Bromley Bee News Monthly Update

Published by the Bromley Beekeepers

Welcome to the November 2001 issue of Bromley News.

Cover pictures from the October apiary meeting

As I write these words, I am watching my bees working Mahonia x media 'Charity', which is flowering a month earlier than normal. These mild temperatures mean that many trees are hanging on to their leaves.
You should have removed all your anti varroa strips now that the six weeks are up. MAKE SURE THIS IS DONE, NO EXCUSES.
I've found the best way to remove the strips is to pull them slowly with a pair of pointed noise pliers while smoking down directly over the strip so that the bees move away as you draw them out. Do make sure you wear gloves while handling the strips and dispose of them properly.
Only 2 of my colonies have needed additional feeding, I use the rapid Ashforth Feeder; each hive was given 28lbs of sugar syrup.

The National Honey Show is my favourite annual beekeeping event, in recent years I have started showing, my long term goal would be winning 1st prize for Catford Honey. I put my entries in very late this year and I may have missed the 1st November late entries deadline. It would be a blow if I have missed my chance for such silly reasons.
Nevertheless I will be at the show with my computer doing live updates on the honeyshow website.

I'm asking for some HELP on November Thursday 15th (show open day). I'm looking for a roving reporter - somebody to go around interviewing the visitors for comments about the show so that we can put them on the website, no experience necessary - lunch will be on me.

Internet

The National Honey Show website www.honeyshow.co.uk

Steven Turner (editor) Email: crow@zbee.com BeeNet: 240:244/118 Tel: (020) 86980313

Apiary News

I have just heard the unwelcome news that Dave Harris one of our most regular members to attend our events will have to miss the November meeting as he is due to go into hospital for a few days this weekend, I am sure you will all join me in wishing him a speedy and full recovery. More news anon.

Last month's meeting was yet another success despite the threat of rain which managed to hold off until we were all ready to call it a day and just gave us time to clear up before the skies opened up.

Latest news is that Bee Craft will be sent to us individually which means that Clive will not have to hold up the mail shot waiting for it as is often the case. Let us hope that the county news The Kentish Bee will be on time, but I do wonder if the change will mean extra costs for us at the receiving end.

I have been supplying the bees at the apiary with sugar syrup but they don't seem particularly interested - usually a sign that there is an income of nectar. Perhaps this unprecedented warm October has allowed the flowers to perform out of season. Who knows?

This month of course brings the major event in the calendar The National Honey show. I do hope many of you managed to get your entries in and thus ensure that our branch gets its name on the coveted trophy again, which I have mentioned so many times before. If any of you can get along to Kensington Town Hall on the evening of Tuesday the 13th any time after 6:00pm we will be most grateful for a hand at assembling the staging. So many people have asked about the inventor of the clockwork radio Trevor Baylis who is booked to open the show that I imagine it will be a crush to get in, time will tell. I look forward to seeing you all at some time during the show, and do make a point of visiting us on the computer stand.

The other important event is of course our branch AGM that takes place on the 20th (the Tuesday after the show). Do please come along and enjoy the company and refreshments even if you sleep through the rest of the proceedings.

During the winter when news is short, your contribution to this newsletter would be most welcome. All the best

Peter Springall E-Mail: ps@zbee.com Tel: 02086903906 Mobile: 07779970104

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