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EASTBOURNE AND DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Summer Diary 2008
Practical demonstrations, wherever possible, will take place at 2.45pm prior to the examination of the hives. After the practical please be ready to inspect hives. This year the WBC at the Association apiary will again be dedicated to inexperienced beekeepers so they can take their time gaining hands on experience and confidence.
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March
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Sat 29th
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10.30am
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First Association Apiary meeting.
Practical Colin and Jonathan will demonstrate how to prepare your hives for a move or pollination, and explain timing and equipment needed.
The Association hives will then be moved to another apiary some 3 miles away. On their return they will be re-sited in the area that Eric, Paul and Christopher have already cleared. Manpower and your time would be appreciated to help load up.
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April
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Practical demonstrations and inspections are flexible over the next five weeks, as the bees will control the expansion of the hives. The apiaries are all in a rape area and with seasonal weather we hope to draw new brood comb, check drone brood, mark queens, hive a swarm, benefit from the swarming instinct and raise new queens. If you have just started beekeeping this will be an ideal opportunity to see how colonies build up during the spring flow.
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Sat 26tht
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2.30pm
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Association Apiary Meeting
Practical Derek, queen marking and clipping. He will demonstrate his method, which we can all practice on drones. If it is too cold, the equipment and method to hive a swarm will be shown.
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May
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Sat 3rd
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2.30pm
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Ben has invited us to one of his apiaries on 3rd & 10th May but he needs to look through the bees to choose the best site to illustrate the population growth and behaviour of the colonies in May.
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Sat 10th
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2.30pm
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The location of his apiary and directions will be included in the April Newsletter. The dates 3rd & 10th May will not change.
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Sun 18th
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10.00am
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BEEMARKET at Plumpton Agricultural College. Free entry and parking. Second-hand bargains, books and an Auction of Equipment. Beekeeping demos and a lecture. Our Regional Bee Inspectors will also be available to answer questions. Beekeeping supplies, refreshments, lunches, cakes – a great day out for all the family.
Help urgently needed on the Saturday evening or Sunday, please phone Eric Miller.
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Bank Holiday weekend
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Sat 24th
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2.30pm
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Association Apiary Meeting
Compare the current situation with the 26th April inspection. Monitor Varroa, set drone traps.
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Sat 31st
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2.30pm
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Association Apiary Meeting
Have we raised new queens? IPM. Spring honey to extract? In you need an extractor see 26th July.
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June
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Thurs 5th
Fri 6th
Sat 7th
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*South of England Show* – Stewards are needed for the Bees and Honey marquee. Free admission if you steward for ½ a day on sales, enquiries, observation hive etc
Contact David Staples on 01903 539205
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Sun 8th
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2.30pm
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Garden Meeting at Shirley & Jonathan’s, Rushlake Green.
Practical Jonathan will explain how to count the mite fall. He runs Dadent hives at this apiary so a good opportunity to compare these to WBCs, Smiths & Nationals.
Time for tea.
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Fri 20th & Sat 21st
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The Association have been invited to show bees at Bentley, they are launching a new event “Hands on History” Romans to Tudors. It seems we could look out of place in 21st Century gear so if you fancy dressing up, this is your show.
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Sat 28th
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2.30pm
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Garden meeting at Tamara’s, Cross in Hand.
Practical Trevor will explain how he tries to avoid the spread of disease and how he usually keeps his smoker alight. After the hives have been opened it will be time for tea.
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July
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Sat 5th
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2.30pm
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Follow up garden meeting at
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Sat 12th
Sun 13th
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10.30am
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*Game Fair at Michelham Priory
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Sat 26tht
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2.30pm
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Association Apiary Meeting
Practical Eric hopefully taking honey off for extraction.
Varroa – what do we use this year? How why and when to use Apiguard, other options.
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A reminder to new beekeepers: if you have honey to extract, the Association has a stainless steel tabletop extractor for hire. Arrange collection from Eric.
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August
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Date to be announced – either Sat 16th or 23rd at 2.30pm
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Association Apiary Meeting
Practical Mark Brittle will explain how he encourages the bees to fill honeycomb sections. Special equipment is needed and if the bees co-operate, the product is presented beautifully.
During the inspection of the hives we will look for malformed bees.
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September
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Fri 12th
Sat 13th
Sun 14th
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*Wood Fair Bentley*
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Sat 20th
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2.30pm
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Association Apiary Meeting.
Practical Eric will prepare for winter covering mouse guards, queen wasps, woodpeckers, gales, damp sites, painting hives plus storing frames etc
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*Fairs*
When details are available Jeanne will contact members who usually help. If you have honey to sell and would like to work on the stall please phone her, or if you like talking bees the observation hive always attracts the public. New beekeepers have enjoyed manning this hive in the past. The bees are behind glass and you just talk about them, its amazing how much you have learnt and beekeepers are on hand to field the difficult questions. NB: Bentley Wood Fair – we don’t take bees
Garden Meetings and Meetings at Members’ Out Apiaries
Please bring refreshments to share and a garden chair/rug. Members of your family are very welcome; they don’t have to look at the bees. If they do want to take part please organise a veil before by phoning Jeanne or Eric. Tea will only be provided on 8th, 28th June and 5th July.
Association Apiary Meetings
Tea will be provided but we need help as Nora can’t spare the time this year, so volunteers please. Please bring your own mug and a garden chair/rug.
If you have friends or family who fancy keeping bees bring them to an apiary meeting. We have spare veils and they will be very welcome, especially if they bring their own mug!
New members
If you work on Saturdays or would like more hands on experience with the bees Eric can offer alternative dates for apiary visits.
He may also be able to offer swarms in May/June but you need to have the hive ready to run them in. This means a sterilised hive, brood frames made up with foundation and a contact feeder ready to give a syrup feed 2 to 3 days after they were run in. Contact Eric if interested.
Do you have honey to extract but no extractor?
A reminder to new beekeepers, if you have honey to extract the Association has a stainless steel tabletop extractor for hire.
Arrange collection from Eric.
Dates for your diary
30th, 31st October and 1st November - National Honey Show new venue Weybridge, Surrey
(See adverts in Beecraft)
8th November - Sussex Conference Plumpton College
Speakers: Francis Ratnieks, Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects, Sussex University & Richard Ball, National Bee Unit
6th December - IPM Day and organic acid demo in the apiary at Netherfield, invitation from Hastings & Rother Association.
Booking details will follow in future newsletters or contact Jeanne.
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