Editorial
Yet again it has been a strange season. Colonies have been very 'swarmy' and the weather has been mixed.
Unbelievably the end of the season is approaching fast. There is no newsletter in August (although the website will be updated) so it will be the start of September before the next edition. Therefore is is time to start thinking about the end-of-season varroa and nosema treatments. Don't try and squeeze every last drop honey from late-summer flowers; it is essential to start treating in August as soon as you have removed your main summer crop. Have you decided how you will treat? Do you have everything ready?
Have a good holiday season.
Paul Cooper
North Herts news by John Hill
At long last, the better weather is here!!! Honey collection going well,... a couple of swarms collected, and now going strongly, (having fed them),....some supers extracted,....honey bottled etc.,... It all seems too good to be true,.. after two poor years! Or, have I spoken too soon? However, there's no sign of Varroa at the Boxwood Apiary, and we've got nice quiet bees! The bees in the 'Dartington Hive' don't seem to understand that they have to go upstairs to deposit nectar/honey,.. they, the bees, will insist on planting it with the brood down below! Which is a bit of a nuisance, to say the least! Of course, there has been a lot of rape growing here and I found that small amounts of honey in the frames had crystallised,...I managed to extract most though without much trouble,.... but of course, the extracted honey is quite pale and thick! Mustn't complain though... I got 50lbs. plus from three supers.! Now, all I've got to do is to eliminate the sticky stuff from doorknobs and telephone!! Incidentally, a tip for those extracting at home, in the kitchen on newspaper,..do it in bare feet;...then you will have no problems in transmitting spillage to shoes and socks!!!
With regard to further Apiary meetings and reporting, unfortunately the meeting at Pat Veasey's Apiary at Gosmore occurred on the 21st June,... too early to comment upon, as this text was written before the 17th, and too late to remind members. However, the next meeting in July, and the last for this season will be at:-
Buzzworks on the 19th July, 2.30 pm at Hitchin. If you require directions please telephone Robin Dartington on 01462 450707.
Our first indoor meeting is on the third Tuesday in October at the Friends' Meeting House Letchworth, i.e. the 21st, when we hope to have a speaker organised. More about this in the September Newsletter, (there is no Newsletter, I understand, in August).
The answer to last month's teaser regarding a queen bee laying eggs over a five-night period was eight, with the sequence 8, 14, 20, 26, 32.
Here's another: If Molly O'Brien has 22, and Debbie Reynolds has 28, and Roberto Montgomery has 34, ... How many has Ahmad Adziz got? (Answer in September).
And finally:
He popped the question in the rain,
Twas muddy where they'd trodden,
The arm around her waist was wet,
She said "This is so sodden." England's Glory Matchbox No 2643 (circa 1953).
St Albans news by Luke Adams
Our apiary has seen lots and lots of swarms in the last month despite members doing their best to take preventative action. It seems the bees are making their own rules now and making sealed queen cells in less than a week. Some new members are even considering taking up queen rearing with over 15 queen cells on frames each week!
Some swarms have been recollected and one momentous occasion was captured on film. Fireman Sam (real name Fred and he is a retired fireman) collected a swarm using an ingenious method impressed by all. Members looked on as a hole was made in the bottom of a cardboard box and a long telescopic aluminium pole threaded through and tied around the box with string to hold it firm. Fireman Sam (Fred) was eager to show everyone his ladder prowess and climbed the ladder with telescopic box to capture the swarm. A great success and members cheered in gratitude. We should point out that our ladder is a folding step type ladder used for decorating staircases so has a good base for support.
Another “mammoth swarm” was collected by Anne Wingate using at least two skeps the result of which filled a British National hive with a Super on as well. Anne was so shocked by this that this is the reason I am writing the report this month as Anne needs a rest!
Bishops Stortford news by Pat Holder
Spreading the Brood. Nine members of the Bishops Stortford BKA met on June 21 at the home of Dennis Osborne. The ladies outnumbered the men by 2:1. Dennis has two hives in the village orchard. Susie Brickwood and I also have bees there. Since our last meeting Dennis has taken 100 lb of rape honey from his hives. They looked healthy and active. Next we looked at Susie's hive. It was a swarm from last year and had survived the winter. It had been struggling earlier, but it too was doing well. We looked at my hive next. I am a new beekeeper and unfortunately my colony died over the winter. Six weeks ago, Dennis gave me several frames of bees and one of his queens to get me started again. They seemed to be doing well, but the colony was building up at the front and the brood box was sitting parallel to the hive entrance. It was suggested that I turn the brood box so that the frames were perpendicular to the entrance and that I "spread the brood" to build up a good strong colony that would survive the winter. We did this, but back at home, my DH, who is a back seat beekeeper asked, "Why did you do that?? THE BOOK (Ted Hooper's), specifically says not to!" Oh dear. THE BOOK (after re reading it) says not to spread the brood over an empty comb. To be honest, I'm not sure whether we did this or not. I hadn't taken in everything that was going on in my hive and I didn't understand the importance of understanding the brood nest and the stores outside of it. I still do not do not understand why "induced expansion" works, but I have learned a lot thanks to Bishops Stortford BKA the back seat beekeeper's question. Oh, and Dennis still has not marked his queens yet!
The Bishops Stortford meeting on the 12th July at John Dockerill's has been postponed until September. However we have been invited to join up with the SE Herts group at Pantiles, Braughing Friars on 20th July at 3pm at the home of Malcolm High. This would be an excellent opportunity for Bishops Stortford members and SE Herts members to meet. Malcolm normally shows how he processes honey as well as showing some of the hives in the garden. If any Bishops Stortford member would like to go please take a small contribution to the refreshments.
Welwyn news by Peter Mathews
Huge thanks to all those who came along to Applecroft School Fete and Welwyn Street Market. The first was very successful. Lots of interest, a complete sell out of honey and an offer for an apiary in WGC (let me know if your interested). These events are important to us to introduce ourselves to the public, attract new members and sell our produce. Even though you may have just started out you already know far more than most of the people who come along. They are also a good place to get to know other members and chat about your bees.
Our next event is at The Mill Green Museum on Sunday afternoon. The schedule time is 2.00 - 4.30ish pm for the public. We will be setting up from about 1.30 pm. We will be sharing the day with 'Chair Caning' and 'Old Cigarette Lighters' .....an interesting combination. Please try to support this, and let us have you honey for sale. This is a first time for us on their summer programme and could be a very relaxed free venue for honey sales. N.B. The museum are noted for cream teas ! Please contact me if you are coming or want to drop off produce.
West Herts news
No news this month.
Barnet news by Mike Fullagar
Don't forget the Barnet Beekeepers Annual BBQ , £7.50 per head, £5.00 for children. Being held at Byng Road, Barnet from 12.30 pm onwards on Saturday July 19th. RSVP Linda Perry on 0208 441 5306 or linda (at) lperry.freeserve.co.uk.
South East Herts news by John Mumford
Roy and Jessie Cropley held a most interesting Garden Apiary Meeting on Sunday 22nd. June. Many thanks Roy and Jessie for having us, and for all the Goodies. It is not often that I work with bees in just shirt sleeves, and a slip over veil. A very pleasant afternoon!
Nothing much to report this month. My plea for helpers with the Broxbourne Council Open Day Event on July 5th has attracted a response from two of our new members Maria Fitzjohn and Richard Rooke. A few more helpers would be appreciated.
I have collected quite a few swarms so far this year, so it seems the bees have recovered from the bad Spring and are now just a bit late in doing what they normally do in May.
I have been asked by Graham Beesley (N. Herts) the organiser of this years HBKA Bee World Show to provide an Observation Hive as SE Herts contribution. I would appreciate a few helpers to man the Hive and meet and talk to Joe Public. Graham would also appreciate Bee Products for Sale. HBKA charge a 20% commission on all items sold.
Our next Apiary meeting is at 3pm on Sunday 20th July at Malcolm High's Apiary. This will be a good opportunity to meet a few friends/members from Bishops Stortford.
The picture is of Phil Amer inspecting a Mini Nuc.
BuzzWorks by Robin Dartington
The four colonies taken to site in spring have now been joined by two swarms and two casts collected in Hitchin town centre, filling the permitted eight hives. Hopefully the newcomers will prove of better pedigree than the founding colonies, which have proved either excessively swarmy or simply listless. It is possible that both types of poor performance are due to the same cause – excessive levels of virus and of nosema ceranae. Colonies do try to escape disease by swarming if strong enough – and if not, may lapse into listlessness. We will now try a course of three doses of Api Herb – an Austrian herbal concoction that is said to be as effective as Fumidil in reducing nosema.
All the features on the site designed for ‘private’ use by an association (Bee Centre, garden, nursery with greenhouse) are now virtually complete – and Sam Thomas’ bee garden is flowering. Agreement to fund the ‘public’ facilities (‘discovery centre’and ‘market’, safety fencing, tree work, garden woodwork, water and power) with a £25,000 grant has been confirmed by WREN, after the Council gave assurances on long-term security of the site – and the Council will now come up with the £2,700 contra payment, so work will start this autumn.
To mark this watershed, the volunteers have celebrated their considerable achievements with a little party – and formally set up the BUZZWORKS ASSOCIATION HITCHIN (BAH) by a Memorandum to adopt the draft Constitution, signed initially by 18 founding members, including 4 juniors members (7 to 17 years old). A couple of glasses of mead and a chunk of ginger honey cake possibly helped in persuading Liisa Young to act as Administrator and Mike Thompson as Finance Officer until the first AGM on 28 February 2009 - and Robin Dartington to continue to lead the project as Director and Apiary Manager. Sam Thomas will act as Garden Manager and Peter Bracey as Site Manager, continuing their major inputs. Christine Gray will co-ordinate Public Relations (which includes making the party cakes), in parallel with her role as BBKA Press Officer.
The members of BAH will welcome fellow beekeepers in North Herts at 2.30pm on Saturday 19 July – of course, all members of Herts BKA are welcome. The track into the allotments starts beside 178 Old Hale Way, Hitchin, SG5 1XT - the last house in Hitchin on the road to Ickleford. There is a small carpark at the end of the track but when that is full, please drop off passengers and park in the road, NOT in the allotment gardeners’ park just inside the allotments.
Bee World by Graham Beesley
As you may be aware, it has fallen to North Herts to organise Bee World at Capel Manor, Enfield, on Saturday, the 20th of September this year. Bee World is Hertfordshire’s opportunity to showcase to the public the wonderful world of the honeybee and our fascinating pastime.
We share the day with London City Farms and Community Gardens. I understand that around 3 thousand members of the public attend on the day.
Beekeeping and the plight of the honey bee have been much in the news recently and this would seem like an excellent opportunity to educate people and hopefully start some in beekeeping.
I have received, so far, commitments from:- Bishop’s Stortford to give a demonstration of Honey extraction.
- South East Herts have again offered to demonstrate an observation hive.
- Welwyn are offering to run a produce stall.
- St Albans have offered a microscopy demonstration.
- North Herts , as well as organising, will be providing a show of bee friendly plants and flowers.
I understand that Welwyn would welcome the opportunity to sell your produce on the day. Please contact Phil Jepson on 01707 881095. Any offers of cakes, (made with honey of course), to entice members of the public into our show would be very welcome!
The show runs from 10am to 5pm. Please come along on the day and support your association.
If anyone has any suggestions or offers of help please contact me on 01438 369770. Many thanks.
Irreplaceable – The World’s Most Invaluable Species
Thurs 20th Nov, 7pm, The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London
We could all name our favourite species, whether endearing, exciting or indeed endangered. But what of the less charismatic species which we take for granted, but whose loss would have an immeasurably greater impact on our world?
Indeed, which species could we claim to be truly irreplaceable? The shortlist for the evening has been narrowed down to five - bees, bats, fungi, plankton and primates.
Prepare to be surprised when five leading experts in their field argue the case for their chosen species, and your vote decides the one species we would be hard pressed to survive without. The debate is sure to be as entertaining, contentious and informative as ever.
The debate will be followed by an optional buffet supper with wine, £25. For more details click here.
Ever Wonder Where Those Swarms Go?
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) use quorum sensing to make decisions about new nest sites. Large colonies reproduce through a process called budding, in which the queen leaves the hive with a portion of the workers to form a new nest elsewhere. After leaving the nest, the workers form a swarm that hangs from a branch or overhanging structure. This swarm persists during the decision-making phase until a new nest site is chosen.
The quorum sensing process in honey bees is similar to the method used by Temnothorax ants in several ways. A small portion of the workers leave the swarm to search out new nest sites, and each worker assesses the quality of the cavity she finds. The worker then returns to the swarm and recruits other workers to her cavity using the honey bee waggle dance. However, instead of using a time delay, the number of dance repetitions the worker performs is dependent on the quality of the site.
Workers that found poor nests stop dancing sooner, and can therefore be recruited to the better sites. Once the visitors to a new site sense that a quorum number (usually 10 to 20 bees) has been reached, they return to the swarm and begin using a new recruitment method called piping. This vibration signal causes the swarm to take off and fly to the new nest location. In an experimental test this decision-making process enabled honey bee swarms to choose the best nest site in four out of five trials.
Group Decision Making in Honey Bee Swarms - P. Kirk Visscher, Thomas Seeley, Kevin Passino
Research Campaign Bulletin no. 2
by Tim Lovett ( tjl@dermapharm.co.uk) - 30th June 2008
Just ten weeks into the campaign pressure is building on a number of fronts and a great deal is happening where it counts, at grass roots level. Please forward this bulletin to Divisional or Branch Secretaries, for onward transmission to the membership. Every action counts and there is no way it can all come from the centre.
The Petition: This is really flying and as of last week we had comfortably passed the 36,000 signatures mark; this means that we should this week pass the whole of the 2005 total of 37,500; remember however that this time we are looking for six figures. As noted previously, if each member completes just one form amongst family, friends and colleagues we would have 230,000! To be perfectly clear the petition stays open until the Autumn, when we plan to present it to the Government – more on this later. So in the meantime, keep on gathering those signatures!
Shows: I was a little disappointed by the response to my request for details of upcoming shows however big or small; I still need details please. That said, the response from the shows has been outstanding with 1000+ signatures from each of the Surrey and Devon shows and 2500 from the Bath and West. Please tell me of your successes as they take place. Do make use of the flyers and posters available from Stoneleigh and after use, return loan materials (A1 posters and roundels) as soon as you can so that others can borrow them.
Letters: I have seen many many replies to MPs and individuals from the Minister. These are to a standard format and basically refer to what (I mean how little!) Defra spends on bee health, the BBKA meeting with Lord Rooker last December and the publication of the Bee Health Strategy for consultation, as if this will be a panacea for bee health notwithstanding its failure to promise funds for research. Mention is also made of the NBU’s close liaison with US scientists over CCD. The letter then asserts that the high winter losses are predominantly down to poor varroa control. Given that most experts agree that varroa plays a key role in CCD it is easy to put it down to this element rather than the other factors of viruses and Nosema ceranae which are thought to play a contributory role with varroa. The letter then goes on the assure the reader that varroa management has become a routine part of bee husbandry and that IPM holds the answer. We know that that is important but not the full story, particularly when some IPM approaches are made illegal by government legislation.
The time has thus come to question these points in follow-up correspondence. BY our providing draft letters Defra is able to respond with its own draft – we need now to adopt a more individual approach. With winter losses measured in the BBKA survey of 30% nationally, the problem is a little greater than inadequate varroa management; and anyway, how did we ‘forget’ how to do it over the last two years when losses have risen from 10% to 15% to 30% this year. We’ve been using IPM for several years so what’s the new element? – only research will tell us of course.
Some recent good news was Defra’s decision to monitor losses more closely; they also found an extra £90K to spend on this monitoring exercise. If they are so cash strapped where did this come from? Was it just a reallocation exercise with the NBU budget calling inspection work research? I suggest that this could be a subject to write and ask them about.
Media Activity: We have continued to enjoy extensive coverage in the national and local press with a substantial piece in the Observer supplement, an article by Vince Cable in the Daily Mail and much else. More output on Country File, the World Service, Radio Kent, GMTV etc has kept the issue to the fore. Whilst the research message was not promoted on Egg Heads our team, although unsuccessful did a good job for the craft.
Westminster: The early day motion has more than 100 MPs’ signatures attached now – few get this number! Keep up your efforts on your MP to sign-up – the motion remains open until Parliament goes into recess at the end of July. I attach a copy of those who have signed up to date.
Thanks to the unstinting efforts of Ian Gibson, Tuesday 17 June saw a small piece of history at Westminster with the granting of an Adjournment Debate in Westminster Hall, with a full 90 minute allocation. Dr Gibson opened the debate under the heading, “The future of the UK Bee Industry”. Setting-out the problems facing bees, he highlighted the BBKA’s Research Programme which has been put forward to Defra with a modest request for £8 million invest over 5 years. David Heath MP emphasized the importance of bee pollination to the Cider Industry and Bob Marris MP urged the Minister to find the funds, urgently, saying that the Government ought actually to be investing £4 million per annum! Several informed interventions from John Penrose (Con - Weston super Mare) who is a beekeeper helped support the case. Bill Wiggin MP, Shadow Minister for Agriculture gave a well considered speech exposing the poor financing of bee research over recent years and the losses to the research base. The full transcript is available on the Hansard section of the Parliament web-site. Here’s what they said:
- “It is vital that every country maximises its potential to produce home-grown food, because that is becoming the big challenge, or at least one of the big challenges, for us in the agricultural movement in this country. Honey bees have never been more important for mankind than today”. Ian Gibson (Lab – Norwich North)
- “We need a step change in investment in the investigation of bee disease if we are to stem a worldwide phenomenon that is lapping at our doorstep and has the potential to become a crisis, both for the insect population and in economic terms.” David Heath (LibDem – Somerton & Frome)
- “The British Beekeepers Association’s suggested figure of £8 million over five years is incredibly modest—that is no criticism of the BBKA. It is not a ridiculous amount such as politicians often come across when people suggest amounts because they believe passionately in a pet project. It is a sensible amount and, if anything, is low. I urge the Minister to consider it carefully.” Bob Marris (Lab - Wolverhampton SW)
- “I pay tribute to the British Beekeepers Association, which has done much to raise the profile of beekeeping and to inform us about the importance of bees to our country. It has put a tremendous amount of effort into its campaign, and its commitment to bee health is keeping the issue high on the political agenda.” Bill Wiggin (Con - Leominster)
The Minister, Jonathan Shaw in closing, attempted to parry the stinging criticism of Government inaction by sticking to the prospect of the Bee Health Strategy. No vote was taken of course but it looked like the Minister was in a minority of one.
The next major initiative we are planning will be a mass lobby of MPs by beekeepers, hopefully following a march down Whitehall, to present the petition. This will take place on a Wednesday afternoon in the Autumn after the summer recess. It is to be hoped that we will have representatives from Associations up and down and across Britain. More details in due course. In the meantime we continue to meet with politicians to press our case.
Non-governmental funding: We are talking to other non-governmental funding opportunities and are most grateful to HRH The Prince of Wales for his interest in the campaign and for putting us in touch with the Wellcome Trust, which is now evaluating our research proposals to see if there are any that fall into their remit. They intend holding a Frontiers Meeting in the Autumn which may represent an important step forward. Discussions are ongoing with other groups but it remains a sine qua non that we look to government to play the major role in funding.
The fighting fund continues to grow, with some £3700 received from Associations; many thanks! For those still to donate, we look forward to hearing from you!!
Wanted and For Sale
Electric Extractor for sale made by EH Taylor. Takes 10 frames. Motor needs replacing. £50. Also 30 25kg buckets (75p each) and 30 12kg buckets (50p each) in excellent condition. Call Joe Farr on ☏ 01438 833170.
Electric Extractor for sale. 9 frame poly. Very good condition. £350. Also a large poly settling tank and top strainer. £80. Call Danny on 01279 420679.