Bromley
Bee News Monthly Update
Published by the Bromley Beekeepers |
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Welcome
to the July 2001 issue of Bromley News. I've had plenty of calls from the public with swarms, a number of these turned out to be bumblebees which seem to cause no end of worry and I'm only to pleased too spend ten minutes on the phone explaining their life cycle and asking them to do their bit for conservation. With three of the 19 UK species of bumblebees already extinct, and a another nine on the critically endangered list, we should avoid destroying them. This year I have had a lot of interest shown through various beekeeping websites on which my details appear. I encourage their families to come along and see the bees. I normally open the hives without veils. Children like to put a finger in the comb and taste the fresh honey, that always guarantees honey sales before the visitors go home. Kent County Beekeeping Exhibition and Honey Show. Organised by the Kent Bee-Keepers' Association in conjunction with Medway and Thanet Beekeepers' Association. 12th, 13th & 14th July 2001 (entries close 5th July) Kent County Showground, Detling, Maidstone. Schedule and entry form in PDF can be downloaded from the Kent Beekeepers Association website www.kentbee.com/kbbka.htm Internet With this new website the public looking for local honey need only to search using their Town, City, County or even Postcode and get instant results of the nearest beekeeper or food store selling local honey. UK Beekeepers who would like to be listed as selling local honey can become members by clicking on the appropriate link on the site. Members will be able edit or delete their entry in the database at anytime. Steven
Turner (editor) Email: crow@zbee.com
BeeNet: 240:244/118 Tel: (020) 86980313
Apiary News As I write these notes and you read them, we should be well into the honey flow. We had plenty of rain to moisten the soil and now perfect weather but has anyone bothered to tell the bees? Some beekeepers I have talked to say the crop is coming in well but others like me are finding the bees slow to build up and there is doubt as to whether there will be enough bees to take advantage of any nectar available. On the other hand some of the seeds I have sown for the bees are absolutely covered with bumbles far, more than I have seen for many years. I spent this evening preparing for the arrival of two swarms to the club apiary. The largest swarms I have seen this year, but of course too late to catch this year's harvest but hopefully they will build up to survive the winter and pay for their board and lodging next year. I made
a suggestion at the last meeting that raised some interest on the
subject of raising your own queens. Towards the end of this month
after the main flow is over why not make up a three or four frame
nucleus from your best behaved stock. Find the queen and put her safely
to one side. Make up the nucleus with one frame of brood making sure
that there are eggs and young larvae. Fill the rest of the box with
frames of stores. It is vital that the old queen remains with the
original stock. Close up the nucleus and bring it to the club apiary
where hopefully your bees with produce a new queen who will mate with
drones local to the apiary.
By the time you read this the main event at Keston will be history but don't forget to pay a visit to the Kent Show at Detling, the 12th to the 14th of this month. The following day, Sunday the 15th we will be at Foal Farm, Jail Lane, Biggin Hill. This one is a first time for us, an event to which we all look forward with much interest. . I wish you full supers and successful queen rearing. Peter Springall E-Mail: ps@zbee.com. Tel: 02086903906 Mobile: 07779970104 Members'
Diary Dates for outside events
For
many years they have held an annual "Country Festival Day",
attracting about 4000 people. A full programme of displays in the
arena including a dog display team, working horses, parades of dogs
in their care plus others. A good family day.
Last
year was the first time we attended this event, we had a thoroughly
good time. A nice atmosphere with many people around our display.
Lots of interest in beekeeping and lots of questions, and of course
good honey sales. While
on the subject of jars, let me know if, and how many, that you will
require. |
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The
shows are going well and the new generator is doing a marvellous job
of supplying the power for the computer and video show, both of which
are a great attraction especially the younger members of the fraternity.
Please watch out for these dates and pay us a visit. There is always
something of interest for all the family and its usually free. Who
knows you may even feel inclined to come along and give us a hand,
even your company would be much appreciated.