April 2008

SUSSEX BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

EASTBOURNE AND DISTRICT

DIVISION NEWSLETTER

CHAIRPERSON Mark Brittle	SECRETARY Julia Faulkner Email		DIARY DATES  DIARY DATES Saturday 26th April 2.30pm. Apiary meeting Queen marking and clipping, Derek will show his method which we can all practice on drones. If it is too cold, equipment and method to hive a swarm will be shown. Saturday May 3rd and 10th 2.30pm. Population growth and behaviour with Ben Pratt See directions at the end of newsletter. Sat 18th May 10.am Plumpton Bee market
TREASURER John Williams	NEWSLETTER EDITOR Penny Rapson Email
HONEY FOR SALE Richard Denness would like to obtain local honey to sell at his farm shop, at Springfield Farm, Back Lane, Cross in Hand. Contact  him on 07703 784863

Apiary News

March 15^th was a sunny morning with all hives flying strongly with a lot of pollen coming in.

Sussex Beekeepers Annual AGM

SBKA comprises of local beekeepers from Eastbourne, High Weald, Hastings, Lewes and Brighton and East Grinstead.

There were unfortunately only three Eastbourne members, it would appear we did not adequately circulate information to members.

John Hymer gave a good talk on the future of beekeeping but portrayed a rather gloomy outlook if people do not include IPM ( integrated pest management) in their hive management.

The government has not been as helpful to beekeepers as we would like in spite of requests by the BBKA, our parent body.

It would seem that EFB is possibly to be taken off the list of notifiable diseases and if this does happen it would be up to the individual beekeeper to take appropriate action. Currently suspected colonies are sent away for testing by bee inspectors at no charge. It is now possible to buy test kits for EFB and AFB from Thornes which they state are 98% accurate but cost £7.50 per hive.

Our hosts for the AGM were High Weald who put on a very good tea including a special iced cake to celebrate the centenary year.   Eric 

Available site for bees Merryweather Farm, Herstmonceux. For details contact Ben Pratt

SPRING MANAGEMENT with MAURICE FIELD

There was a good turnout for this instructive run through of spring management, effectively covering most of the active beekeeping season.

Maurice talked us through hive health and cleanliness, some pest management, including the threat of small hive beetle. Some methods for managing hives and swarming, and some insights into reading the hive. I.e. did you know that a hive preparing to swarm will not draw foundation, so if you practice drone culling and they fail to draw the comb be prepared.

 Bee Notes April

   If the beekeeper check’s their stocks regularly, and nectar is coming in, they look healthy with plenty of eggs and brood the stock should be in good heart, change at least 3 brood combs with fresh foundation when the bees are strong enough, the bees making comb helps to deter swarming and removing old black frames helps to keep the colony healthy, (the bees are not interested in stale foundation or granulated rape or ivy choked combs  either) Note they will not draw out foundation unless they are strong enough and being fed or a honey flow is on

 When checking the colony always make a point of remembering the following and do make a note of it;

• is there sufficient stores,
• is the queen laying check for eggs and young brood as well as sealed brood
• is the queen marked, if not do mark her,
• does the brood look right,
• are there queen cups or cells, (often they make play cups only),
• have they room for expansion, take account of the amount of sealed brood ready to emerge,
• is there any signs of varroa (bees with stunted wings etc),
• what is needed on the next visit.
• All this information should be written down.

Newsletter Archives

April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
December 2007
October 2007
September 07
August 07
July 07
June 07
April 06
March 06
Jan / Feb 06
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