Bromley Bee News Monthly Update

Published by the Bromley Beekeepers

Welcome to the October 2001 issue of Bromley News.

Tony Ashby Marking the Queen

Cover pictures from the September apiary meeting

I took a weeks holiday to do my extracting, this was done and dusted in 2 days. I was expecting this year's crop to be disappointing, but I still managed to extract my minimum target of 300 lbs and so I can keep the "Cats Protection" charity shop supplied for another year.

This year I experimented by fitting 4 casters to the bottom of my 12 frame extractor. This had two advantages, 1. It was easy to move about the extracting room, 2. The extractor gyrated around the floor in a controlled way.
I did have one worrying moment when the motor starting making crunching noises. I stripped it down and found nothing wrong. I wasn't sure if I had made the correct diagnosis and rang Thorns for advice, with not much hope of a quick fix and no joy with a local electric motor refurbishment company and still 6 supers to extract, I could do no more than put it all back together. Surprisingly I found the fault had disappeared, is it possible the drive belt was just slack in the first place and tightening of the drive belt masked the fault?

If you have bees on Bromley allotments please contact Clive Watson (020)86583786.

I have been asked to remind members to pay subs promptly as this helps our Treasurer get the accounts in order for the annual general meeting on Tuesday 20th November at 7.30pm at branch HQ.
Bromley Branch Needs You!

Any member needing a National Honey Show schedule can get a hard copy from myself or on the website www.honeyshow.co.uk Entry forms must be in by 15th October 2001.

Peter Bashford has announced the results of the September 2001 Bromley and Orpington honey show Click here to view

Internet

Bromley branch website has changed host and had a makeover, our new URL is http://www.kentbee.com/bromley/ this can be shortened to www.kentbee.com/bromley for promotion on posters and news publications. Its mostly my effort at the moment and I would welcome some input from other branch members. Send your articles and photographs to the editor and help make Bromley branch a useful resource on the Internet.

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

Apiary News

What a good meeting that was! A remark that several the members present at last months meeting voiced. The main subject was of course checking stocks and deciding what action to take in view of the forthcoming winter.

Highlight of the day was when Tony Ashby marked his first ever Queen. A task he carried out with the skill of a veteran. During the inspection of that hive we noticed some Bald Brood, a condition attributed to a genetic problem with the Queen. The following inspection, that of one of the mini nucleus hives revealed a Queen in good working condition, therefore we decided to exchange her for the suspect Queen that Tony had marked, using the small JZBZ introduction cages. By the time you read this we will have opened both hives and seen the result of our efforts.

Later that week George Evans needed a queen for a friend and we took one from the second nucleus hive. Usually the bees start queen cells to replace their lost mum, but due to being so late in the season they gave up and within two days all had departed no doubt finding winter accommodation in one of the adjacent hives.

The main event for October is to get your entries in for the National Honey Show. Last year we lost our claim to the coveted trophy to the Ashford Branch gaining one extra point over us, based on the percentage of members getting their exhibits on to the staging bench. By making just one entry you could tip the balance in our favour. Who knows? You could even be one of the proud contestants collecting a trophy at the end of the show.
NOTE ! Entries must be in by 15th October. If you have problems delivering your entries please contact me, Clive or Steve and we will ensure their safe delivery.

If you have not yet extracted your honey, don't forget that the Branch has an extractor available for hire for the huge sum of £3.00. Contact Clive or me.

Several of us will be paying our usual visit to The Bull at Farleigh joining the Mid Kent branch who are putting on a talk about solitary bees. See county newsletter for full details. http://www.kentbee.com/kbka10-01.htm

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

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