Editorial
The honey flow is in full swing, the supers are filling up and swarms are happening. The beekeeper's busiest time of year.
This month there is a letter from the police reporting a hive having been stolen from Walkern. Was this just a foolish opportunist or was it a beekeeper that had lost a lot of colonies this winter? If you have any information then please contact Paul Scott.
Defra is seeking consultation on ways to improve bee health. All beekeepers are invited to respond so please let them know your views. See below for details. Also, don't forget the petitions that are available online and from your branch representatives.
Membership numbers and the structure of HBKA have been discussed recently by the HBKA executive. A survey has been developed and will be circulated shortly. Please take time to complete it and return it.
There are lots of interesting pictures this month. Please keep them coming. Finally many thanks for the feedback on the constantly improving newsletter.
Paul Cooper
North Herts news by John Hill
At least the weather has improved of late. It's been rather cold tho' in May. I've heard that some of our members have had high Winter losses, of the order of approximately 40%. For myself, all my three hives have pulled through albeit as rather small colonies, but at mid-May they are on the increase with all queens laying profusely.
We have had two apiary meetings since the last Newsletter, the first at Nortonbury and the other at Boxwood. The former was quite an exciting experience to say the least. The bees were very frisky, to put it mildly, they harassed the nine attendees quite viscously with, unfortunately two beginners getting stung. Even during refreshments, the bees were very 'active'! What a difference the meeting at Boxwood was. Fifteen folk inspected the six or so hives with no 'interference' from the residents. D.R. showed us his sieve technique for finding the queen, which was quite effective. On one occasion the queen was in the top half box, but on the second examination she was left on the 'Filter" (an excluder had been previously fixed to the bottom of a deep box, on to which the bees were shaken, a frame at a time... The bees eventually passed through the excluder, with the help of a smoker, and the queen 'stayed behind' on the excluder with a minimum number of bees,... and was easily spotted). ....Thankfully, all the hives were 'queen right', with honey accumulating, and plenty of brood evident. One hive, which had been quite a large colony, had swarmed about three days before the inspection; there were about eight queen cells on the underside of the top box, which were due to emerge shortly. (We thinned out the weaker ones, leaving only three). The weather was kind, but cold, the refreshments ample, and well consumed!! Thanks to F.E’s, and yours truly's wives.
Our remaining Apiary meetings are:
- 21st June, Pat Veasey, Gosmore
- 19th July, Buzzworks, Hitchin. All meetings at 2.30 pm
Now, although our Autumn/Winter programme has not yet been decided, it is important that members should note that ALL the bookings at the Friends' Meeting House, Letchworth will be, from now on, take place on the THIRD TUESDAY of each month. (This is to ensure that we can utilise the larger meeting room - our current arrangements clash with the W.I. meetings, also on the second Tuesday).
Last month's teaser was tricky wasn't it? I'll bet no-one got the answer! Well, the answer is as follows:- "Because silk hats came into fashion, the demand for beaver hats decreased. More beavers meant more small lakes and bogs!!!
Here's another:- A queen bee lays 100 eggs over a five-night period. During each night, the queen lays six more eggs than on the previous night. How many eggs did the queen lay each night?
Finally a little ditty by A.A, Milne, (1882-1956), of Winnie the Pooh fame:
It's a very funny thought that, if Bears were Bees,
They'd build their nests at the bottom of the trees.
And that being so (if the Bees were Bears),
We shouldn't have to climb all these stairs.
St Albans news by Richard Peterson
A Day in the Country
Some twenty or so members of St Albans Beekeepers’ Association were the guests of Peter Heath our regional bee inspector at his apiary in Much Hadham. Peter, as well as being employed by Defra as a seasonal bee inspector, is a commercial bee farmer and works something in the region of two hundred hives at various locations around the area.
As part of the itinerary around his apiary he generously invited our members, beginners and old hands alike, to inspect his colonies and find the queens so that he could mark them, for owing to the recent inclement weather he had fallen behind schedule. We then returned to his workshop where we were provided with a sumptuous tea prepared by his wife and he answered numerous questions posed by the members on how he coped with the inspection, extraction and frame making on a scale that is far beyond anything that as amateurs we could envisage. He also gave us a demonstration of the horizontal wiring he employs in his brood frames that use unwired foundation and stainless steel wire that is embedded by heating with an electrical circuit. Although the procedure seems very labour intensive he is able to drill and eyelet a thousand frames during the winter months ready for the spring expansion.
As well as bee farming Peter also tends an extensive kitchen garden at the site that appeared to be almost weed free as well as a large greenhouse and I for one am convinced that in order to cover all the work involved he has discovered a way of building more than twenty four hours into a day.
I am sure that all those members present would like to join me in thanking Peter and his wife for an extremely interesting and delightful afternoon in the Hertfordshire countryside.
Photo 1: Members of St Albans Beekeepers inspecting Peter’s hives at his apiary.
Photo 2: Peter Heath’s system for embedding horizontal wiring in his brood frames.
Photo 3: A view of Peter’s workshop where we were provided with our refreshment.
Postscript from Anne Wingate:
Our meeting this month for ALL our Members is on 21st June at 3pm at the Apiary.We will be discussing how to co-ordinate the end of Summer 'Feeding and Varroa Treatments'. It is important to get it right to prevent a repeat of last year.
Congratulations to Cindy for passing Module 1 of the BBKA Intermediate Exam, and 'thank you' for organising the beekeepers taking the Basic Exam later in the month.
Bishops Stortford news by Dennis Osborne
We had a good turn out of member on Saturday May 10th; eleven in all, one new visitor from Hertford, and Derek Driver who both were very welcome. We had our meeting at Susie Brickwoods house but her hive is kept in an orchard along with Pat Holders and my own.
We made our first inspection of Susie’s hive, which was a swarm from last year. It had been on the decline, but with a bit of nurturing, Susie had managed to build it up. The Queen had not been marked, so Derek offered to mark and clip her, which was great as it gave every one a chance to see how it’s done.
Then we inspected one of my hives which has a good crop of honey but yet again no marked queen, so, after seeing how Derek had marked and clipped the Queen I thought I’d have a go at that. So with my gloves off I picked the queen off of the frame and managed to mark her. Then, when I tried to clip the wings, it all started to go wrong! She was running over my hand and I couldn’t get to grips with it, then the worst thing happened… She took flight and landed two or three meters in the grass. Derek said not to move; I started to panic, but Derek, like a flash, found the Queen and gave her back to me. By that time, my hands were shaking, but after three or four attempts I managed to clip her wings and put her back in the hive. Then Derek suggested that I should artificially swam the hive as there were some queen cells on one or two frames, which I did on Sunday morning.
Then back to Susie’s house for tea and cake which was very nice.
The next meeting will be at 3pm on 31st May at Paul Coopers house at Patmore Heath, Albury.
Welwyn news by Peter Mathews
Apiary Tour with Peter Heath
Firstly, huge thanks to Fizzi, The Folges and Christine for providing refreshment stops. These were greatly appreciated and really made for an excellent day.
Apologies to all for the very short notice for this tour which didn't reach the newsletter in time. But, thanks to e-mail we were able to get an excellent turnout. There were 16 people at Raffin Green session mostly prospective members, many who have, or are about to have hives. We visited 8 members' apiaries. My target for 2009 is to visit completely new apiaries!
We saw many reversals of fortunes. Weak hives last year were amongst the strongest this. And, the best colonies seen last year were very weak. These had excellent brood pattern (ie good queen) but had few bees. This is an indication of nosema. Confirmation is by microscopy. The NBU will provide this for a £10 charge. Most suppliers at Stoneleigh were out of stock of nosema treatment, which probably tells us something. Many unprotected hives had suffered woodpecker attack - but, more of this another time.
I know now why we visit Christine last. We were there for nearly 2 hours admiring her beautiful collection of ducks and chickens following on from the hive inspection. All before tea.
Varroa levels were high on all sites. With strong colonies this is not an immediate concern. The only summer treatments are drone brood removal, dusting with icing sugar etc. Treatment (using Apiguard, thymol etc) after the honey flow is essential. If you collect a swarm, put it on new comb and treat immediately - this will reduce varroa to near zero. Stop treatment well before adding supers.
Diary Dates:
- 7th June - Raffin Green
- 14th June - Applecroft School Fete, from 2 pm
- 21st June - Welwyn Street Market, setting up from 8.00 am, (road closed 8.45 - 12.30)
This is another side of beekeeping. Please make every effort to support what we are doing even if it is only for an hour or so.
West Herts news by Robin Brown
The first four meeting at the apiary have been on cold days, so we have only inspected the hives once. All three survived the winter with only minor woodpecker damage. Two seem quite strong with the third struggling but hanging on.
This gave us impetus, to at last demolished our oldest shed and linking roof between the two. Disposing of the “asbestos type roofing” is becoming an issue. We have laid the foundations for the new shed and obtained the materials for the new roof.
We hope to have some association hives by the end of the year, to encourage new members.
Lets hope the weather improves after writing this on a wet bank holiday Monday!
Barnet news
No news this month.
South East Herts news by John Mumford
We have a number of events coming up and I have been asked by the committee to 'BANG the DRUM' in order to get some new faces along to show Joe Public. We desparately need new VOLUNTEERS with new IDEAS to help man the stalls, and take beekeeping into the future.
- Sunday 22nd June - Apiary Meeting in Roy Cropley's garden, 279 Goff's Lane, Cheshunt, Phone No. 01992 626668. Please phone and let Roy know if you intend coming.
- Saturday 5th July - Broxbourne Council Open Day at Bishop's College. setting up from 11am. All cars off site by 12.30 - safety reasons! The stall must be ready to receive visitors by 1.45pm. and the show closes at 5.00pm. We will need produce for sale ! Labeling must be to the latest regulations, and the Association will take a commision of 10% from those who help, and 15% from those who don't. We hope to have an observation hive to entertain the children and show off our bees.
- Saturday 20th September - We will be involved in the HBKA Bee World event at Capel Manor. more details later.
Derek Driver will not be able to run a Beekeeping course next year - he will be on Holiday. We need an experienced beekeeper to head-up and co-ordinate the arrangements else the course will not happen - I have enough on my plate - it's time someone else had a go. Our younger members need to participate more in the fund raising, and publicity events we run, else they will cease!
The next Committee Meeting will be on Thursday 11th. September at 49, Graham Avenue.
A motley crew enjoying a well earned cuppa at the May Association Apiary meeting.
Postscript from Derek Driver:
Next year I will not be joining John in running our beekeeping course, which means without two people to head it up, it will not run. So we need a volunteer or two. You don’t have to be a genius, just someone with a love of bees, full of enthusiasm and a wish to help and pass on our commitment to newcomers. All the information with regards to the syllabus, course notes and advertising, I will be happy to pass on if required. If you have any questions please contact me or John, but we need a quick response so we can at least, start informing potential participants that it will run next spring. The first occasion we can publicise this is on July the 5th at the Borough of Broxbourne Council Open Day Show.
This leads me nicely on to asking for volunteers to help at this show. All the groups and associations for miles around including SEHBKA have a stand there, and it’s a fun day, because most people come with their families and there are bands playing, with refreshments available by the W.I. and the Scouts etc. We set up in the morning our bees and a gazebo with a table of honey and honey products and this needs volunteers not just to set up and clear away in the evening but to man it through out the day. We need people for both the morning and afternoon sessions. The few stalwarts who every year attend, cannot continue for ever and if members cannot spare just one day a year to put something back into the group then we may have to discontinue this. So don’t just let the few carry you, give John or myself a buzz so we can organise the manning sessions and products.
BuzzWorks by Robin Dartington
Two of the four colonies have proved to be very vigorous, and the other two probably badly affected by nosema (apparently a good sized brood nest but too few foragers – infected adults die early). Persistent swarming by the vigorous colonies has been a problem – the queens are clipped so the swarms have returned, but only to go out again. Colonies at my other sites have also been swarmy – either I am out of practice or this is a difficult season. Both swarms clustered on the car park hedge, not reaching the allotments, so the site may continue to cause no problems with the allotment gardeners, as hoped.
The beds in the Bee Garden are now planted out – Sam Thomas has done a magnificent job raising 600 plants at home in readiness. We now water and wait for the plants to flower, before the effect can be seen. A row of mature leeks should produce huge long-lasting flower heads attractive to bees.
The invitation to the allotments waiting list has brought four new faces into the team. The Nursery Bed has been divided to three mini-plots for this year - and the site for the Discovery Building allocated to wildflowers - so all can be responsible for particular areas as well as help with overall maintenance.
The publicity has led to booking of the first four visits by prospective beekeepers – from London, Reading, Cambridge and Chingford – but two were later deferred due to the weather. We have now gratefully received six bee suits from Herfordshire BKA for use by visitors, but we will not open fully to the general public until the safety measures are in place, following release of the grant.
Stolen Bee Hive
Hello, I am PC Paul Scott from Buntingford neighbourhood policing team, recently in April, a hive was stolen in the Walkern area complete with bees, I am trying to investigate this as best I can however in 21 years of Policing I have never come up against such a theft. I would imagine that only someone very silly or someone who has experience in handling bees would dare to disturb a hive by moving them.
Could I ask you to do a couple of things for me? Firstly advertise the fact in your newsletter and at meetings to make your members aware to the fact and secondly let me know if anyone within the east Herts. area has suffered anything similar and not reported it.
Anything any of your members can let me know would be of benefit to my investigation.
Many thanks, Paul Scott PC 446 (paul.scott@herts.pnn.police.uk)
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.
East Anglia Bee Industry Forum
by Robin Moore, St Albans BKA
Representatives of the East Anglia region counties met on 2nd May for the third industry forum arranged by Andy Wattam, East Anglia Bee Inspector. Dr Giles Budge and Mike Brown from the National Bee Unit were also present.
Each county representative gave a brief review of their Associations’ activities and winter losses. Where colony losses were reported they varied between 10% and 50% and causes, where known, ranged from simple starvation to Nosema and rats. Many representatives advised that their Associations are running beginners courses and several felt that retention of new members is a problem. Some Associations are encouraging members, old and new, to take the Basic exam.
Andy explained that the East Anglia region now comprises 9 counties (previously 6). There were 97 training events in the region last year. Disease recognition days and winter husbandry sessions were well attended and booking early is recommended particularly for this winter’s sessions. Andy warned that there are no more places on this year’s 2-day course for Disease Liaison Coordinators (DLC) and several names are already on the list for next year.
On a national basis EFB was up 50% with some 600 cases in 2007. This however, is still a very small percentage of the estimated 274,000 colonies in England and Wales. Andy reported that within risk areas apiary inspections are increasing year by year as part of Exotic Pest Surveillance (EPS). He expects that at least 40% of colonies with imported Queens, including certified imports from EU, will be inspected.
Dr Giles Budge gave a fascinating update on colony loss investigations and ongoing research at the National Bee Unit.
Referring to the 600 cases per year of EFB in England and Wales, Giles recalled the results of testing in 2006:
- EFB infection had been found in bees showing no symptoms
- EFB bacteria was prevalent on Brood and Bees
In 2007 the unit compared OTC treatment with Shook Swarm (SS) for EFB control and found:
- Fewer colonies tested positive after treatment by SS
- Less reoccurrence after treatment by SS
- No difference between OTC and SS on bee mortality.
Giles summarized that OTC is not as effective as SS as it is:
- 3 times more likely for bacteria to be present
- 4 times more bacteria the following spring
- 5 times more likely for EFB to reoccur.
Regarding the ongoing research projects at the National Bee Unit, Giles updated the group on the testing program for abnormal colony loss. He indicated that IAPV is transmitted by varroa. However, while a significant risk marker for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), IAPV is not the cause. Tests for this virus have been developed and all the 2007 samples tested negative. Similarly, 2004 and 2005 samples were retested and none reacted leading to the conclusion that a ‘CCD strain’ is not prevalent. Varroa damage can persist long after mite control is achieved but IAPV has not been detected.
On the subject of projects, Giles emphasized the value of studentships and their dependence on grants and donations. He advised that matching ‘Industry’ donations with Government funding was the most effective way of using such donations. On learning from several of the group that their Association found it difficult to establish who had benefited from past donations to BBKA it was tentatively proposed that donations from all the region’s Associations be pooled to provide a worthy studentship. It was left for further discussion between Andy and the National Bee Unit as to how this might develop.
On closing the forum Andy gave a reminder that the Defra draft strategy document was now available for consultation and encouraged everyone to respond.
An interesting and thought provoking day concluded with a vote of thanks to Giles Budge and Mike Brown for their interesting input and special thanks to Andy Wattam for making it all happen.
Consultation on a draft strategy on protecting and improving the health of honey bees in England and Wales
Defra is consulting with all beekeepers on ways to protect and improve the health of honey bees. In particular they welcome our views on:
- the strategy’s aim and desired outcomes
- the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and
- activities and initiatives that we propose to undertake with other stakeholders towards the desired outcomes.
The documents can be obtained from http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bee-health/index.htm. If you do not have access to the internet then write to Bee Health Strategy Consultation, Defra Plant Health Division, Foss House, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX. Responses have to be back by 29th August 2008.
Bee Health
Bees make an important contribution to the sustainability of the countryside, contributing both to agriculture and horticulture and to biodiversity. They also produce honey and other hive products.
The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) plays a dominant role, being the major managed pollinator available for field and outdoor fruit crops, while species of bumble bee (Bombus) are commercially reared for the managed pollination of a number of protected crops, including tomatoes. The economic value of crops grown commercially in the UK that benefit from bee pollination is estimated at around £120m-£200m p.a.. By contrast, the value of honey production in the UK fluctuates between £10-£30m p.a.. Honey bees also play an increasingly important pollination role in respect of many wild species of flora. The economic value of bees to wild plant pollination is thought to be substantial but impossible to evaluate because the pollination requirements of most species of wild plants in the UK are unknown.
There are thought to be some 44,000 beekeepers in the UK who maintain around 274,000 colonies of honey bees. Of these, around 300 are commercial beekeepers who are members of the Bee Farmers' Association; they manage around 40, 000 colonies. The remainder are small-scale beekeepers, many of whom are members of national and local beekeeping associations, such as the British Beekeepers' Association in England. There are around 33,000 beekeepers in England, who maintain some 230,000 colonies.
The National Bee Unit (NBU) manages a web based database of beekeepers in England and Wales called Beebase. The Beebase website also provides information on the functional activities of the NBU, legislation, pests and diseases including their recognition and control, interactive maps, current research areas, publications, advisory leaflets and key contacts. Beekeepers registered on Beebase can request a free apiary inspection visit from their local Bee Inspector and receive information and advice on disease recognition and control.
Many beekeepers have already registered so if you keep bees and have not yet registered please do so via the Beebase website. Registration is free of charge.
Contact Details: Plant Health Division, Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York Y01 7PX. Tel: 01904 455186