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Welcome
to the September 2003 issue of Bromley News.
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The
Rose Garden at Montisfont Abbey |
IMPORTANT - YOUR HONEY SHOW NEEDS YOU!
Saturday 13th September at The Hewitt Room, Emmanual Church, The
Grove, West Wickham. Exhibitors need to have their entries at the
hall between 9:00am -10.30am so that all the judging can be finished
before the show opens to the public at 2:30pm. Show schedules and
entry forms can still be downloaded from the Bromley branch website. Please
try to make at least one entry, or at least visit the show just
to enjoy the friendly atmosphere between 2:30pm - 5pm.
Ashford Show
Peter Bashford and I made the annual pilgrimage to the Ashford branch
honey show, between us we came away with seventeen prize cards. The
show judge Revd Francis Capener used to say “Not that blasted P.Bash
again” now he’s saying “That blasted Turner and Bash again”. Joking
aside we were made very welcome and we both had a terrific day, we
both won a raffle prize too.
My Bees
I have extracted all my honey and have a huge pile of empty sticky
supers now under threat from wax moth. I keep newspaper between each
one and periodically make comb inspection and kill any wax moth larva
by hand just to keep them in check until next spring.
Varroa
I’m using Apiguard for the first time as an end of season treatment.
Two main disadvantage of using Apiguard are 1. You can’t feed bees
before or at the same time and 2. The treatment can only be used
if the maximum day temperature was not below 15°C. After about
24 hours large numbers of mites were falling out the front entrances.
I noticed the bees seemed over active, strongly fanning to try and
remove the smell of Thymol (the main active ingredient). Note: the
removal of the honey supers is essential or you will taint the honey.
I have heard reports of pyrethroid resistant varroa found outside
the previously known affected areas in the South West of England
and in Wales.
The second new pyrethroid resistance discovery is near Market Drayton,
Shropshire. This is getting closer to home and I wouldn't be surprised
if London and Kent were to be the third. At this moment Apiguard
is the only other licensed treatment we have against varroa which
I have found to be extremely effective when correctly used.
Mount
Diablo Beekeepers Association www.diablobees.org
I have just been reading the Diablo Bee newsletter which Jeff Peacock
kindly sends since our Barry travelled to the USA attending their
bee meetings. I read that MDBA have a honorary award of Beekeeper
of the Year which is something I would like to see adopted by Bromley
branch at our AGM in November.
Honey
for Sale
Godfrey
Munro of Park Beekeeping Supplies has asked me to remind members
about the special Kent Tamper Evident Seals he
sells at 250 £.3.95 or 1000 £.15.00.
Internet
Improved
web version of this newsletter with pictures
URL: http://www.kentbee.com/bromley/newsletters/septbbk03.htm
Last
year Bromley and Orpington honey show
URL: http://www.kentbee.com/bromley/newsletters/octbbk02.htm
Apis-UK-The
free Beekeeping web magazine and newsletter.
Apis-Uk August issue No.16 prints to 20
sides of A4. Contents: Editorial; Beekeeping news; Bee press; Obituary
Ian Coleman; Articles: Beekeeping in Serbia; Natural Ways of Improving
Varroa Containment (part 3) Ian Rumsey; Matt Allen on nudes, violence
and genetic freaks; Me and Mini Nuc's Peter Springall; Poem of the
month; Fact file Drifting Drones; Readers letters: Bob Buntine, Brian
Hughes, Courtney Etheridge, Ross Gregory, Mark Winston; Beekeeping
courses starting 2004; Updated beekeeping events diary and lots more
Total D/L. 198KB.
URL: http://www.beedata.com/apis-uk/newsletters/apis-uk0803.htm
Steven
Turner
Apiary
News
Our
new display tent has now been used three times and has proved very
successful. It is due for another outing at Dave Harris' Farm
at Shooters Hill on Sunday the 14th September. On the subject of
Dave, you will be pleased to hear that he has had his operation and
all went well. He is not ready to receive visitors
yet but Clive and I plan to call on him some time next week. I gather
he will be in hospital for about three weeks.
The next Branch event will be the Honey Show on Saturday the 13th
September. As I have said many times before, showing is an excellent
way of getting you in the habit of preparing your honey fit to sell
or even give to your friends, so do enter and for the newcomers amongst
us an entry in the novices class. I have seen honey being offered
for sale which was not even fit for feeding back to the bees.
Another event not to be missed is a visit the to Robin and Jenny
Spon-Smith's home on Sunday the 21st September at 3:00pm to witness
and perhaps help recover a colony from a tank where they took up
residence earlier this season. I have carried out this task on many
occasions in the past and it's not so daunting as one would expect.
Bowls of warm water and cloths to rid ones hands of the yellow stickiness
goes without saying, but please give Robin and Jenny a ring on 020-8663-1364
if you intend coming in order that they can come to terms with the
catering.
There is a site at Eden Park Road available for up to six hives.
If you are interested give me a ring and I will put you in touch
with someone.
Our landlords
The Kent House Leisure Gardens are running a trip to the RHS gardens
at Wisley on Sunday the 12th October. The coach
leaves the main gate at 9:30am and tickets are £7 (7 quid for
beenetters) an alternative pick up point will be at Crystal Palace.
Don't forget the summer series of apiary meetings has now finished
until next April and we now carry on with the winter series which
take place on the first Sunday of each month until next June. See
you soon.
Peter
Springall
Diary
Dates
Saturday 13th September 2003 - The Bromley
and Orpington Honey Show and Beekeeping exhibition. Opens to the public at 2.30pm FREE
ENTRY. Emmanuel Church, The Grove, West Wickham, Kent. See quality
products of the hive; buy pure English honey; things for kids to
do; watch the bees at work safely behind glass in the
demonstration hive; beekeeping exhibits and more. Refreshments
available. Honey Show Schedule and entry forms from the URL: http://www.kentbee.com/bromley/news/honeyshow2003.htm
Sunday
21st September 3:00pm - Bromley branch meeting
at the home apiary of Robin Spon-Smith. 77 Bushey Way,
Beckenham, Kent, BR3 6TH E-Mail: rss@spon-smith.com. Please
email Robin so he has a idea of the numbers attending.
Sunday
5th October 11:45am - The
branch morning apiary meeting. Beekeeping demonstrations and hive
management. Tea and biscuits provided.
13-15
November 2003 - The National Honey Show. The National
Honey Show will be held at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street.
You can download the schedule of classes from the National Honey
Show site from the support pages URL: http://www.honeyshow.co.uk
For more information
Peter Springall 020-8690-3906 Mobile: 07779970104 E-Mail
Tom Winks Chairman 020-8777-3144
Clive Watson 020-8658-3786
Steven Turner (editor) 020-8698-0313 E-Mail
Visit our site www.kentbee.com/bromley
Advertisements
(free to members or £10.00 for non-members)
David
Harris
Is now an approved Thorne agent able to supply all beekeeping needs
at a discount.
49
Shawbrooke Road, Eltham SE9 6AL. A telephone call
before calling is much appreciated 020-8850-7826 Web: www.busybusybee.demon.co.uk
FREE
Six large (very heavy) concrete slabs idea for standing hives
on
Collect from Steven Turner 153 Thornsbeach Road, Catford, SE6 1HB Tel:
020-8698-0313
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