Beginners Courses 2019The dates for the courses are now on the Education -> Beginners courses.
Autumn Honey Show 6th October 2018-Record entries!
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 BeeMaster 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 Karen or to Penny or to Janet and we will update our records.
Feeding ready for winter- heavy/2:1 The sugar syrup should be made by using 1kg of sugar to 650ml of warm water. Add the sugar to hot water and stir it up.
As a rule, standard full size British National colonies will need around 20-25 kg of stores to successfully overwinter. 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 2018Michael (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. 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. Soaps and Balm
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The NBKA Field Day was a great success
More later.
Diagnosis of Nosema-
Alec and Janet manned the microscopes at our April meeting to look for nosema in samples of bees. Fortunately most of the samples were clear of the spores but one sample had more spores than either Janet or Alec had ever seen.
NBKA Newark Auction was held Saturday 31st March
The Annual auction of Beekeeping equipment and Bees was held at the Newark Showground in our usual cold building. There was lots of good stuff this year. Much was brand new and lots was good second hand stuff. The prices were quite low for some items but others did well (for the vendor). There were about 8 colonies of bees for sale. The weather was so cold that they were peaking out of the hives but only a few were flying. The vendor was reluctantly selling up due to recent health problems.
There were a good number of people attending but not many from our association. One very good customer had come from the Manchester area.
There were a good number of people attending but not many from our association. One very good customer had come from the Manchester area.
Albert Knight has died
Albert Knight died on 6th March 2018. Some of you will remember him well and some will have heard him speak to us a couple of years ago at our monthly meeting. Others may have seen his name associated with the BIBBA- a group of beekeepers breeding bees to get back to the native Apis mellifera melliferra. Albert was one of the early members of BIBBA and did a lot for this organisation both locally (East Midlands) and nationally.
The picture (borrowed from BIBBA website) shows Albert examining a frame of bees.
Even though his health and eyesight failed over the past couple of years he was still interested in the progress of the group. He taught himself to touch type to help overcome his failing eyesight.
He will be missed by many beekeepers as well as his family and other friends.
The picture (borrowed from BIBBA website) shows Albert examining a frame of bees.
Even though his health and eyesight failed over the past couple of years he was still interested in the progress of the group. He taught himself to touch type to help overcome his failing eyesight.
He will be missed by many beekeepers as well as his family and other friends.
AGM- 3rd February 2pm
The AGM was held at Lowdham Village Hall, Main St, Lowdham NG14 7BD.
The agenda included:
Chairman's report
Treasurer's report
Voting took place for some officers and council members.
There was a presentation of cups from the honey shows and the Education certificates.
We had our refreshments before we listened to our speaker.
Speaker was Hattie Ellis who who brought some of her books about honey to look at and buy-
Her talk was entitled "Spoonsful of Honey".
Nottingham Region did some wonderful refreshments. I have never seen such a super display of homemade cakes. They tasted as good as they looked.
The proceeds of the refreshments were donated directly to Bees Abroad
The agenda included:
Chairman's report
Treasurer's report
Voting took place for some officers and council members.
There was a presentation of cups from the honey shows and the Education certificates.
We had our refreshments before we listened to our speaker.
Speaker was Hattie Ellis who who brought some of her books about honey to look at and buy-
Her talk was entitled "Spoonsful of Honey".
Nottingham Region did some wonderful refreshments. I have never seen such a super display of homemade cakes. They tasted as good as they looked.
The proceeds of the refreshments were donated directly to Bees Abroad
Upcoming Events
Nottingham Region Meeting
Monday 5th November
7.30pm
7.30pm
Talk on Microscopy & Dissection
Lewis Woolnough
Lewis Woolnough
Newark Region Meeting
Monday 19th November
NBKA Council Meeting
- for council members
Bramley Building,
Brackenhurst 7.30pm
- for council members
Bramley Building,
Brackenhurst 7.30pm
Nottingham Region Committee Meeting
Tesco Superstore
161a Annesley Road, Nottingham, NG15 7DB
161a Annesley Road, Nottingham, NG15 7DB