of August and varroa treatment and the winter feed should be well underway. Give them plenty of feed and don't let them starve this winter.

Paul Cooper

West Herts news by Margaret Tighe

This month experienced members have been busy collecting swarms; seven in total. Once again Diane and Lindsay generously gave up their time and, having collected swarms, enabled two new members to have their first hives of bees.

Unfortunately one less experienced member recently lost a hive due to EFB. The hive was destroyed, rather than a creating a shook swarm, owing to the small amount of bees in the hive. The Bee Inspector found all other members hives were in good order.

The West Herts Beekeepers, although having a small membership, have excellent, informal apiary meetings every second and fourth Saturday of the month, at 3 pm, from April to October. Anyone wishing to learn more about beekeeping from experienced beekeepers, are more than welcome to come along.

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Visit to BuzzWorks, Hitchin’s Community Bee Garden

by Clive Hill, High Wycombe & District BKA

On 13th June, eighteen HWBKA members visited “Buzzworks”, which Robin Dartington has established at Hitchin, Herts. It has an interesting location: with an Allotment site of many acres in front and a stream, then a large wood, behind it. More rural than suburban, but on the edge of a large town. Our aim was to see the present status of Buzzworks and to see Dartington Long Deep hives in use.

Robin and his small team greeted us and let us look round. The team included Christine Gray, the BBKA’s Hon. Press officer, in charge of catering. Robin explained how Buzzworks was started and is fast becoming active as a Bee Education resource. They have a small number of very smart buildings, a lovely but very new garden; and a very effective apiary stocked with Dartington hives – see for yourself, in the accompanying photos.

We donned Bee-suits, then went into the apiary, where Scott Rutland, Julian Parker and Raymond Chamberlin led small groups examining the bees. It was a warm dry afternoon.

The bees were working hard and very docile. Meanwhile, Robin kept up a running commentary and joined in the fun! Although they seemed very bulky, the hives were a dream to use – with everything at a good working height, well designed and very accessible. We had an enjoyable, instructive and very hands-on afternoon.

The many beginners amongst us must have gained a great deal from the event and at least two of them bought a competitively priced nucleus colony to take home.

Following the apiary work we were provided with a light tea, which included slices of delicious Cherry Cake, made with Ivy Honey. I was very pleasantly surprised, because I hate the smell or taste of this honey when the bees bring it back in the autumn! Bob Hunter, our Chairman thanked Robin for our making us so welcome, our really interesting afternoon; and thanked Christine for the lovely food.

As an educational establishment, Buzzworks is still finding it’s feet. They have already started taking school parties: but still need to develop their display material. There are many parallels with the way HWBKA has developed it’s School Visits and educational displays. Christine Gray was able to built a very useful contact with our Sylvia Chamberlin, who has led the BBKA’s work in the field of Bees in the Curriculum.

Many thanks to Robin and his team of volunteers; and to Julian Parker, who had organised our visit. HWBKA will make a donation to Buzzworks as thanks: and our education knowhow can also be available to them.

SE Herts news by John Mumford

Gary Barnett's Apiary meeting on 24th May was an interesting affair. Gary wanted to make up a Nuc with the Old Queen and to raise a new Queen in the Colony. It got a bit scary when after I had marked and clipped the Queen and we later found the bees trying to Ball her. I gave them a good heavy smoking, rescued the Queen, and made up the Nuc. We then found the Queen on the ground in a very agitated state after someone removed the Nuc crown-board to put another frame in. The Nuc went down to Gary's garden and was let out late in the evening. I am glad to say that Mother and Daughter are now both doing fine. The following tea and cakes in Gary's garden with his Canaries, Ducks, Chickens, Pigs, Goats, Sheep, and a Turkey ended a very pleasant afternoon. Thank you Gary.

The Apiary meeting at Pinewood School had much to interest everyone. A small swarm hived just three days previously had drawn comb and the Queen was laying but not seen. Another colony had tried to swarm only that morning so we went through it. We heard and saw a virgin Queen PIPING, she took off but quickly came back, so that we could then safely break down all remaining Queen Cells. Thank you Adrian and Jo for an interesting afternoon.
Have you got, or, had a touch of swarm fever this year? There's been a lot of it around, and it's still going on. Many swarms are no bigger than a grapefruit. Queens start to lay within a few days of being given comb only to be quickly followed by occupied Queen Cells!
As I sit writing this report I have just received a plea from a school in Bushey that have a swarm in their playground and can't find anyone to deal with it.
I had one of my colony's swarm on 22nd. April before I could get round to mark and clip the Queen. I then went through them and left two marked open Queen Cells breaking all the others down. On the 28th April I broke all their wild Queen Cells down and one of the marked cells. On 14th. May I saw a Queen but she was not yet laying. On 26th. May the Queen was mated and laying. On 20th June no Queen to be found, no open brood, very few bees and half the them are drones, just about a dozen bees in their only super (no honey). An ideal opportunity to throw the remaining bees out, and have a clean start with a young Queen from a different stock and new comb.
I fully understand and sympathize with all those new Beekeepers who are encouraged to take up beekeeping. They are often given no backup or support and are left to stew when situations occur that would perplex even an experienced beekeeper. They are often exploited and charged the earth for Bees with Old Queens together with Faulty Secondhand Equipment.
I have only received offers of help from committee members for the Broxbourne Council Open Day event on the 4th. of July, and only one offer of help from SE. Herts members for the HBKA Bee World Show at Capel Manor. It seems that members are selfishly taking all that they need from the Association and are not prepared to put anything back! It's getting very disheartening and I might just take the same attitude at the next AGM.

St Albans news by Robin Moore

I read somewhere that 90% of the population’s reaction to bee stings is no more than a slight swelling and soreness that quickly resolves. Of the rest, only a tiny number will react severely and require medical intervention. Like, I expect, most new beekeepers, my reaction to this information was “It’ll never happen to me!”

As far as I knew, I had never been stung until last year. The reaction was pretty normal, a local swelling and some redness that subsided after a few days.

In April this year after removing my veil I was stung on the ear. This time the reaction was more severe and my ear swelled significantly much to the amusement and merriment of my not very sympathetic family and friends!

Only five weeks later, I was stung again and this time the reaction was a whole lot different. I had removed my gloves to mark the top of a frame with a drawing pin. A bee found its way into my glove and reacted as only bees can when I put the glove back on. It took about twenty minutes before intense itching began and another ten minutes before I experienced chest discomfort and a constriction in my throat. I drove myself home which in retrospect was not sensible. By then, I had a classic rash over my arms, chest and back and was beginning to feel that my tongue was swollen. A 999 call and a paramedic was reassuringly by my side in minutes, closely followed by the ambulance. My subsequent treatment in A&E was speedy and efficient.

I now carry an EpiPen at all times and I am awaiting an appointment with an allergy specialist to discuss the possibility of undergoing desensitisation treatment. I am still managing my bees but never alone and I am exercising extreme vigilance. Ultimately, I hope that my beekeeping activities will continue for a long time yet.

You cannot keep bees and not expect to be stung but the chances of you reacting badly are extremely low. Don’t let my bad experience put you off but be aware that it could, just maybe, happen to you too.

Member’s Activities

We will be meeting the public again at Earthworks on July 5th. Volunteers are needed to chat about bees to interested people at this event. If you can spare an hour or two, please contact Christine Aitken on 01582 792316.

The next apiary meeting is at 3pm on 11th July at Prae Wood, when the subject will be ‘Making up nucs and requeening’. All members and visitors are welcome.

Weekly meetings continue at the Prae wood and Oaklands apiaries, Saturdays 2-4pm. Members visiting the Prae Wood Apiary are reminded not to leave the heavy metal entrance gate open.

Welwyn news by Tamora Leslie

The First Saturday of the Month June Apiary Meeting and Api Tour were both a great success. Some new beekeepers saw their first new queen grub and royal jelly on that day. One heavily laden hive was divested of it's honey.

Two of our new members have just taken on their first bees. Please would new and existing members remember that if you get new bees you may need to have Bee Diseases Insurances, cover for 3 hives is included in your subscription. Please email me with any new details.

The Co-operative Group has recently joined up with BIBBA (Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association) to help map the native black bees in Great Britain. If you see a black bee, email a picture of it, along with details of when and where it was taken to campaigns@co-operative.coop On their website BIBBA ask for 30 actual bees to be posted to them! Is that number of black bees likely to be found in Hertfordshire?

Next month’s events:

11th July Ayot Horticultural Show (1400 to 1600)

12th July Mill Green Museum, Hatfield (1400 to 14:30)

North Herts news by Christine Phillips

June has been a busy month for the bees with lots of honey and many swarms, and for the beekeepers with talks and demonstrations. John Hill, Graham Beesley and Frank Everest have all given talks to different WI groups and others have been in schools introducing the children to the ways of the honeybee. The observation hive has been out and about and will be again this weekend when Derek Richardson takes it to Stevenage Garden Centre with John on Saturday and Frank on Sunday.
At Pat Veasey's apiary last Saturday eleven people including three beginners looked at and rearranged Pat's bees and found and marked three queens. This was followed by the Veaseys' usual wonderful tea.

Our next meeting is at Standalone Farm on Saturday 18th July at the usual time of 2.30pm. Both of our Seasonal Bee Inspectors, Peter Heath and Peter Folge hope to be there so it should be a very interesting and informative afternoon. Please phone for directions if you are not sure how to get there.

Future events where N. Herts BKA will have a stand are Stevenage Gardeners and Allotment Holders Day on 12th September and Hitchin Apple Day in October. If you would like to take part in these events, or any others please let me know. It can be an enjoyable if exhausting couple of hours and we really need to talk as much as possible to the public while bees are so much in the news and everyone seems to be interested in them.

July/August 2009

 

Editorial

Apologies for the late publication of the newsletter this month.

Paul Cooper
July 2009

June 2009

EDITORIAL BY PAUL COOPER

Swarm, swarm, swarm!

May has been a busy month – lots of swarms and high honey yields.

The winter survey results are now in and only 15% of colonies were lost. Not good but much better than recent years.

Many thanks to all of the contributors this month. There is a lot of news and some interesting photographs of swarms and a picture of support from a local MP. I hope the bee suit wasn't claimed on expenses!

NORTH HERTS NEWS BY CHRISTINE PHILLIPS

The visit to Graham's new apiary back at the end of April was well attended on a lovely sunny afternoon. The lucky bees have a very des. res. with plenty of space, nice thick hedges for shelter and a small lake nearby. They all seemed to be doing well although one colony had allowed a wax moth in and in another the queen had found her way into the supers. She was soon put back down under.

Last Thursday Nortonbury Apiary was inspected by Peter Folge in his new role of seasonal bee inspector. All hives were well and healthy except one which had been neglected and had died out.

Boxwood open apiary on Saturday was again a lovely sunny afternoon and very well attended by beekeepers old and new. Having only managed to arrive in time for tea and cakes I can only say that these were excellent and was told that the bees were fine and three new queens had been found and marked.

We have now officially been offered a new apiary site at Willian by Letchworth Heritage Foundation and Graham will be receiving the key soon. The committee need to agree a set of apiary rules and we should soon be able to move in the first hives. Any N. Herts members interested in using this site please contact Graham or me.

Andy finally, the Hitchin Triangle Community Garden Open Day - June 28th 2-5pm. Please contact me if you would like to talk to people about bees/beekeeping or to sell honey at this event. Last year it was a most enjoyable afternoon.

ST ALBANS NEWS BY MARIAN WHITTAKER

Loadsa Honey!

Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, is pictured below on a visit to STABKA’s Prae Wood apiary, admiring £93,000 in cash! But this was nothing to do with shady dealings on expenses. The money was from the Bank of Beekeeping and the queen’s head was a queen bee, not Elizabeth R.

Eileen Remnant, chair of the division (pictured), had been doing her sums and concluded that her members contributed a massive £93,000 to the UK economy, thanks to pollination of crops by their hard-working bees!
The sun shone for the visit on May 9th, the bluebells bloomed beautifully and the bees behaved immaculately, with no stings to report. Eric Margrave guided the MP through the workings of a hive and, right on cue, Fred Vanstone pointed out a sizeable swarm at rest in an apple tree.

Over tea and cakes, several members had the opportunity to talk to Mr Lilley and to bend his ear on the subject of threats facing bees and funding for research. He showed great interest and later issued a press release headed “Lilley supports call for more research on honey bees” in which he said:

“I was delighted to talk to members of the St Albans Beekeepers Association about their work and the serious situation confronting the honey bee population. . . . . It is sad that one of the world’s leading bee research units at Rothamsted in my constituency was closed three years ago for lack of funding. Honey bees are virtually extinct in the wild and only survive because beekeepers tend their hives. Unless this trend in bee numbers is reversed, the impact on food production could be devastating.” He also “…stressed how important it was that research focussed on honey bees which face serious threats rather than spread thinly among all the other insect pollinators.”

Mr Lilley left carrying a wealth of information in the form of books, papers and magazines drawn together by SABKA members, as well as a jar of honey from the apiary as a sweet reminder of the visit.

… And Loadsa Bees!

Members Stuart and Maureen Thorne were in the news recently. The following article appeared in the Borehamwood Times:

Aldenham Parish Councillor Viv Charrett got a surprise on Saturday when the 4ft swarm popped in for lunch at her garden in Theobald Street, Radlett. The bees landed on the grass, garden handrails, steps and filled the air, eventually settling on an apple tree in the middle of the lawn. Mrs Charrett quickly telephoned the police who tried to locate some bee-keepers, but without success. They then passed her on to Hertsmere Borough Council's environmental services department but that too proved a failure as the officers were unable to do anything outside office hours. Determined to find the bees a new home, preferably away from her apple tree, Mrs Charrett said she remembered residents Stuart and Maureen Thorne kept bees but there was no reply when she called. Looking out at the sunny afternoon Mrs Charrett soon realised Mr Thorne was likely to be looking after his allotment. She went out and found him more than willing to help get her and the bees out of trouble. Mrs Charrett said: “They cut the branch down with the bees attached and put them in a wicker basket which they left upside down in the garden until the evening when it became colder, by which time most of the bees had gone back inside the basket with the Queen. "They then wrapped it up in a large sheet and took it back to the allotments where the bees would be placed in a new hive. "It was an amazing experience to see the swarm and to see how it was dealt with. I am delighted Stuart and Maureen were around at the time and dealt with the bees so calmly and professionally.”

Members’ Activities

The next teaching meeting at the Prae Wood apiary will be on Saturday June 20th at 3pm. The subject will be harvest and end of season. Weekly meetings continue at the Prae wood and Oaklands apiaries, 2-4pm. Learners and observers welcome.

We will be meeting the public at the Oaklands open day on June 13th and at Larks in the Park, Victoria Fields, St Albans, on June 28th . Volunteers are needed to chat about bees to interested people at both events. If you can spare an hour or two, please contact Christine Aitken on 01582 792316.

Do you need an out-apiary?

Following much publicity in the media, we have been contacted by two people very kindly offering sites for beehives in their sizeable gardens. At present we believe that you all have satisfactory sites for your hives and so have written back thanking them and promising to keep their names on file for later reference. If you are thinking about an out-apiary, either now or in the future, do contact secretary Christine Aitken (phone No. above) or any other committee member for details.

BISHOPS STORTFORD NEWS BY JENNY MILLER

Honeysuckle Cottage hosted the 9th May meeting. Three new "keen to learn" prospective Beekeepers were among the fourteen who attended. In Jenny's first hive 5 or 6 empty Queen cells were found,no evidence of brood and then the realization that a swarm and also possibly a small cast had occurred. Luckily then a Virgin Queen was spotted, still to begin laying brood. The second hive was ready to house the new Nuc which had arrived three days earlier. The Bees were successfully transferred from the Nuc box and checked. We then took a stroll up to another hive which Frances looks after. Unfortunately no Queen could be seen and evidence that maybe a swarm had occurred from this hive. Widford residents had reported four swarms during the past week! It was decided to take some frames plus a Queen cell and food and use the travelling Nuc box as a possible way of forming a Nuc. At teatime various meeting dates were confirmed. Volunteers were requested to help at Beeworld in August. Two members names were put forward as Trustees. Many thanks to Derek Driver for attending and sharing his knowledge with us.

The 8th August meeting will be held at the apiary of Jane Moseley at Blakesware Manor, Wareside, SG12 7RD. If you want to keep up with her progress as a new beekeeper then take a look at her blog at beehivejive.wordpress.com.

WELWYN NEWS BY TAMORA LESLIE

There are many articles being produced in the general press relating to bees and beekeeping. The following information was gleaned from two different sources.

The UK cereal company Jordans is a corporate member of the BBKA. They are based at Biggleswade and have joined up with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to launch and national campaign to increase the number of bee-friendly habitats in the UK and also to raise the awareness of bees and their importance to the environment. Amateur apiarists maintain 8 hives at Kew. You can read more on www.jordanbigbuzz.co.uk and www.kew.org.

As always advice is given to add more flowering plants to the garden which will bloom at different times throughout the year to ensure a steady supply of nectar and pollen. Apart from the flowering fruit trees the following were mentioned ageratum, artichoke, sage, rosemary and borage, lavender, blackberry, hollyhocks and larkspur, crocus, golden rod, willow and ivy.

A new product is now being advertised on the market which claims to enhance the performance of bees as pollinators by encouraging foraging. The product is a blend of four pheromones which should be sprayed on crops such as brassica vegetables, mustard and beans at the start of flowering or on fruiting plants such as raspberries, strawberries and blackcurrants. This product is said to reproduce natural attractants and has already been used in France, Italy and Spain. Will Great Britain be next?

Reminders of Welwyn Beekeepers Association events in June:

7th Hertford Castle Fun Day (pm)
13th Applecroft School
20th Welwyn Street Market. (9.00 - 12.30). We will taking our usual stand. Setting up is from 8 am. The road will be closed at 8.30 am. We need you and we need your honey! Contact - Peter Folge tel 01438 816211.

SE HERTS NEWS BY JOHN MUMFORD

If there was a shortage of bees this Spring, the bees are putting matters right with swarms galore. I have lost swarms, and collected swarms from my own apiary. I have seen two swarms where the Queens were clipped issue within a few minutes of each other, amalgamate, and then all go back into one hive. I have done exactly as the books suggest and left two marked open Queen Cells, then seven days later I broke one down together with any wild Queen Cells - they then swarmed - when I looked through the bees sounded very Queenless, so I gave them a test frame of eggs and young larvae only to have Queencells built over drone brood ! I then gave them a ripe Queencell which has emerged normally - will they swarm again? Who knows - it's just one of those years, when even experienced beekeepers have to put their hands up and admit that bees working 24-7 can run rings round us.

These swarms didn't get away.

I, like a lot of beekeepers, are now just waiting for some warm calm days to get Queens mated so that colonies can get back to something like normal before we get involved in extracting all that sticky stuff that bees collect.

I am writing this on the 22nd. May - I had some robbing going on a few days ago - and yesterday saw the first of the Blackberry blossom open! It's been a good year for the bees so far, but it will now be all over in just a few weeks.

I have had no response to my call for help in manning the stall at the Broxbourne Council Open Day on the 4th. of July, is it me that is the problem, or are our members not interested in showing Joe Public what Beekeepers do?

I have been asked by the committee to send out Gift Aid forms to those members who we have no record of their filling in a form. We can reclaim Tax to the value of about 25% of the subscriptions paid, this will mean that we can spend more and keep subscriptions down. If you get a Gift Aid Form please get it back to Roy Cropley ASAP.

WEST HERTS NEWS BY MARGARET TIGHE

This spring we find our apiary much improved with a new shed, some new hive stands and the refurbished "pavilion"! This has all come about thanks to the hard work of a small group of generous members who gave up their time to make these much needed improvements.

There were seven hives kept at the apiary during the winter and they all survived although several were attacked by woodpeckers.

We have already had four, well attended apiary meetings this year. There have been several potential new members at the meetings. Expert practical tuition was given at all the meetings which is very much appreciated. It is a wonderful way to learn more about beekeeping especially when followed by tea and biscuits and further discussion!

ROTHAMSTED BEE GROUP IS ALIVE AND WELL

As a member of Herts BKA and employee at Rothamsted Research, I would like to correct a misunderstanding that I have unfortunately heard repeated in a number of beekeeping circles, i.e. the view that the "bee unit at Rothamsted has closed". It is all the more disappointing to hear this view expressed on Rothamsted's doorstep after Rothamsted staff associated with the bee group have only recently given talks to the Herts BKA about their current activities.

Hence I would like to clarify that the bee group at Rothamsted is live, well and very much active!

The group is being led by Dr Juliet Osborne and staffed by an additional 4 members of staff and 2 students. There obviously have been staff losses – Prof. Ingrid Williams, Brenda Ball and Andrew Martin have retired and Norman Carreck was made redundant. In Brenda and Norman’s case, this was largely a consequence of the Defra research grant, funding their bee pathology work, coming to an end and Defra indicating that they would not extend funding for an additional period. Defra would probably accept, with the benefit of hindsight, that that decision was poorly-made considering the extent to which bee health has quickly risen to the top of people’s concerns since. Knowing that Norman has since received funding to support his role at the Sussex Bee Research Laboratory is therefore brilliant news.

But others are still very active at Rothamsted. Reflecting the funding environment at the time, most of the continuing work of Rothamsted’s bee unit focussed on pollination, but we do have two current projects focussed on bee health – a BBSRC studentship on “the effects of pathogens on honey bee learning and foraging behaviour” (some North Herts members may remember meeting Emma Wright – the postgraduate student appointed and Juliet Osborne and Judy Pell – her two Rothamsted supervisors) and a industry-sponsored pilot study integrating the effects of stressors within the hive and in the landscape. Funding for additional projects are either already being considered or are in discussion with various funders and potential collaborators.

This year also sees the opening of the Rothamsted bee group’s new purpose-built field research laboratory.
Losing such experienced researchers has definitely been a challenge for the bee group at Rothamsted, but please do no ‘bury’ the bee group before their time.

Pete Kennedy
(St Albans branch of HBKA)

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

by Derek Driver

Recently I was asked to visit a member’s apiary because one of his hives had bees all over the front and the owner of the garden was not a beekeeper. This member was on holiday but had asked me to help if needed. This was the 7th of May.

I arrived on site with a lady member and found ourselves looking at a group of Dadant hives, which are not my favourites, as they have such large frames and I find them difficult to manipulate looking for queens. The middle one had a mass of bees over the entrance and hanging underneath the floor, so I brushed nearly all into a swarm box and set it aside.    I started by removing three full supers, (the site was adjacent to a rape field.) and started to go through the brood frames which were set out in the warm way. There were queen cells everywhere and on the second frame I found a marked and clipped queen. So, I decided to move her into one of the spare hives on site with additional bees, and continued going through the rest of the frames deciding which queens cells would be best to leave.

On the forth frame I found another marked and clipped queen! This was a surprise as I have never found two clipped queens in the same brood chamber before. A queen and a virgin yes, but not two clipped queens! So I moved her, plus bees into another spare hive on site and finished going through the original  hive leaving the two best queen cells  On rebuilding this hive I  put a empty super over the queen excluder before replacing the three full supers.

The mass of bees in the swarm box I then empted into the one of the hives in which I had placed one of the clipped queens.

My guess as to what happened is one of the hives swarmed but the clipped queen found herself in the grass and walked back up the legs of the adjacent hive, and in, but the swarm bees with her remained outside hanging underneath, but why didn’t the two queens fight?  Perhaps the experts will come up with all sorts of theories and keeps our editor busy judging which answer is more plausible

PRIMARY SCHOOL HELP REQUESTED

Hello! I know this is really short notice, but I'm wondering whether you know of anyone who visits primary schools!! I teach in Chorleywood, and have just been given the topic of bees to research and work around during W/C 6.7.09. I'd love any info etc and would especially like someone to talk to our children, show protective gear etc.  I believe there are beekeepers in Chorleywood, but I'm not sure where! My name is Vanessa Southworth. I teach 7 year olds in The Russell School, Chorleywood. My school tel no is 01923 284272, and I will be there from 1.6.09.

SURVEY RESULTS

From a sample of 150 colonies across Hertfordshire at the start of winter, 36 (24%) were strong, 80 (53%) were average, 12 (8%) were weak and 22 (15%) had died by the start of the new season. This is much better than in previous years and, despite a cold winter, is a promising start to the new year.

NEWS FROM OUR OWN SEASONAL BEE INSPECTOR

I have now taken over from Peter Heath West Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Peter Heath will continue to work in Essex. I have already started to make my rounds and generally have found bees in Herts are mostly in good hands. There are however one or two beekeepers who need to brush up their husbandry. We must not forget after all the honey is taken for human consumption and bees must be respected as much as other farm animals.

My role as Seasonal Bee Inspector takes into account the identification of bee diseases and contaminants that could possibly be found in the hive. SBI's work from April - October for the NBU (National Bee Unit, based in York) under the control of FERA (Food & Environmental Research Agency).

Modern techniques allow inspectors to analyse and test foulbrood diseases on site giving an instant diagnosis. Thanks to beekeepers getting more involved and with an open hands approach has helped to keep this critical work flowing smoothly. Voluntary Registration on "Bee Base" is the key of our success in controlling bee pathogens in the UK. Unfortunately EFB is on the rise and we all need to be looking for unusual brood patterns and report these asp. No one likes to find disease but the sooner we take action the quicker we can stop the spread.  All SBI's are beekeepers with most having a good number of years of beekeeping experience.

We also have a duty to investigate unknown apiary sites and look for their owners.

I look forward to meeting and seeing you and your bees and am happy for you to request a visit.

Peter Folge (SBI)
"The Bees Knees"
Welwyn Beekeepers Association

May 2009

EDITORIAL BY PAUL COOPER

April has ended warm and dry. The oilseed rape is in full bloom and colonies are very busy. Supers are being filled and swarming has started - I received the first phone call from a concerned member of the public on 20th April. What was the earliest swarm you heard about this year?

This month's newsletter is full of news about research and new funding. We have a message from our Chairman and newly appointed Bee Inspector. For those that are curious about the intricacies of capitation fees, there is an article from our Treasurer who explains it all.

Stoneleigh took place as usual in April and was as busy as ever with all the bargains selling out by about 11am. It was worth the trip though.

NORTH HERTS NEWS BY CHRISTINE PHILLIPS

Some good news for a change! An initial survey of N. Herts beekeepers shows that almost 90% of colonies came through the winter and nearly all of those are in an average or strong condition. What a lovely contrast to the doom and gloom on the radio and television! However, some bees seem to have got a little over-exuberant and I have heard of 4 swarms locally by mid April, so be warned!

Our last winter meeting was a slide show by Frank Everest, mainly for beginners but of great interest to the more experienced too, especially Frank's recording of a queen piping. How on earth does a small insect make such a loud noise?

Our first eagerly awaited Apiary visit of the season is this Saturday at Graham's. Lets hope for good weather.

One more date for your calendar is 18th July at Standalone Farm, David and Janet's bees, at the usual time of 2.30pm.

Finally, a correction with apologies to all concerned: the winner of second prize at our honey tasting in March was John Hill.

ST ALBAN NEWS BY ROBIN MOORE

Mid-April saw the end of theory sessions on the 2009 ‘Beginners Course’ run by St Albans Beekeepers Association. By the time you read this, the beginners will have met their mentors at their first practical session and be getting that all important hands-on experience under a guiding eye.The new apiary site at Oaklands College is up and running with several colonies working the surrounding fruit trees. Depending on preference, some of the beginners will be at Oaklands and some at the Prae Wood apiary.

The next meeting for ALL members is 3pm on Saturday 16th May at Prae Wood apiary when the subject will be ‘Swarm Control’. The regular Saturday 2-4pm sessions have started at both apiaries, - learners and enquirers are welcome at either location.

Acquiring a new apiary site has meant that many farmers and landowners in our area have been approached over that last 18 months or so. Some already had hives, others welcomed the approach and showed interest in having a few hives but not to permitting access for more than a couple of beekeepers and their cars. The Committee is concerned about the nuisance factor that owners of existing or potential out-apiary sites may suffer from beekeepers looking for sites. Therefore, the Committee has decided to list ‘places where people have out-apiaries already’ and ‘out-apiary sites not to be contacted’, so that multiple requests to those landowners might be avoided. Don’t be surprised if you get a call for details.

There are 2 new dates for your calendar. St Albans Committee have agreed to participate at ‘Oaklands Open Day’ on 13th June and at ‘Larks in the Park’ on 28th June. This is in addition to our being at ‘Earthworks Open Day’ on 5th July 2009. As usual we will have an observation hive and sales of honey, candles etc. These events give us a good opportunity to meet the Public and present beekeeping in a positive way. Please offer to help for an hour or two on these days.

 

Photo 1: marking the retirement from committee posts of Eric Margrave and Anne Wingate; although both are still very active in the field of mentoring our beginners (and not so new beekeepers) and upkeep and organisation of the association apiaries at Prae Wood and Oaklands.

Photo 2: 25th April the day our 2009 cohort of beginners from the winter theory sessions met their mentors. Most were set up with a nucleus of bees in their new ‘hire a hive’ 14 x 12 National by the time we went home. Welcome one and all.

BISHOPS STORTFORD NEWS BY PAUL COOPER

We recently conducted a survey amongst Bishops Stortford members to determine what losses had occurred this winter. Out of a total of 18 colonies, 6 are in excellent shape, 7 are average, 1 is very weak and 4 have died out. Of the ones that are doing well, most were given candy over winter or from February onwards. The weaker or dead colonies lacked adequate feed or (in one case) suffered from mouse infestation. These results will be compared with the results from other divisions.

There have been two apiary visits since last month - to Susie's and to Pauline's. Both meetings had new members turn up and it is clear that Bishops Stortford membership is on the rise again with numerous enquires from potential members about beekeeping. Increasing the frequency of our apiary visits to every three weeks will help. We welcome all new beekeepers.

The next meeting is on Saturday 9th May at 2pm at Jenny's in Widford. Details of this meeting and all future Bishops Stortford meetings are on the Herts Bees calendar.

WELWYN NEWS BY TAMARA LESLIE

Reminder - Our Api Tour with Peter Heath is Saturday, 6th June; further information from Sue Parkins, telephone 04138 821689. We will be hosting a stall at Hertford Castle Fun Day next day on the 7th, Sunday afternoon.

This year there has been a huge increase in the number of people interested in keeping bees. The regular Welwyn members' "First Saturday of the Month" Apiary meetings are now over- subscribed and at present no new members can come along to get "hands-on" training from experienced beekeepers. Overflow sessions will be arranged on an occasional basis. Please only come to one or the other.

Whilst the increase in interest in beekeeping is to be welcomed it is important that all new members and also those with two or three years' experience receive ongoing, concentrated "expert" encouragement and training. We have some ideas for further events - watch this space!

SOUTH EAST HERTS NEWS BY JOHN MUMFORD

PLEASE TAKE NOTE ! The Committee have decided to change the venue of the Harvest Supper and the Winter Meetings from the Hoddesdon Baptist Church Hall to Pinewood School. This will save a considerable sum of money that can be spent on other things. A map showing the whereabouts of Pinewood School is enclosed with this Newsletter. If this arrangement proves to be un-popular with the members, then we will revert back to the Baptist Church for 2010.In case the directions I gave for getting to Garry Barnett’s Apiary in the April Newsletter were at all misunderstood a Map showing his Apiary Site is enclosed with this Newsletter. We will still Meet and Park in the Car Park at the top of Elbow Lane.

There seems to be a fairly widespread outbreak of Nosema in the district, indeed I have one colony confirmed with the disease and I suspect a couple of others have it also! I have several colonies with two and three super on already ( Mid April), and a few that are not building up as I would like.

Nosema is endemic, and normally only becomes a problem during the Winter and Spring months when the bees are confined to the hive for long periods or in the Summer when the bees are stressed and are forced to void inside the hive. The symptoms generally disappear during the Summer months as the bees can fly most days and the weakened bees die out in the field, but the infection continues unseen.

Amajor cause of the spread of Nosema is bees robbing out a hive in the Spring where the bees have died of Nosema during the preceding Winter.

The Nosema spores survive on the combs to continue the infection during the following winter. Fumidil ‘B’ is the recommended treatment but it must not be used on colonies during the Spring and Summer if they are producing honey for human consumption. Combs can be fumigated using Acetic Acid but must be well aired before returning them to the bees.

Queens can become infected and defecating inside the hive, pass the infection onto her workers. Infected Queens can’t produce the eggs necessary for the colony to reach it’s full potential, and such Queens are often Superceded. If a Colony has gone Queenless over Winter the most likely cause is Nosema, and the combs should not be used until they are thoroughly sterilised

The most effective treatment involves a COMPLETE COMB CHANGE, a CLEAN HIVE, a NEW QUEEN, and a FULL DOSE of Fumidil ‘B’ in the Winter Feed. Anything short of this treatment could mean that the disease will continue year, after year, after year.

LETTER FROM PETER FOLGE, HBKA CHAIRMAN AND BEE INSPECTOR

Dear HBKA Members,

Looks like there will be a lot of early swarms this year. I have already had mine try and swarm today, 23rd April. This is a reason why queens should be clipped. You may loose the queen if not found, but you will have a chance to look through your colonies and destroy/remove excess queen cells. If in doubt leave two sealed cells. Better still; once these cells are sealed make a nuc by taking out one queen cell with a frame of brood and one with food. Shake bees in, at least twice as many bees in as needed. DO NOT Shake the queen cells this can damage them.

I will make an artificial swarm tomorrow late afternoon when I get back from the NBU (National Bee Unit) Conference. Bernard Diaper (BDI) was there talking about our Bee Disease Insurance. We should actually over-insure to take into account nucleas and swarms during the summer. Mini mating nucs are not insured or colonies that are without proper structure - in other words nucs/hives quickly thrown together without brood or headed by a laying queen; this however does not mean a full established hive will not be covered going through a broodless or queenless period.

The NBU wishes to encourage all beekeepers to fill out an online survey about winter losses (can be downloaded and printed off if need be: https://secure.csl.gov.uk/beebase/public/News/news.cfm This is important and I urge all of you with bees or had bees to do this as soon as possible! This info will go into the national records and again is entered anonymously.

If we have bees we should enter/register our details on beebase. I have three apiary sites and these have all been entered. No concern is needed as these sites remain private and unmarked to the public and other members. Only NBU bee officers like myself will be able to use this information and keep an up to date record of sites. This is important so that we can organise routine (yearly) inspections. As there are many new beekeepers, disease can spread very quickly from A to B, especially if we are not aware of potential disease threats. I know many of you are aware of this but we need to keep this in mind when addressing all new beginners. More associations will be closing their doors to interested parties as we are not able to cope with the continuing huge influx. Beekeeping at present is Recession Proof!

A growing concern is EFB (European Foul Brood) which is rising rapidly. I will highlight what to look out for at our next apiary meeting in May (brochures should be available especially regarding varroa). Peter Mathews has outlined another overflow apiary meeting this weekend on Sunday 26th April 2pm Raffin Green. Please attend one of these but NOT BOTH!

I will be out over the next couple of weeks with Peter Heath furthering my field experience. Don't worry I do have 27 years beekeeping experience but most of the work requires plenty of paper work and using some new field monitoring techniques.

One last thing. If you have bees and are concerned that they are struggling or something is not right please get in touch as the quicker the diagnosis the greater survival rate and the greater the honey gathering potential.

Your Bee Inspector & Chairman, Peter Folge

AGM REPORT BY PETER FOLGE

Juliet's Bumblebee Lecture was well received and I found it very interesting and quite a few questions were offered at the end. It was interesting to learn that the so called bumble bee nesting boxes scored quite unfavourable with the bumbles and simpler home made contraptions worked well. Although there were only a few beginners I found Roger's Lecture a little too involved for the beginner and needed rushing through at the end. Although I understood him well further clarification would have been required. An excellent day on the whole and thanks for all the members who helped with the raffle.

And finally....

Our dear Anne Wingate. She formally stepped down with a token of appreciation from the Herts members. A signed card, flowers and a thankyou speech was given by Oonagh for all the years hard work that was given since the early 70's. It will be hard to live up to her reputation.

BBKA CAPITATION

by David Brown HBKA Treasurer

This is the first full year of the new BBKA capitation process and I thought a word of explanation would be useful.

The Primary capitation date is now the 1st April. Capitation payments, for all members on the division membership lists at 12.00pm, become payable for the year from the 1st April to the 31st March. The Second capitation date is the 1st September. Capitation payments, for all members on the division membership lists at 12.00pm, become payable for the half year from the 2nd September to the 31st March. Capitation payments for members registered after the 1st September are zero until the following 1st April.

Late in March BBKA issue a capitation invoice to Hertfordshire Beekeepers Association for those registered members on the BBKA list, split by division. I then forward that list to the divisional treasurer.

The divisional treasurer updates/amends the list as appropriate, using BBKA standard form, and then forwards the required payment to me together with the amendment form. The HBKA members list is then amended/updated and payment is forwarded to BBKA together with any amendments to the list.

In late August the same procedure is followed for the second capitation.

HBKA capitation follows the same process.

Prior to issuing the capitation invoices BBKA checks with HBKA, and through them the divisions, that the list of registered members is up to date.

Remember that our members do not receive the benefits of BBKA membership until they have been registered with BBKA. So do not wait for the capitation process before registering your members. Contact Pauline Gibbs the new membership secretary as soon as you have any changes to your membership list. I had several last minute requests for member registration this year as it was realised they needed a BBKA membership number to take advantage of the lower entrance fees to Stoneleigh.

NEW SUSSEX BEE RESEARCH LABORATORY

One of the people interviewed in the BBC programme "Who Killed the Honey Bee" (BBC Four, 23rd April) was Norman Carreck who previously worked at Rothamsted before the bee unit was closed. I was pleased to see that he now works at Sussex University which is a new facility called LASI - Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects.

There are four projects:

1. Breeding disease-resistant hygienic honey bees. This will provide breeder queens to beekeepers. Hopefully we should begin to see bees that clean off the varroa mite or remove infected brood cells.
2. How good is the British countryside for honey bees? Decoding the waggle dance to determine where worker honey bees are foraging.
3. Learning from other countries. Testing and developing European and North American varroa control methods under British conditions and extending knowledge and good practice to beekeepers.
4. What is killing British honey bee colonies? Monitoring hives for pathogens and other causes of mortality.

As a recent speaker at HBKA AGMs we wish Norman good luck at the new laboratory and hope soon that we will all be benefiting from the team's research.

(Correction: since this newsletter was first published I have been notified that the Bee Unit was not closed and is currently led by Dr Juliet Osborne and staffed by an additional 4 members of staff and 2 students. More on their work in the June newsletter.)

HONEY BEE HEALTH RESEARCH CONCEPTS

by Tim Lovett, President, BBKA

Over the last year or so, following on from our Research Colloquium in July 2007, the BBKA has been putting together a comprehensive programme indicating the research needed to help deal with bee health challenges and threats. “Honey Bee Health Research Concepts” was published in late February and is now available on the BBKA web-site as a 515KB PDF.

http://www.britishbee.org.uk/files/bbka-research-concepts.pdf

It sets out why and what research is needed and lists 30 projects under 12 programme areas with indicative costings of £8+ million. It is not intended to be prescriptive nor exclusive but should be an engine for debate in determining the setting of priorities and commissioning of projects. Its publication is timely given the announcement of funding by Defra and we look to it playing a major role in the allocation of those funds. The document covers areas as broad as varroa and nosema medication, through queen rearing, bee genetics, pesticide effects, habitat loss, bee nutrition and on to medicinal honey. ‘Research Concepts’ represents a broad programme which attempts to confront the issues; it is to be hoped that researchers will take up the cause and bid for the funding now available.

SURVEY OF CURRENT HONEYBEE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY THE NATIONAL BEE UNIT

by Andy Wattam, Eastern Regional Bee Inspector

Ladies & Gentlemen

The National Bee Unit are conducting a national survey to obtain information on current honey bee husbandry practices. We intend to gather this data regularly and use it to monitor trends in UK beekeeping and help with beekeeper training. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and will be of great value to beekeeping in the UK. Follow the link below and you will see in blue 'Start Answering This Survey' centre of page.

https://secure.csl.gov.uk/beebase/public/News/news.cfm

All your answers are strictly confidential and will only be used for the purposes of this study. Please mark your responses where indicated and enter values or comments where appropriate.

We hope to get the best possible results out of this survey and to make this the most comprehensive survey of beekeeping practices ever completed in the UK. The survey is anonymous so please be honest - I am going to give it a try tonight. If you know of beekeepers who would like to complete the survey but don't have access to the internet - please let me know and I can get a paper copy to them.

Many thanks again and kindest regards.

NEW SEASONAL BEE INSPECTORS - EASTERN REGION NATIONAL BEE UNIT

by Andy Wattam, Eastern Regional Bee Inspector

Ladies & Gentlemen

Please could I advise you that we now have 3 additional Seasonal Bee Inspectors starting work in our Region. They are currently undergoing both Regionally based training, combined with National Training this week at Sand Hutton. This will be followed by a period working alongside and being mentored by an experienced Inspector until they begin work on their own - within their own designated areas.

Sylvia Pettitt: Sylvia is based near Newmarket and will be responsible for Mid & West Suffolk (Including Ipswich), and also Cambridgeshire. Experienced Mentors: Mike Willis & Keith Morgan

Peter Folge: Peter is based near Knebworth and will be responsible for West Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Experienced Mentor: Peter Heath

David Bonner: David is based on the Leicestershire / Warwickshire Border and will be responsible for Leicester City & Leicestershire with the exception of Northern Areas such as the Vale Of Belvoir / north of Melton Mowbray area. He will also work the Leics / Warwick border areas which we have previously covered for Western Region also. Experienced Mentor: Andy Wattam

As soon as these new Inspectors have completed their training I shall advise you of their contact numbers and e-mail addresses. If your area is not one of those mentioned then it is likely that your usual Inspector will remain the same.

Kindest regards.

"NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN FOUND THAT INSECTICIDE CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR BEES"

by Hilary Benn MP, Environment Secretary

It was very welcome news that The Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced that DEFRA and its Funding Partners have agreed to increase their investment into tackling the decline in Honey bee and other pollinators to £10 million pounds.

This significant news was somewhat overshadowed during his interview on Radio 4's Today programme when he proclaimed that "No evidence has been found that insecticide causes problems for bees." Would someone please tell him that bees are insects. If you missed the item you can listen to it again on this BBC webpage during a piece which also includes an interview with Tim Lovett.

CORRECTIONS

Len Dixon, who wrote last months article on Queenlessness, is editor of Herefordshire BKA and not Reigate. Apologies.

Herts Bees has moved....

Please see the new HBKA website

www.hertsbees.org.uk

for the latest news and information about beekeeping in Hertfordshire.

This blog will remain here as an archive.

Bishops Stortford news by Paul Cooper

The date of the next meeting is the BSBKA AGM on 12th March. We will be electing new officers so please come along and help to make the Bishops Stortford group grow. We need some new ideas to increase the membership and to keep beekeeping alive in East Herts. The meeting is at Alan's house, not in Widford as previously mentioned.

Please note that BSBKA subscriptions of £16 were due on 1st January. Please send your cheque payable to BSBKA to Valerie Edel.

West Herts news by Brian Norman

The last meeting at the apiary enabled the members to check the status of the colonies. The newer colonies were given some supplementary food even though pollen and nectar were evident by the activity on the alighting boards. One of the members’ hives presented its owner with a small late excess of honey, extraction was still to be done so it will be interesting to hear the outcome.

Reflecting back over this years beekeeping, it certainly has been a year with a difference, our hopes and also that of the bees were raised by the early spring, thereby allowing the opportunity for the colonies to rapidly expand with the early nectar and pollen flow. The less said about the summer weather the better. Smaller colonies struggled to get established, but for all the weather setbacks, a reasonable show in colony strength and a bonus crop at the end of the season seems to be a trend for the seasons to be extended with differing nectar crops, so that the bees are far more active for longer periods of time.

On a sad note, a former member of West Herts has just passed away. Roland Sweet was a very active member of the association and a stalwart member of the committee for many years with very innovative ideas.

Taranov Board - artificial swarming without finding the queen!

This was invented by G.F. Taranov, a Russian Beekeeper, and consists of 2 sheets of plywood (or similar) set with open end propped by struts. A rough length of wood (25mm. square approx.) is fixed under the top board 100mm from the open end - this forms a focus for the clustering bees.

The board is placed with the upper edge 100mm. from the alighting board/hive entrance and set at the same height. A cloth is placed to cover the lower portion of the board. Then frames are shaken onto the lower end of the board. The bees will walk up to the top edge of the board where "swarm" bees will go into the dark region under the board and cluster, along with the queen. The non-swarming bees (mainly older) will fly across the gap back into the hive, which should be left with a frame containing 1 or 2 queen cells to produce the new queen (this frame should have been brushed clear of bees, NOT shaken).

See Dave Cushman's website for pictures for construction details.

St Albans news by Anne Wingate

I hope you are all looking forward to a new year of bee keeping. I know some of you have taken the advice to prepare for the coming season. Let's hope it is a good one.

At present, mid January, the cold weather is encouraging the pigeon and collared doves to destroy the oil seed rape (OSR). In the past this has meant OSR flowers later. The hazel catkins are 1 1/2 inches long in some sheltered spots but the weather too wet and cold for the bees to fly far from the hive.

Thanks to those of you who attended the AGM in January. Your Committee works hard on your behalf, so we need your support.

The first meeting of the year is at 8pm on 15th February at U.R. Church Hall, Chiswell Green and the subject is "Disease Update" by Eileen Remnant. There will be time to talk about early spring management, so come along and meet your fellow bee keepers.

I hope you will see elsewhere the details of Herts AGM. and the speaker Martin Buckle. If anyone can offer help with teas and clearing up please phone me.

Annual Delegates Meeting 2008 by John Brooksbank

On Saturday 12 Jan this year I represented the Herts BKA at the annual Delegates meeting of the BBKA at Stoneleigh.

The quality of the meeting has risen slowly over the years that I have been the HBKA representative, as has the quality of the BBKA executive committee. The propositions were clearly put, and the executive responses published before the meeting. The discussions were well considered and there was no nit picking or “dog in the manger” attitudes as there has been before, it was very refreshing.

As the meeting progressed several salient points emerged, I will list them in the order they appeared:

• Sir Edmund Hilary of Everest fame who died this year was a well known beekeeper.
• The constitutions of each of the associations should be sent to the BBKA so that they have a copy.
• A leaflet on the code of practice of dealing with abandoned hives is to be produced and will be on the website.
• The VMD situation regarding the use of Oxalic acid is unchanged. Bees are food producing animals, and as such are covered by the appropriate legislature. Discussions are on-going with the VMD to re-classify bees or the use of chemicals on these animals.
• Research needs. Tim Lovett outlined the following research needs:

- Varroa
- Nosema related to CCD
- Foul Broods
- Small hive beetle
- Husbandry- Queen rearing, mesh floors, hive cleansing, swarming.
- Bee breeding – improvement, resistance, bee genome.

• The government (Lord Rooker) recognises that there is a problem with funding for bee research, but the government is not prepared to fund any additional research.
• It was pointed out that many lectures and study courses can be re-funded by running them under local education schemes. Somerset have rec’d considerable funding.
• The accountants advise that the liquid reserves of a society should cover two years expenditure.

Voting

The voting for the delegates was completely uneventful as the number of candidates matched the positions available.

Applications for membership.

There were four association applications for membership, which I assumed would be straightforward on the basis of the more the merrier, but not so, since two had broken away from Berkshire 17 years ago and some felt that they should rejoin. In the case of Sedbergh they maybe too small, and in the case of Northern Irish beekeepers they should join Ulster. At the vote all were welcomed into the BBKA.

Propositions

All the propositions are listed in full in the Dec. BBKA News.

• 01/08 That the BBKA membership be maintained on line.

There is variability in the ease of updating the database. HBKA have had difficulty. After some discussion an amendment was proposed and accepted that the executive resolve the problem.

• 02/08 That a new category of “junior” membership be introduced.

The argument against this is that divisions set the rules for junior membership, and regardless of age you become a member of the BBKA. In the end it was agreed that the executive look into the motion.

• 03/08 that the constitution be amended to allow Junior members.

This was quickly rejected.

• 04/08 that DEFRA should introduce Small Hive Beetle traps.

After modifying the proposal to include “other fruit distribution areas” as well as ports. The motion was strongly passed.

• 05/08 that the draft ADM minutes be issued by Feb

Passed unanimously.

• 06/08 that the BBKA strengthens its policy regarding working with children and the vulnerable.

The rule is that the member associations are responsible in law for their actions and policies. After some discussion it was referred to the executive for consideration.

• 07/08 that positive and active approach be taken towards research

This was well supported and agreed. It was suggested that associations with excess funds use some to prime research work.

• 08/08 that the BBKA produce a pamphlet on the identification of bees for the public

All agreed on this and suggested that it go on the web site as well. A volunteer was requested for this task.

• 09/08 that the capitation rate from 1 Oct 08 be increased to £14

This was agreed speedily, there was some consternation about the speed in which the vote was taken but not in the outcome.

• 10/08 that the BBKA be authorised to continue pursuing Apimondia 2013

The risks and benefits were outlined. The risk at this stage being £5000 to cover cost of proceeding. The benefits are the prestige and any profits over the entire costs. The Ukraine are the other main runners at present. Tim Lovett offered to project lead the venture. On this basis I decided to support the proposal and it was carried.

In summary, Herts BKA got the results that the Herts exec committee preferred.

Keeping our Bees Alive

Our neighbouring association in Cambridshire is having a meeting on 8th March 2008. The speakers are Mike Brown, (Central Science Laboratory) "Colony Collapse Disorder - an Update"; Ben Emmett "Town or Country bees?"; Dr. Max Watkins (Vita Europe) "Developments in Honeybee Health"; Terry Clare (BIBBA) " Safeguarding the Future - a Trident Approach". Trade stand. Tickets (£15) from Dr. D. J. Abson, 6 Ascham Lane, Whittlesford, Cambridge, CB22 4NT. S.A.E. appreciated.

North Herts news by John Hill

Yet another year gone!, ........as I get older, everything seems to happen earlier, and faster. At the time of writing .... mid January already!!... and last Christmas has become a sort memory one tries to recall frequently, but unfortunately the event already seems to be getting very blurred at the edges. There’s no doubt that, speaking for myself, short term memory is very fractured, ( I might even have said this before!), Who’s that person,? What’s his/her name? I know that face!? Where’s that book/wallet/credit cards etc. etc.? I give up ,... I just have to live in my confusion,...and life goes on, faster and faster.. Even my diary seems to be filling up fast. Ah...well, Here’s our news,...... If I can remember it!

Our bee-party was a great success. We had about 22 paid up members attending...all brought the plate of their own choice. We made a profit of £23 on the evening including the raffle (£5). There were about 12 prizes in the raffle, and any double winners were ‘persuaded’ to put their ticket back!! Excess wine was auctioned off, and realised £11. It was all very festive, and a pleasure to see everyone “pre-season”, so to speak.

At a recent County Executive Meeting we were reminded that we are expected to organise the yearly “Bee World” event at Capel Manor in 2008. This will require considerable effort from North Herts members,...so please help where you can. Also, there will be a vacancy for County Secretary at the AGM in March, Helen Irving has done a great job, but cannot continue. If you feel you can fill this very interesting, but not too challenging post please come to the AGM and volunteer!

Our February meeting will take place on the 12th. (second Tuesday), at the usual venue, Friends’ Meeting House, Sollershott East, Letchworth, at 7.30 p.m. We are hoping to have a speaker who will give us inspiration!!!.. And, also at our AGM in March , another speaker, whom we haven’t yet ‘firmed up’. We may abandon our Honey Tasting Competition until April, and have a shortened AGM. Watch this space in the March Newsletter. See you all soon!!

Now for Dec/Jan answer to the teaser about the yellow, striped, hairy, bees.... It’s False...Some hairy bees may have 6 stripes,.... But it’s not definite. Ready for another?

See if you can work out the last number in the following pairs of numbers,.. shown with a ‘?’.

589 ... 521
724 ... 386
1346 ... 9764
? .... 485

And finally:- Here are two ‘snippets’ of poetry written by the same well known poet, any ideas who it is/was? There is a “hidden clue”!!

Great things are done when men and mountains meet;
This is not done by jostling in the street.

AND

I give you the end of a golden string:
Only wind it into a ball,
It will lead you into Heaven’s gate
Built in Jerusalem’s wall.

And to end; I hope 2008 will bring you all a satisfying time with your bees, “with loads of Honey”. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bees for Sale

Two, 6-frame overwintered nucs on BS 14” x 8½” long lug frames. 2007 queens. Disease free. Inspection invited. Buyer to collect from Hoddesdon.

Should be ready mid April. Price £50 each.

If you are interested then please contact the blog editor and I will forward your enquiry.

BBKA Capitation fees

To all Divisional Treasurers:
BBKA have increased Capitation fees to £14.00 for 2008. This new rate will be payable on 1st April 2009.

South East AGM by Derek Driver

Belonging to any organisation confers on its members certain rights and responsibilities. Committees hear a lot about members rights, however, members responsibilities are often ignored.

AGM’s are an important event in the calendar of all organisations, and the coming AGM is no exception. Most members of the Committee, and those stalwarts who always help out with our activities, have either reached the ‘BIG 70’ or are very close. These members can’t continue forever, even if they wanted to, and so if you, the members, want our group to attend Shows, arrange Meetings, organise Beekeeping Courses, and Harvest Suppers etc. then younger members need to step forward and take on some responsibilities by joining the Committee.

New ideas and new energy are required to improve our activities still further. Any of the current committee members would be more than willing to advise and help any newcomer!

If we don’t have any new volunteers then we can only assume that members will be content if all our activities cease, and we don’t arrange a Programme of Events for the Year, and members with beekeeping problems are left to just get on with it!

I find it hard to believe that this is what our members want. If it is, then why do they continue with their membership? So please make time to attend the AGM and speak up for what YOU believe our group should be doing.

Better still Join the Committee and make things happen!

South East news by John Mumford

While checking out my bees, (mid Jan 08), as I do every week during the winter months, I was pleased to find that they have all survived in good condition, even the 4-Frame Nucs look quite strong, and so I should have a few Nucs ready for sale in April.

The mild weather in October and early November allowed the bees to continue raising brood very late into the Autumn. My bees have not used up much of their winter stores yet! But they will do once brood rearing starts, which will be any moment now. It is the big colonies that are most at risk now, and a close watch needs to be kept on their stores situation. Big colonies will sometimes expand so fast in March that they run out of stores and starve in a couple of weeks.

Bees will soon start foraging for pollen and water, and some will get caught out and die before they can get back into their hives. It is normal and nothing to worry about unless it becomes excessive, when disease should be suspected. Colonies will loose half their bees in the next month or so before the new brood starts emerging in sufficient numbers each day to make up for those lost each day.

The late brood rearing last Autumn had one big disadvantage! It allowed the Varroa mites to continue breeding, and I am finding that, (and again it’s mainly with the bigger colonies), mite drops have continued at a persistent 1 or 2 per day right through the winter. I will have to wait another five or six weeks before I can put in a Spring Varroa treatment, and then estimate how big the problem actually is.

The AGM is at 8.00pm on Thursday 14th February 2008 at Hoddesdon Baptist Church Hall.

Welwyn News by Peter Mathews

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 27th February at 8.00pm, 3 Fearnley Rd, WGC, AL8 6HW. Please see Agenda for the Welwyn AGM. Note that we will have far more discussion than most years.

I am looking for someone to care for the extractor. This should be kept in a clean and dry place. As we have 8 or 9 users it is important that you are readily available.

We are still in urgent need of a treasurer, please give me a call. And, whilst on financial issues, receipts and BDI certificates accompany this newsletter. If you don't have have these it is because you still haven't paid!

Thanks to West Herts Beekeepers

from Margaret Tighe

BEEKEEPING 1957 – 2007

For many years I have wanted to take up beekeeping and, at last, fifty years after my late father first started keeping bees, I am discovering the wonders of the bee world.

I attach a copy of a photograph taken in January 1957 with my first camera. As a child I lived in Essex (yes, I am an Essex girl - I hope it was not too obvious at bee meetings!) and this beehive was situated in our back garden. It was my father’s first hive of bees and it was the beginning of honey for breakfast or tea for many years to come for the whole family (five children altogether).

Last April I joined the West Herts Beekeepers Association and I am writing to express thanks and gratitude to all the people that I got to know as a result of this.

First of all Andy Clavey, to whom I first spoke, was very kind and helpful and an excellent ambassador for anyone thinking of taking up beekeeping. Secondly to Diane and Lindsay, who not only gave me much help and advice when supplying me with essential bee equipment, but also, when a suitable swarm arrived, went to an enormous amount of trouble catching it and helping me transport it to my very first hive!

Throughout the summer, I thoroughly enjoyed the fortnightly meetings at the West Herts. Apiary; everyone (Brian, Robin, Laurie and others who I hope will forgive me for not remembering their names), was friendly and supportive and the teaching was excellent. Once again, a big thank you to you all!

Wanted - 30 beehives to aid cross-pollination

My name is Richard Scantlebury and I farm at Parvilles near Hatfield Heath. I'm intending to grow a crop of spring hybrid oilseed rape for seed production and I'm looking for bees to cross-pollinate the male and female plants. The crop is not genetically modified. The seed that comes to harvest will be a hybrid variety from the cross-pollination of the two varieties that are sown. One variety, so called the female plant, will be sown in a 7.5m wide strip; there will then be a 1m bare strip before a 2.5m strip of another variety, the male plant, followed by another 1m bare strip. This sequence will be repeated across the field. The aim is to get the male plants, in the 2.5m strips, to pollinate the female plants, in the 7.5m strips. Once flowering has finished the male plants are cut down and the female plants are left to set seed, ripen and then harvested.

The crop will be planted in March and will come to flower late May/June. The crop area is 15 hectares and I have been advised to have 2 hives per hectare.

I’m very happy to answer any other questions. If you are able to help then please email me at richard@parvillesfarm.fsnet.co.uk

Bees in the House

A debate on funding for bee research took place in the House of Lords on 27th November. The Hansard record can be found here.

Presence of Nosema Ceranea confirmed in the UK

by Andy Wattam, Eastern Region Bee Inspector

Ladies and Gentlemen

Please be advised that the presence of Nosema Ceranae has been confirmed in several areas of the United Kingdom. From a Regional Point of View - I would reaffirm the request in my newsletter, that we wish to investigate and sample any cases of 'abnormal' or extreme winter losses of Bee Colonies. In this way we can really get a hold on what is happening to our bees and build up a some baseline scientific data.

Confirmation of Nosema ceranae in England and Wales

Three hundred and nine samples have now been tested for the presence of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae using real-time PCR. All positive results were confirmed using published assays for the detection of these pathogens. Positive results have therefore been confirmed using 2 methods both based on the detection of species specific DNA. Of these samples 31 samples testing positive for N. apis (10%), 14 for N. ceranae (4.5%) and 3 (1%) testing positive for both Nosema species. N. ceranae positives were confirmed across seven counties of England (Cornwall Essex, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Hereford and Worcestershire, Greater London, North Yorkshire) and three in Wales (Glamorgan, Pows, Dyfed).

N. ceranae infections have been reported not to show typical signs of Nosema infection. Therefore we recommend beekeepers check their colonies for adult bee diseases. Treatment using the usual veterinary medicine is effective against Nosema infections in honeybee colonies. It is also important to treat effectively against Varroa mite infestations.

We will carry out a more detailed survey to estimate the prevalence and impact of both Nosema species across England and Wales. Samples of DNA extracts from the European foul brood study, imported bees and historical samples stored in the NBU labs will be rescreened.

National Bee Unit, CSL, November 2007