Bromley
Bee News Monthly Update
Published by the Bromley Beekeepers |
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Welcome to the November 2003 issue of Bromley News.
No self respecting beekeeper would want to miss the annual beekeeping event called the National Honey Show (see calendar) I personally have been enjoying the competitive side more and more and will be increasing my entries this year. Recently a television company that makes programmes for C4 has contacted Peter Bashford and myself with an idea of making a 10 minute documentary featuring two honey show competitors staging at the National, filming would be in our homes as we prepare our exhibits and then follow us to Kensington Town Hall. Even at this late stage the film company have not guaranteed that C4 will approve/fund the making of this documentary, watch this space. If you’re a new member of the branch why not sign up to an introduction
beekeeping course such as the one run by the London Beekeepers Association
at Roots and Shoots on Wednesday evenings for ten weeks starting 14th
January 2004? Details from the website www.kentbee.com Do you need a duplicate copy of the Bromley branch membership form or wish to join the branch officially? Go to the branch website www.kentbee.com/bromley and click on link ‘Downloads’ a PDF version can be downloaded and printed and sent to the branch treasurer. You can read this newsletter online with more pictures from the URL:
http://www.kentbee.com/bromley/newsletters/novbbk03.htm Apiary News
What a mess. In the four years since the owner left the house the original colony had died out, wax moths had moved in, destroyed all the wax and then departed. Next a swarm had moved in and these were the bees we collected.
As some of you know the following Sunday morning saw us cutting out the tangled combs and fitting them in a clean brood chamber, we even spotted the queen running in off what was left of the original floor board which was leaned up against the new one. I promised everyone that I would put some new frames of foundation to fill the brood box but unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse and it would have been unfair to disturb the bees under those conditions. Hopefully we will be able to have a look and see how they have faired on the first Sunday of November. Wax moth has now got into two colonies at the Apiary and left them without bees. The cast that Claire brought along was getting on quite well but just de-camped and obviously took up residence elsewhere. One of the hazards of our sport. Having leaned that Dave Harris was out of intensive care, Tom and I paid him a visit and you will be pleased to hear that he is now on the mend. He is back on solid food again but is still lacking in appetite, but a few hot dinners over the next few days will no doubt work wonders. I know we all wish David a speedy and successful recovery. Steve and I went to see a repeat of Martin Buckle's interesting talk of wax models at the Bull at Farleigh.
There was nothing new about the wax part of the talk but another string to Martin's bow is skep making which proved most interesting. He also demonstrated samples of ancient protection gear which consisted of a plain ankle length tee shirt and a separate hood fronted with a circular woven basket to replace the usual net of the veil. All in all a most interesting evening.
I hope you managed to get your entries in for the National and don't forget we need all the help we can get on the Tuesday evening the 11th November any time after six at the Town Hall. Finally our Branch AGM followed by the Club AGM takes place on the Tuesday after the National the 18th November I trust you will be able to make it. Looking forward to seeing you all soon. Diary Dates 13-15
November 2003 - The National Honey Show. The National
Honey Show will be held at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street.
Full details from www.honeyshow.co.uk Sunday 7th December 11:45am - The branch morning apiary meeting. Beekeeping demonstrations and hive management. Tea and biscuits provided. For
more information Advertisements David
Harris FREE
Six large (very heavy) concrete slabs idea for standing hives on |
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