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

Lew Ellison

It is with great sadness that I must bring you news of the death of Lew Ellison who died this morning. Although not a member of HBKA, Lew attended our AGM every spring with a full table of beekeeping wares for sale. He also advertised in our newsletter every month (LE Services).

Anyone who visited Lew's 'shop' (a large garage at his home) was always made to feel most welcome as he was keen to talk about beekeeping and give advice on the equipment that he sold.

He will be greatly missed.

Vale: Phillip Manning 1925 – 2007

by Peter Mathews

Phillip took up beekeeping in 1982, shortly after retiring from I.C.I where he was employed for many years as a research chemist. He brought with him a keen interest in natural history together with a disciplined scientific mind. His meticulous attention to detail made him a model beekeeper. His hives were always immaculate and benchmark for cleanliness. But, with his strong traditional views, he didn’t keep anything other than WBC hives.

I first met Phillip and Anne a few years later when I attended a ‘bee meeting’ in his beautiful garden in High Oaks Road. The month was June, the day hot and the sky blue. All this was before oil seed rape, varroa and wax moth had appeared on the scene. A gentle examination of his hives was rounded off with tea and huge quantities of cake on the terrace. They were wonderful days.

By ’86, Phillip had taken on the job of treasurer for the Welwyn association. Shortly after he took on the same role for HBKA. I have been unable to find a precise date, as everyone seems to be of the firm opinion that he had always been treasurer. Certainly, he held the position for something like 20 years until his retirement in March of this year. By the ‘90’s he had also taken on the chore of printing the newsletter on a hand cranked Gestetner. This involved waiting for the ink to dry on side one before printing off side two. This lasted until stencils became unavailable. Few people can really appreciate just the amount of time involved.

Phillip was a wonderful person to work with. He was never one to shun his duties, ceaselessly asking others if they needed help. Phillip could always be relied upon. During the course of this year he was still collecting swarms, helping with the Welwyn Street Market and he co-ordinated the Welwyn honey stall at Bee World in September.

Phillip demonstrated many ‘old fashioned’ qualities ever polite, courteous, reliable and always considerate and respectful of others. How often he reminded us of the ‘proper’ way of doing things. He was also an extremely modest man, never seeking the spotlight or looking for recognition. He just got on with the job. Phillip combined great dignity with warmth and friendliness, a rare quality. Perhaps, I most admired his skills as a diplomat, bringing calmness and common sense to a heated argument.

Phillip had numerous other interests. He had a large and beautiful garden, and was very much involved in the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust. He greatly enjoyed playing bowls and was a keen bridge player. During chance conversation, I also discovered we shared an interest in caving, and that we had several friends in common from his younger days whilst at Sidcot school on the Mendips.

Phillip died suddenly on the evening of Monday, 19th November following a heart attack at the age of 82. Our heart felt condolences go to Anne, his children Alan, Susan and Gillian and other family members. He will be greatly missed.

The Prime Minister's response to the petition

The Prime Minister has responded to the petition that I mentioned in August. The response is as follows:

Honey bees are important pollinators of crops and wild flowers and make an important contribution to sustainable agriculture and the environment. The Government recognises the importance of a strong bee health programme in England to protect these benefits and takes very seriously any biosecurity threat to the sustainability of the apiculture sector.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has not reduced its expenditure with the National Bee Unit (NBU), and funding for this year remains at the same level as in recent years. In the 2007/8 financial year, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government are providing the NBU with funding of £1,518,000. There is an ongoing review of expenditure on all Defra programmes, including bee health, and it is not possible to give long-term commitments on the continuation of funding into the distant future for any particular programme. In addition, work is underway to develop a bee health strategy. This is being discussed with all sectors of the industry and should help establish priorities and clarify the roles and responsibilities of government and the industry. The strategy will also determine whether the current approach to disease control is the most effective use of resources or whether alternative approaches might yield better results in terms of disease protection, including any response to potential new threats. That review will include consideration of resource implications and the role that industry has to play in working in partnership with government. In the event of any resultant proposals to change the provision of the NBU's inspection services, there will be further consultation.

In addition, the budget for Bee Health Research and Development in 2007/08 is £192,000, which is comparable to previous years. The R&D programme underpins bee health policy and covers work on all exotic and statutory pests and diseases of bees. This year the programme is focusing on the development of a system for the monitoring and surveillance of Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida (Murray)) and assessing the effectiveness of the shook swarm technique for the control of European Foul Brood. A 3-year PhD studentship studying bee viruses will also start this year. Defra is collaborating with other funders to optimise the outcome of the research programme. The inaugural meeting of the Research Funders Forum will take place early in November.

Defra is aware of the press reports about the serious situation in the USA in respect of cases of abnormally high levels of colony loss described as Colony Collapse Disorder. However, despite continuing press speculation, we do not have evidence to suggest that there is something similar happening in the UK. Scientists and inspectors at the NBU are monitoring the situation and are in contact with experts in the USA and in Europe to learn about developments.

It is not unusual for some colonies to be found dead or absent at the end of winter. If beekeepers report such cases in England and Wales to the NBU they are routinely investigated. The very limited number of cases of high losses for which there is no ready explanation is being investigated in depth by the NBU and bee inspectors. The figures from inspections strongly indicate that colony losses in 2007 will not be significantly higher than the 11.1% recorded in 2006, reflecting the upward trend since 2001. The NBU's research and apiary assessments suggest these losses are primarily due to Varroa and inappropriate control. Uncontrolled mite populations can lead to an increase in the associated secondary pathogens like viruses or Nosema.

So everything will be ok.....!

Down Your Way - News from the Regional Bee Inspector

by Andy Wattam

Well, all that can be said is “What a season”. Looking back to the opening words of my Spring Newsletter “With the good weather in the early part of March – Seasonal Bee Inspectors were able to make a good start”, everything looked so promising, but sadly went downhill afterwards.

Most beekeepers in East Anglia are reporting a bad year from the perspective of Honey Production (although not all), and this is reflected in the comments received by colleagues in other regions. It also seems to have been a very testing year for queen mating, superscedure and late swarming leaving small unviable colonies.

Please don’t think that as Bee Inspectors we are immune to the trials and tribulations suffered by other beekeepers, because we have all suffered some unusual things this season within our own apiaries.

From my own beekeeping records I note that the summers of 1984, 1987 and also 1988 were not good in this part of the country.

I started with bees in 1984, which was a bad year, so I would say to all of those beekeepers that have started their beekeeping this year – please stick with it and use it as experience for the future. Despite the poor weather – levels of inspections within our region are higher than last year, and are the highest levels of colony inspections and beekeeper visits since computerised inspection records began at the National Bee Unit in 1994.

On all of the Inspectors travels this year one thing, which has been very consistent, is beekeepers comments regarding their difficulties with the control of Varroa. Many of our call-outs by beekeepers where disease has been suspected have culminated in colonies either weakened or collapsing with varroa.

I cannot emphasise enough that the only way to control varroa (like any other type of parasite or disease) is to monitor it’s levels and be familiar with how it works. Much useful information is contained within the ‘Managing Varroa’ booklet produced by ourselves. Many thousands of these have been given to beekeepers but it is still apparent from the questions and queries we receive (whose answers are contained within the pages of the booklet), that they in many cases have not even been opened and read.

Winter Losses of Colonies
Any beekeeper who sustains abnormally high losses of colonies from now onwards which are ‘inexplicable’ please get in touch. A free visit will be made if you desire and an investigation carried out, with samples gathered for analysis at the National Bee Unit and advice offered where possible. Most of the samples gathered from dead colonies last winter showed that causes of death were mainly attributable to viruses.

My feeling is that it is essential that we continue to look at dead-out colonies and gather ‘baseline’ data to find out exactly what is happening with our colonies. Primary contact should be Andy Wattam, as the Seasonal Bee Inspectors are not employed at this time of year.

Continued online…… Click here to download and read the full newsletter.

Eastern Region courses run by the National Bee Unit in 2008 can be found by clicking here.

Courses in other areas (which may differ somewhat) should be discussed with your nearest Regional Bee Inspector, the contact details of whom can be found here.

NE Herts news by John Hill

At the time of writing this contribution, in mid-November, the colder, wet weather has only just arrived. Whereas last week, (Nov 11th), the warm climate had sustained the wasp population to such a degree that some ‘robbing’ was taking place in the apiary. The wasps were also in considerable numbers at the premises on a climbing ivy plant, (the name of which I know not), and were busily nibbling the profuse number of berries that the aforesaid plant was displaying. Not a bee in sight though! There was some hive activity however! But now with the continuous drenching we have endured over the past two days or so, I suspect that the wasps’ days are numbered. About time too, for this past summer has been a more successful one for the wasps than my bees, (as far as my hives are concerned). However, the latter insects have grown in numbers (and strength?), following intensive feeding and treatment....Fingers crossed for survival!

At our November meeting, we had a good turnout of 18 members to listen to Martin Buckle from the Beds. Assocn. who explained the intricacies and nuances of judging honey for Competition; and coupled with explanations of his experiences, gave the attendees a very entertaining evening. After the refreshments, Martin displayed his skills of wax manipulation by showing the audience his creations in wax of various subjects from a Railway Engine, a Windmill and various wonderful wax flowers. Thank you Martin for your talk!!

Our first meeting in 2008 will be in February, (second Tuesday, viz 12th), which, (hopefully) will be a talk by a Local Naturalist (sorry, not a Naturist!!), on a suitable topic to be decided, and then in March 2008 we shall be holding our AGM and Honey-tasting Competition. April will be a “Spring Preparation” evening, a review of the past season and what 2008 might bring. I should like to say at this point that 2008 will be my last year as Secretary, “Hooray” I hear you say, .…but by this time next year “I think I shall had enough”, and it’s time someone else had a ‘chance’, …that is if you want me continue in ‘08, (you can always vote me off earlier,!…please!).

Now, …we are holding a Christmas Party at Boxwood this year on December 14th (Friday) at 7.30 pm. Cost each £3. Bring your own food! Savoury or sweet, You must, please ring me up first to let me know what dish you would like to bring to ensure that we get a good distribution. Last year we had too many sweets! Free drinks … up to a point!!! (☏ or e-mail Bxwdhill@aol.com)… Note: I prefer the former but my answering machine at present is Kaput!

The answer to last month’s teaser was quite simple. (Re: “a share of Potatoes etc.”). The answer, course, is “Mash Them”.!!! Now here’s another:-

This is a ‘logic’ teaser:

Some hairy bees are fat,
All fat bees are yellow,
Some yellow bees have 6 stripes
Some bees with 6 stripes are fat.
Therefore some hairy bees definitely have 6 stripes!
Is this true or false?

And to finish here’s a slice of John Betjeman, I leave you to guess the title:-

Provincial public houses blaze
And Corporation tramcars clang
On lighted tenements I gaze
Where paper decorations hang,
And bunting in the red Town Hall
Says “Merry Christmas to you all”

Overwintering Nucs and Small Colonies

by John Mumford

The long cold wet winters that I remember when I first started keeping bees seem to have gone, and the overwintering of Nucs and Small Colonies (less that 6 Frames), has, with a little TLC become quite easy.

"There is no problem in beekeeping that can't be solved, by either putting something into, or, taking something out of a Nuc, and, Nucs rarely give problems." Wedmore 'A Manual of Beekeeping' par 1057.

While a Four frame BS Brood Frame Nuc is OK for Summer use, and also Winter with extreme care, a Five frame BS. Brood Frame Nuc makes overwintering much safer.

It is important to have young, well mated Queens that will continue to lay well into the Autumn, and will start laying again early in the Spring. Queens producing rubbish bees are not worth keeping.

A small colony, is a small colony. When conditions are right, a small colony will expand at an incredible speed, and it will survive the coldest winter weather, providing that it has sufficient of the right stores, in the right place.

A weak colony will rarely survive, even in the mildest winter. The cause of weak colonies can be Queen related, Diploid Drone, Chalk Brood, or Sack Brood etc., or there may be other disease problems, EFB (god forbid), Nosema, or Varroa. Since using Thymol treatments Acarine, a major cause of a great many overwinter losses, is a thing of the past. The old beekeeping adage of taking Winter losses in the Autumn should be applied, and any weak colonies should be put down. Uniting up weak colonies should NOT be done unless both colonies are healthy, and reasonably free of Varroa and the Viruses that Varroa move around within the colony.

Nucs are best made up in late May, or early June, when most colonies can stand the loss of bees and brood, and Queen Cells are plentiful. Just two frames of bees and brood (not too much brood), a frame of stores containing fresh pollen, and a ripe Queen Cell. The Nuc will need to be moved away a mile or so for a couple of weeks so that the bees don't desert. Then it would be unwise to move it back until the Queen is mated and laying. However, if frames of brood (sealed and unsealed), are put over a Queen Excluder above the supers of a strong colony for a couple of days, then the bees on these frames will be young nurse and house bees. These frames can then be used to make up Nucs, and if the bees are pinned in and not released until the evening when other colonies have stopped flying, most of the bees will stay put. If any bees do desert before morning, then they are unlikely to bring back their friends and start robbing. Making up Nucs is an ideal opportunity to move tatty old drone filled combs from brood chambers.

Making up a Nuc with the old Queen from a colony that is making swarm preparations, and leaving two unsealed Queen cells, (one to be broken down before emergence), in the main colony is good beekeeping practice. And if a colony has swarmed, making up a Nuc with one of the surplus Queen cells, is a form of insurance, in case the Queen cell left in the main colony comes to nothing.

The queen emerging from a ripe Queen cell should be mated and laying in about 14 days after the Nuc was made up, weather permitting. And it will be another eight days before the new brood is ready for capping, by which time all of the original worker brood will have emerged. This is an ideal time to apply an effective Varroa Treatment since all the mites will now be on the bees!

The new Queens first brood will not begin to emerge until about 5/6 weeks after the Nuc was made up. The Nuc will now be at its weakest strength-wise and robbing (mid/end of July) must be prevented at all costs. In a normal August pollen and nectar is in short supply and any necessary feeding should be done with the utmost care. Feed only in the evenings using a 1lb honey jar with 5 or 6 gimp pin holes in the lid, but not more than twice a week. Use 50/50 wt./wt. syrup, ie. 1kg. of sugar to 1 litre of water, made with white granulated sugar. If any syrup is spilt then it must be washed away quickly with plenty of water.

At the beginning of August the Nuc should have a minimum of two HALF frames of brood, and two half frames of stores. (Feed if not). Half the stores should be open, and half of the stores sealed. Bees canít help themselves when it comes to feeding. But they will only store in combs that they can cover, and if over-fed, the bees will fill up the cells that should be used for brood rearing, and there will be less bees to go into Winter.

In September the Ivy yields an abundance of Pollen and some Nectar. This time is most critical! A young Queen will now show what she is worth! The Nuc should have a minimum of two well filled frames of brood, this brood represents approx. 5,000/6,000 bees, which together with the existing bees will be sufficient to take the colony through winter. The bees should be covering at least three frames, and providing that the bees are healthy and they have been given an effective Varroa treatment the Nuc is in an ideal condition to survive Winter.

The end of September is the time to prepare the Nuc for Winter. The heat loss from a Normal plywood crown-board is wasteful and a strain on the bees. Cut a piece of 25mm thick polystyrene insulation board to cover the whole of the crown-board. Cut a hole 135mm x 85mm in the polystyrene to coincide with the position of the feed hole ,and make up a cover to go over the top of the Candy Box. (500gr. margarine tub). see photos. From now on the block of Candy MUST be checked every week and replaced as necessary, regardless of weather conditions. It doesn't take long! The Candy soaks up surplus moisture in the Nuc and helps keeps it dry, and the bees donít have to forage for so much water to break the candy down.

In the Spring, Nucs expand very quickly, (bees do best when kept tight), and they will need to be transferred into a full brood chamber about mid April, before they get too tight and start swarm preparations. A decent 4/5 frame Nuc will fill a brood chamber by the end of May and in a reasonable year will get a super of honey by the middle of June.

Candy Recipe : - Put the water from a 'full to the brim' 1lb honey jar into an 8" saucepan. Heat the saucepan and slowly add 2kg of white granulated sugar stirring constantly. When the mixture has come to the boil - turn off the heat and leave for a few minutes. A crust will start to form on the top of the mixture. Start stirring until the mixture begins to thicken and turn a milky colour. Pour out into 3 No. 500gr. Margarine Tubs. Keep the candy in a cool dry place with a lid on.

I spoil my bees and add some honey to the mix. For every tablespoon of honey added, half a tablespoon less water is used. Old fermenting honey won't hurt since the heat drives off any alcohol and kills any yeast.

SE Herts news by John Mumford

Just a few brave souls turned out in the cold weather to attend our November Winter Meeting to talk about Varroa. Varroa has been the biggest single cause of so many colony deaths in the last couple years. I trust that those who missed the meeting did so because they have everything under control, and that their bees are in safe hands!

There was some debate at the meeting about whether we should be leaving control colonies, (colonies not treated), so that our bees have a chance to develop a strategy for coexisting with Varroa. Unfortunately it’s not the Varroa per se that do the damage. It’s the Viruses, that the mites transmit from bee to bee, and bee to larvae, that cause most of the colony deaths. Some colonies seem to be able to cope with a much higher mite population than others. This is most probably because those colonies have less Virus problems.

I got called out on 29th of October to a couple of non-members colonies that had lots of crawling bees with deformed wings. I put on some Grease Pattie, and a strip of Apistan for good measure. When Apistan resistant mites were first found in SE Herts the number of resistant mites in different Apiaries was very variable, and so was the degree of resistance within colonies of the same Apiary.

Anyway, after we had had a cuppa, and a chat, we had a quick peep at the removable tray under one of the colonies. The tray was covered in dead mites. I’d forgotten just how effective Apistan could be, and I won’t claim that the knock down was all due to the Thymol! As I sit writing this report I have been told that the mite drop counts are less than a tenth of what they were just three weeks ago. I now have great hopes that the colonies will come through winter OK.

Although we will never again be able to rely on Apistan as a single treatment, because there will always be some resistant mites around. And if we don’t test for resistant mites, we won’t know just how many there are. But if 50% of the mites in a colony are resistant to Apistan, then 50% are not, and they will be killed by the Apistan very quickly. The resistant mites then remain, and if not killed by some other treatment, will breed mostly resistant mites the next year.

As a short term, one off fix, if you are in a hole, and need to reduce Varroa mite numbers quickly, Apistan could be a life saver, and well worth the expense, but only if it works.

I would prefer now, to keep Apistan up my sleeve and not see it abused. And only use it in emergencies, not routine. Just in case one day I find myself needing to do another quick clean out of Varroa mites late in the season, when other treatment may not be so effective.

The AGM is at 8.00pm on Thursday 14th. February 2008 at the Hoddesdon Baptist Church Hall where members attendance would be appreciated. We will need to talk about Subscriptions, and Newsletter Distribution, and of ships, and sails, and sealing wax, etc.

Have a Happy Christmas, and Best Wishes for 2008.

Wax

by Derek Driver (SE Herts)

The article by Roy Cropley on solar wax extractors was not only excellent but also timely. I have always recommended to new beekeepers to make this essential piece of equipment and winter is the ideal time. They are so simple to construct, anyone can do it, and to encourage any new beekeeper I have two aluminium double glazed windows they can have for free! Other costs can be kept down by using second hand wood, etc.

With three ladies in my home I found the ideal filter is to use old stockings or tights, its best with cappings, you fill the tights until they look like legs and most extractors take four legs. First any honey runs out and then the wax, golden yellow in colour. The honey & wax will separate with the wax on top and when it’s all cooled down only the dross is left in the stockings. The blocks are so clean & good in colour you could even use it for shows. Depending on the sun you can produce a pound or two of rendered wax per day, for only the one off cost of construction.

If you’re renewing a third of all you comb per year, which is the least all beekeepers should be doing, then you cannot be without a solar wax extractor!!! Sometimes when I’m going through other people’s hives I silently cringe over the amount of black comb I see. Remember, you cut down a lot of potential health problems with new comb and what a joy it is to pick up a newly drawn frame full of wall to wall capped brood.

So don't wait until summer when your working like mad with your bees, MAKE IT NOW!

St Albans news by Anne Wingate

Thanks to Eileen and support team, Philip, for giving us an insight into the Anatomy of the Honeybee. We all learnt something!

Our next Meeting is on Friday 7th December at 8pm at the United Reformed Church, Watford Rd. Chiswell Green. This is the meeting where we taste the year's honey crop, followed by a Social Evening. Please bring a jar of liquid honey, with your name on a label on the lid, and a plate of finger food for us to share. If you have no honey come and enjoy other peoples and dream of years to come. Please bring your spouse or partner to join us, they are most welcome.

A date for your new diary ,our AGM is on Friday 25th January 2008 at 8pm at the above address. See enclosed flyer for further details.

SE Herts Harvest Supper by Derek Driver

When I first joined our group the harvest supper was very different to the present format. Then you paid in advance and sat on your seat through out the meal and the chairman always started with grace! But that was 35 years ago and times and people change Now days we bring a jar of honey to try and win the skillman shield, and there is the raffle and a light hearted quiz, both with lots of prizes.

The meal now days is a wonderful buffet where members help themselves and this years starters were a choice of salmon and cottage cheese or pate followed by a range of cold meats, various salads and all sorts of goodies! Then there was the cheese board, one member said it was the best Stilton he had eaten for years. Home made apple pie and German cheese cake plus a meringue with plenty of tea or coffee rounded off our evening. Oh. I forgot to mention the welcome glasses of sherry when we arrived. One of the nicest things at these events is that members and their partners move around and chat. Every ones relaxed and with such gregarious people we all have a splendid evening.

Varroa by Derek Driver

Two years ago I was asked to talk to a group in Essex and show them my Varroa records which covered my knock down rate. Many were surprised that with two doses of Apiguard followed by Thymol patties one could knock down, in some hives 2500 plus, and at the end of treatment have a zero weekly count.

Now all my supers are off in August and that's when I start treating and feeding. Some people claim they get a poor knock down with Thymol products but then told me they don't start treating until October or even November!! (even people in Herts) I thought by now, most people understood that Thymol products need a reasonable temperature to be effective, such as the average we get in August & September but it appears some still haven't learnt the lesson.

When I asked why they treated so late I was told that honey was still coming in. Frankly if these people think they are going to get full supers in September and October they must be on a different planet to me. Any honey which comes in at this time goes straight into winter stores.

There are others who say you must not feed too soon because you restrict the brood nest. Well I've always found bees stop taking down feed when THEY decide they have enough stores and if you've knocked down 2500 mites out of your brood nest Then those dead mites will not be damaging your young winter bees and therefore a smaller brood nest is viable.

I realise that some people are trying all sorts of concoctions, all unapproved and some of which are dangerous to us humans. There may come a day when a jar of English honey is tested and residues of a banned food substance will be found, the affect to our beloved hobby could be catastrophic. We will not be able to blame Varroa, just ourselves.

BuzzWorks - Hitchin Bee Centre by Robin Dartington

The group continues to meet each Saturday to build the Bee Centre – joined now by John Symes, bringing us to six regulars drawn from Stotfold in the north down to Barnet in the south. There is always a job to do!

Eight colonies are set aside for the move. Somewhat disturbingly however, three of my colonies (of 20) have dwindled to nothing since supers were removed in August, leaving combs full of winter stores but only a fistful of bees and a small patch of sealed brood. These are similar symptoms to those for CCD as reported in US. Let us hope it is some minor local problem, not indication of a major problem in Hertfordshire.

The site plan develops steadily, each revision getting us closer to a convenient and economical layout. WREN only grant projects open to the whole public at least 104 days a year. As mentioned earlier, the Plant Nursery failed the test – so its public availability has been upgraded to allow visitors to plant seeds of bee plants that they can later plant out in the garden. Some children, especially flat dwellers, have no opportunity to garden in any way and can miss out on a vital experience while growing up. A smaller area is still provided as the service area (eg dustbins). The Demonstration Platform is now proposed as a Market for sale of both honey and allotment surpluses, strengthening the bond with the allotment gardeners. The museum is upgraded to a ‘Discovery Centre’ – ambitious, as designing an interactive bee gallery will take more time and a further grant but fun to do and it will turn the site into a true ‘visitor attraction’.

Success with the grant depends crucially on showing wide support from the general public, in addition to specific groups such as schools and beekeepers. So a petition has been launched in Hitchin’s historic Market Place on Apple Day. Leafleting 200 nearby homes attracted the local herbalist and a special needs teacher to offer help over approaching the church and Guides groups – one step leads to another. Local shops, community centres and schools will also be asked to collect names from visitors / parents.

We would now like to ask Hertfordshire beekeepers to express individual support by signing the petition at winter meetings. We are not asking anyone for money, only support for opening the site to the public in 2008. If preferred, please email robin.dartington@btinternet.com saying simply: ‘I support opening ‘BuzzWorks’ in 2008’ and giving your name and address. The Brochure is available by email or post for anyone who wants to check the details of the current proposal and the Site Plan is shown below.

St Albans news by Anne Wingate

Our next meeting is on MONDAY 12th November (the only available date) at 8 pm at the United Reformed Church, Watford Road, Chiswell Green.

The subject 'Anatomy of the Honey Bee' will be revealed via the microscope and monitor. See picture on Page 2 in October's Herts Bees. This should be a very interesting evening.

The December meeting will be at 8pm on Friday 7th December at the above address. This meeting will be 'Honey Tasting' followed by Social Evening. All you need to bring is a 1lb jar of liquid honey produced by your bees.* If you have no honey please come to taste and enjoy the many different flavours produced by other people's bees. On 12th November I will be giving basic advice about how to prepare honey from granulated to liquid. Or, you can hear an expert honey judge speak at the North Herts Meeting on 13th November - see October's edition of Herts Bees for details.

* Along with your jar of honey please bring a plate of finger food which we will share together. Your spouse/partner are welcome to join us.

Please remember to return your membership renewal forms by 16th November to qualify for the £10 reduction!

National Honey Show by John Mumford

The National Honey Show normally marks the end of the beekeepers year, a time to catch up and meet old friends, and look around the bee book stalls for something to read over Christmas.

The number of entrants, and the number of entries this year were about the same as last but it seems that the standard of some of the entries could have been better - only a VHC in Class 1 out of 13 entries! It has been a difficult year for beekeepers generally and honey takes have been very variable in Quantity and Quality (water content too high!).

There are moves to try to find a new venue for the Honey Show but nowhere is going to be perfect. It takes me just half an hour to get there by car and the easy parking is entirely FREE. The food and beverages are at Motorway Prices, but there are ample provisions inside to consume your own, and if you get bored with the Honey Show then the RAF Museum is Free and very interesting.

William S. Mundy stepped down as President after 50 years in the job and was presented with a Certificate to acknowledge his valuable contribution to the show. Dr. H. R. C. Riches (Middx.) was then elected as the new President.

South East news by John Mumford

The Harvest Supper was well attended, and I trust enjoyed by all. Many Thanks to those who helped with the organisation and preparation of the event, and to those who donated Raffle Prizes. The Skillman Shield went to Gordon Lake for his Jar of honey.

The Winter Meeting to be held on Thursday 15th. November at the Hoddesdon Baptist Church Hall will be centred around Varroa, Varroa related problems, and Varroa Treatments. Our newer members, and those who completed the Beginners Course in the Spring and now have bees of their own have asked for more information on the subject.

As I sit writing this report I am looking out over the remains of a heavy overnight frost - Autumn is definitely here. There is nothing much beekeepers can do from now until the Spring to assist their bees except put on blocks of candy if it is necessary to feed, but once started they have to be continuously renewed.

North Herts news by John Hill

Once again, bees tucked up for the Winter apart from a final ‘dribble’ of Oxalic Acid Solution in December? They seemed to have gained some strength in the last two months or so, and they certainly took the feed syrup down with enthusiastic gusto! Let’s hope the forthcoming Winter months are not too severe, and Varroa don’t get the upper hand in early Spring. Things tho’ never turn out to be as you expect them to be..… such is life!! (Keep taking the tablets!).

We had an extremely good turn out at our first meeting of the Autumn period, when 20 members listened to Andy Wattam, the Regional Bee Inspector, give a lively talk on “Integrated Pest Management Relating to Bees”. This title sounds an awesome one, but the review that Andy gave covered, in a very light-hearted manner, was a complete gamut of the examination and treatment of the various diseases and pests associated with our “hobby”. His ‘Rogue’s Gallery slides were of high quality and very informative. All who attended, I’m sure, were extremely grateful for Andy coming all the way from Loughboro’ on a rather ‘dirty night’ to entertain us and share his knowledge with us. Considering that the postal-strike was in force, which preventing members receiving their ‘Newsletter’ in time, the turn-out was commendable,... (thanks to the many ‘phone calls our Chairman made).

Now to Details of our next Meeting: As usual on the second Tuesday in the month, viz: November 13th at the Friends’ Meeting House, Letchworth, at 7.30 p.m. start we are welcoming Martin Buckle from Beds. Association to talk to us about “Bottling, Labelling, and Exhibiting Honey”. Members are especially asked to bring in a sample of their produce for “constructive criticism”. “Bring a Jar and Learn a Lot”!! It is hoped too that at this next meeting we shall have some information about the Christmas Party,... at a ‘straw poll’, held at the October meeting, there was quite a response for one!!!

After the November Meeting, there will be a break until after the New Year, with the next one to be held in Letchworth in February 2008 (the 12th to be exact). So mark the date in your new diaries.

Now the answer to last month’s ‘Teaser”...the blunder in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night:---- ‘The identical twins Viola and Sebastian are different sexes. This is impossible!!!

Here’s this Month’s teaser. “A mother only has five potatoes, but six children to feed. How can she feed them equal amounts of potatoes without any using fractions?”

Now here is a couple of verses by Walter de la Mare from his poem called trees, there are four short verses but I relate here the first and last:

Of all the trees in England,
Her sweet three corners in,
Only the Ash, the bonnie Ash
Burns fierce while it is green

Of all the trees in England,
Oak, Elder, Elm, and Thorn,
The Yew alone burns lamps of peace
For them that lie forlorn.

I must admit I do not understand the meaning of the last two lines, I would be interested to learn from anyone who reads this to advise please. Perhaps it is because the Yew of course dwells in Churchyards where people ‘lie forlorn’? But why ‘burns lamps of peace’?

Bee students?

Someone from the Royal Veterinary College near Potters Bar has approached HBKA to find out whether some of the students could visit our apiaries to learn about bee health problems. Foot & Mouth and Bluetonge have made farm visits impossible. He was wondering if any HBKA members would like a visit by 2 or 3 final year students who would look at preventive measures or alternate treatments to bee problems. The format would be that the students would visit for an hour or so (at the convenience of the owner) either on a Monday afternoon /evening or on a Tuesday. They would use the resources of the college to examine /identify the problem and send a report to the owner by the following Tuesday. The owner may attend the presentation the students give to the relevant staff on the Friday following the visit.

If you are interested then please contact me for further details.

St Albans news by Anne Wingate

I hope all your colonies are now settled for the winter. Time to take a breather before you start with the lectures which will be at the United Reformed Church, Watford Road, Chiswell Green, St Albans at 8.00 pm. 26th October. The topic is "Swarming", come and listen, and give us your first year's wisdom on the subject!

Me And My Solar by Roy Cropley

The best and easiest way of recovering wax from old combs is by using the solar wax extractor. Like all aspects of beekeeping it is open to criticism but I would not be without one. The question arises whether it is worthwhile trying to get wax from old combs. Since a comb starts life with only an ounce or so of wax that is all each old comb will produce.

Old comb should be replaced regularly. A good start to the year is to put the bees on to foundation and feed with sugar syrup. Without all the work of dealing with old pollen, solid honey and millions of bacterial and disease pathogens the bees will soon build up a strong colony. Some beekeepers extol the virtue of old combs and boast their age. We are told not to use old combs from an unknown source but our own could quite well be unreliable. The modern thinking is to get rid of them and replace them with new. Some work is involved but it will soon repay itself. When the old brood chamber is replaced at the end of March some brood will be lost. I find this hard to bear but it is worth it. Gone will be most of the varroa together with the other nasties that plague our bees. There may be combs from colonies that have died out. I don't use those again but recover the wax.

Each beekeeper will have a way of disposing with old wax. One man tells me he puts it in a dustbin so it goes to landfill - not something I approve of. Another has a bonfire.. And it can be buried in the garden.

I put my old combs, four at a time, into a piece of net curtain and into the solar wax extractor. Then I pray for sun. It is fascinating to know that sometimes in the summer we go for days without sunshine. And then we get a spell when I can refill the extractor more than once in a day.

I am always amazed at how clean the wax is even from old black combs. It comes out a beautiful yellow colour with a pleasant smell with little pollen and propolis. The residue of moulted skins and pollen, called slumgum, still contains a fair bit of wax which is not economic to extract. This burns very well on the coal fire. There are firms abroad that will buy it.

When there is wax in the recepticle it is removed when cool; I pour boiling water over the upturned container. I get lots of misshapen bits of wax, some small. The important thing is their colour. I wash the honey from the wax and let it dry. Some solars have mild steel or tinplate parts which soon go rusty and impart a greenish colour to the wax. Stainless steel or aluminium are best.

It is a mistake to leave the solar wax extractor for several days and allow the collected wax to heat and cool several times. This gives an inferior wax, dark in colour and of poor texture. It is still usable but not so good as that obtained after each day of sunshine.

I not only recover wax from my own old brood combs; I also buy wax from other beekeepers. For best quality blocks I pay £1.50 a pound, more than the firms that buy wax. I exchange wax for foundation with the firm KBS run by Peter Kemble in Hastings who produces the best foundation in the country. I sell his foundation at about 30% less than catalogue prices. Sometimes I am asked if I want wax which has gone mouldy. My answer is yes. I will melt it in rain water, filter and allow it to cool in an insulated box for several hours. The block will be free of honey and pollen. It is not attractive to bees and will not go mouldy. Wax moth do not attack clean wax. Wax chandlers store theirs outside. I am often offered wax complete with mouldy pollen and wax moth. If the bees have had nosema or any other disease this will not be present in the foundation made from it. Even AFB spores which are not killed when the foundation is made are rendered inactive. Bees cannot contract any disease from foundation. A few beekeepers spread alarm by saying that medication used to treat varroa finds its way into foundation. My answer is 'Not Proven', And when you see how a shook swarm works foundation if fed there is no case to answer.

If you have a solar then use it. Empty the recepicle each time it has collected any wax. Don't worry about shape or size; the important thing is not to leave and honey in the pan to reheat. Find all the old wax in your shed and we can put it to use. You can trade directly with KBS, or see me at the Essex Conference or call on ☏.