Your help, please, if you keep bees in post codes: DE75 7; DE11 9; NG10 5; WS15 2/1
SWARMS of Honey Bees-do you think you have one?If you think you have a swarm of honey bees please, look at this page on the BBKA website and follow the guide. If it is a swarm you will be able to find a swarm collector on the website.
Please note that beekeepers on the whole are not able to move bumble bees. Bumble bee nests die out at the end of the summer. If possible leave them alone until they complete their life cycle. BeeMaster- the monthly Newsletter of NBKA is emailed monthly to all members. If you are a member and have not been receiving your email copy then it may be that we do not have your correct email address. Please send your correct email address- either to Penny or to Janet and we will update our records.
2019 Practical Sessions at the ApiariesDates are now available- click here
Asian Hornet Threat 2019 and AHATs
It is likely that there will be incursions of the Asian Hornet into the UK in 2019. Last year there were 8,000 reported sightings although obviously most of these were false alarms. There are likely to be even more reports this year and possibly more nests identified.
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 are forming 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 Penny Forsyth A New Teaching Apiary in Hucknall-update-20th June 2019
We have been lucky enough to get a grant from Tesco's Bags of Help scheme for community projects. The Bee Garden is on an allotment in Hucknall. The allotment was completely overgrown but much of it has now been cleared and 4 colonies of honey bees have now been installed.
Sessions for members wishing to take the Basic assessment are now underway. We have been hampered by the dreadful weather there has been recently and some sessions have been undercover, just talking through the syllabus for the Basic without even lighting a smoker! Hopefully, the candidates will get a chance to hone their practical skills before long. We hope to have taster days for non beekeepers to have a look in a hive and find out a bit about beekeeping. Barrie EllisSadly, we have to report that Barrie Ellis died in Kings Mill Hospital on Tuesday 19th February of pancreatic cancer, aged 91.
There was a for Barrie on 15th March at the parish church of St.Peter and St.Paul, Upton near Southwell. Donations are to be divided between the Alzheimer's Society, the RNLI and the Nottinghamshire Beekeepers' Association. Barrie was one of NBKA’s most dedicated, long-serving and respected members. During his long years with our Associaton Barrie took many roles: regional Secretary, President, Council member, creator and frst editor of Beemaster. In 1954 he founded the Junior Secton, introducing many young people to the delights and mysteries of beekeeping, among them our Chairman, Andrew Barber, who writes a tribute to his friend in the March edition of BeeMaster. Barrie was always happy to assist at our Field Days, inspiring confdence in new and aspiring beekeepers with his calm authority and legendary bee handling skills. He will be greatly missed: we send our sincere condolences to his family. Nottinghamshire Beekeepers Association AGM
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The AGM was poorly attended despite Alison having secured an interesting speaker and many people having worked hard to make it a good meeting. There were only 14 ordinary members of NBKA present the rest-18 were Council members or their family.
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Autumn Honey Show 6th October 2018-Record entries!
DR RYAD AL SOUS
The Autumn Honey Show was held at Lowdham Village Hall. There were a record number of entrants this year. Well done to Alison for inspiring members to enter their honey, cakes, photos, displays and booze.
The judge this year was Peter Lewis, he hasn't been to us before. Read the interesting article he wrote about honey tasting in the October 2018 edition of BeeCraft.
Peter was a strict judge. No prizes were given in the soft set class, even though there were several entries. One reported fault was that the soft set was softer than it should have been. Could it have been due to the heat in the showing room. I wonder?
While the judging was going on our speaker was Dr Ryad Al Sous, a refugee from Damascus (pictured). He gave an interesting and at times very moving talk, much of it relating to the terribe experiences that the people of Damascus have had in recent times.
He has started the Buzz project in Huddersfield- teaching fellow refugees and long term unemployed people, beekeeping.
If you missed his talk at the Honey Show then you can listen to him talking on the radio-click here
The judge this year was Peter Lewis, he hasn't been to us before. Read the interesting article he wrote about honey tasting in the October 2018 edition of BeeCraft.
Peter was a strict judge. No prizes were given in the soft set class, even though there were several entries. One reported fault was that the soft set was softer than it should have been. Could it have been due to the heat in the showing room. I wonder?
While the judging was going on our speaker was Dr Ryad Al Sous, a refugee from Damascus (pictured). He gave an interesting and at times very moving talk, much of it relating to the terribe experiences that the people of Damascus have had in recent times.
He has started the Buzz project in Huddersfield- teaching fellow refugees and long term unemployed people, beekeeping.
If you missed his talk at the Honey Show then you can listen to him talking on the radio-click here
Feeding ~bees
For further information, please see the ‘Best Practice Guidance No. 7 - Feeding Bees Sugar’ on the following BeeBase Page: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=167
Michael Cornish died on 2nd August 2018
Michael (Mike) Cornish died on 2nd August 2018.
Bob, Janet and Penny attended a Celebration of Life Service at St. Mary’s Church, Wollaton Park, on 21st September
Mike was a lovely man. He and his son John (who sadly died suddenly in 2016) were the NBKA librarians for several years. They did an excellent job on sorting out the library books when they took them over. They brought a selection to the Monday, Arnold meetings and other meetings for members to borrow.
Mike and John kept bees for several years until they had to give them up due to John's health problems. In addition to his beekeeping Mike did some amazing things in his life, both through his work and with his family.
Bob, Janet and Penny attended a Celebration of Life Service at St. Mary’s Church, Wollaton Park, on 21st September
Mike was a lovely man. He and his son John (who sadly died suddenly in 2016) were the NBKA librarians for several years. They did an excellent job on sorting out the library books when they took them over. They brought a selection to the Monday, Arnold meetings and other meetings for members to borrow.
Mike and John kept bees for several years until they had to give them up due to John's health problems. In addition to his beekeeping Mike did some amazing things in his life, both through his work and with his family.
Monday 6th August 2018.
Richard Ridler gave an illustrated talk.
Richard’s talk explored the differences between beekeeping practice in UK and in Africa. It explained why a less interventionist approach is appropriate, why swarm control and queen rearing are inappropriate and why top bar hives work so well. He explained why beekeeping is such a successful means of poverty relief and how Bees Abroad goes about its work.
Richard is chairman of Bees Abroad, a registered charity which works to relieve poverty through beekeeping. He has been both chairman and treasurer of the Essex Beekeeper’s Association. Together with his wife Jane he keeps some 20 hives around Saffron Walden in Essex. Both Jane and Richard are Master Beekeepers. Richard is a regular contributor to the BBKA News and to Bee Craft. Jane is the education officer for Essex Beekeepers’ Association.
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Upcoming Events
Nottingham Region Meeting
Monday 5th August
7.30pm
"Social Evening"
Don't miss it
7.30pm
"Social Evening"
Don't miss it
Newark Region Meeting
15th July 2019
The Ferry Inn
North Muskham, Newark, NG23 6HB.
NBKA Council Meeting
- for council members
19th September 2019
Pippen Cottage,
Brackenhurst 7.30pm
- for council members
19th September 2019
Pippen Cottage,
Brackenhurst 7.30pm
Nottingham Region Committee Meeting
Tuesday 9th July, 7.30pm
Tesco Superstore
161a Annesley Road, Nottingham, NG15 7DB
Tesco Superstore
161a Annesley Road, Nottingham, NG15 7DB
