Nottinghamshire Beekeepers Association

BEEMASTER NEWSLETTER WINS AWARD

The Nottinghamshire Beekeepers Association Monthly Beemaster Newsletter has won an award at the National Honey Show !
Our Excellent Monthly Newsletter compiled by our Editor Stuart Humphreys with Regular Contributions by our Members was placed Second. This recognition of all the efforts by the NBKA to keep our members informed of the latest updates in the Beekeeping world has been rewarded. We should all feel proud that our publication is among the best in the Beekeeping Associations UK wide.
Well Done to Stuart and all the regular contributors.

Another ASIAN HORNET REPORTED

A report of Asian hornet in the Portsmouth area was received via the Asian Hornet Watch App on 29th October. The report was accompanied by clear photographs, allowing National Bee Unit inspectors to follow up the sighting quickly.

An Asian hornet nest was located in a tree on Saturday 30th October and the nest was killed on Sunday 31st October. The nest will be sent to Fera for analysis and monitoring will continue in the area supported by local beekeepers.

The first sighting of an Asian Hornet in 2021 has been documented by GovUK in Ascot Berkshire - Keep a Look Out !!!
Update: a nest has been destroyed in the Ascot area of Berkshire
An Asian hornet nest in a poplar tree was killed in the Ascot area of Berkshire on Monday the 11th October. The nest measured approximately 35cm in diameter and monitoring will continue in the area supported by local beekeepers.

Further information regarding the Asian hornet can be found on on Defra's Asian Hornet sightings page and on our BeeBase Asian hornet page. Please direct all media enquiries to the Defra Press Office: 0330 0416560

Use the ‘Asian hornet Watch’ app for Android and Iphone to report sightings.

Contact Alec Thomson Team Leader of the NBKA AHAT Team if you spot anything.
Updated by JB 24/10/21

OBITUARY - STUART CHING - By Penny Forsyth

Penny Forsyth pays an admiring tribute to an historian, archivist, editor and friend.

stuart_ching_tribute.pdf
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CABK Spring Meeting 2022

Advanced notice of the Central Association of Beekeepers' Spring Meeting.
The meeting will be held at:
Holme Pierrepont Hall
Saturday 26th March 2022
the time will be approximately 10-16.30 and will include lunch
More details to follow

Teaching Apiaries and Beginners Courses

Newark Training Apiary is managed by Andrew Barber who also is the Team Leader for Beginners Courses in the Newark Area. Those who came on last years courses which were incomplete (2020) will be contacted.
The Beginners course is run at Coddington Village Hall and will commence for 6 weeks started on the 18th February 2022 .
Cost £60 for the entire Course.
Contact Andrew Barber.
See Beemaster for further Details.
Nottingham Training Apiary is managed jointly by Alec Thomson and Bob Logan
The Beginners Course starts on Wednesday 2nd March 2022 for 7 weeks until Wednesday 13th April 2022
At Sherwood from 7.30pm till 9.30pm. Cost £70.00.
Anyone wishing to attend should contact bob at bob.logan@ntlworld.com,
See latest Beemaster for more details.
Hucknall Training Apiary is being used for training for the basic Certificate but if you are a new beekeeper who would like to come along and examine a colony then please contact Janet Bates
Beeston Beginners Course (COURSE NOW FULL)
This Beginners Course will be led by Karen Burrow who should be contacted for enrolment.
Due to Covid the start has been delayed to Saturday February 5th 2022
Followed by further sessions in February and March
Time 9:30-12:30
Cost £70 for the whole course
At Canal Heritage Centre, Beeston Rylands, Beeston, Nottingham.
Cafe on site, parking on surrounding street.
See Beemaster for further details.
Updated GD 08/01/22

Reporting the Presence of Varroa on BeeBase

On 21st April, 2021 an amendment to the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) Order 2006 comes into force requiring beekeepers and or officials to report the presence of Varroa in any of the hives that they manage. This amendment will allow England to comply with the Animal Health Law which is necessary for future working relationships with the European Union. Similar arrangements are being made in Wales and Scotland. To make this simple, a tick box will be introduced to BeeBase, the voluntary register for beekeepers managed by the National Bee Unit. This will allow beekeepers and inspectors to report the presence or absence of Varroa. Although Varroa is known to be widespread, it continues to be one of the most serious pests faced by beekeepers. Reporting Varroa will contribute to the overall pest and disease surveillance work of the National Bee Unit and we are grateful for your assistance with this new simple measure.
Posted 13/04/21 GD

Asian Hornet Threat and AHATs

The Asian hornet is still a threat. last year was quiet in England but now is the time of year to be especially alert.
It is likely that the resources of the NBU Bee Inspectors will be overwhelmed if more than 3 or 4 sightings occur at the same time.
In conjunction with the NBU local BKAs have formed Asian Hornet Action Teams (AHATs) to increase the resources available to support the bee inspectors. Their role will be to confirm sightings/photos/place traps locally/watch for flight lines.
The Association AHATS must quickly become an important reserve on which the NBU can rely to keep outbreaks under control.
The Midlands are coming together for the purpose and Sam Hampton is a coordinator of the larger group.
Destruction of nests will be carried out by pest control operators.
It is important to report any suspected sightings of this species as soon as possible. Find out how to identify Asian hornet by downloading an Identification Guide, or visit the BeeBase website.
Yellow legs and a mostly black body are key features.
Note that the AH nests in the UK have not been as large as those found in France.
Ideally photographs and/or a specimen should also be obtained.
Sightings must be reported to the NNSS Non-native species secretariat. alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk
Any foundress queens that have escaped from nests last year will be about in spring.
The AHAT coordinator for NBKA is Alec Thomson
See BeeMaster for more AHAT information.
Edited 12/08/21 JB

NBKA Council Meeting

16th December 2021
NBKA Council Meeting
Brackenhurst College
7:30pm

NEXT EVENTS

Nottingham Group Meeting

Monday 3rd January
7.30pm

Karen Burrow

An Entertaining Evening

Newark Group Meetings
Newark Group
are now back at the PUB
for meetings 3rd Monday Evening in the Month

Nottingham Group Committee Meetings

Have you seen the Linda and Maurice Jordan Beekeeping Video
Its now on
YouTube

Useful Links

BBKA

BeeConnected

BeeBase

EFB to Remain a Notifiable Disease.

There was a rumour that EFB (European Foul Brood) may be removed from the list of notifiable diseases. We have had a communication from DEFRA stating that EFB is to remain on the list of notifiable diseases.
The other notifiable diseases are AFB (American Foul Brood), Small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps.
If you think you have found a notifiable disease in a colony then reassemble the hive. Reduce the entrance to prevent robbing. Put a voluntary standstill on your apiary and inform the local bee inspector and your local secretary.

Bee Farmers Association