Kent Bee-keepers' Association

Institute of Biology - Kent, Surrey & Sussex Branch

Darwin’s Bicentenary - Lecture morning at Down House followed by a tour of the house and grounds. Wednesday March 11th 2009. Starting 11 a.m.

Our first meeting of 2009, most appropriately in the year of his bicentenary, will celebrate the work of Charles Darwin at Down House. English Heritage has just concluded a major new project at Down House, which includes a bee observatory. Charles Darwin studied various types of bee on many occasions in a variety of contexts during his long career.  We have two eminent speakers to cover various aspects of Darwin’s work on these fascinating insects. Both speakers have been heavily involved with the work at Down House. One talk will concentrate on honey bees and their amazing ability to make wax honey comb and the other will discuss bumble bees.  We will then be able to tour the house after lunch (café on site). 

Venue: Luxted Road, Downe, Kent. BR6 7JT

John Williams, Kent. Darwin’s Bees. John is an expert beekeeper in Kent. Recently John has been assisting English Heritage to show Darwin's work with bees at Down House. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and was awarded a BA(Hons) degree by the Open University in 1977.
 
Charles Darwin knew that he had to show that the honey bees’ instinct to build the beautiful hexagonal wax honeycomb evolved in small steps over millions of years, or his theory of evolution by natural selection would fail.  This talk will describe Darwin’s work with bees including the help he had from various beekeepers, the experiments he performed, and what is known about the beehives he used.  There will be a mention of the reaction of some beekeepers after publication of ‘The Origin of Species’.

Norman L. Carreck, West Sussex. Charles Darwin - Cats, Mice, Bumble bees, Old Maids and Clover. Norman is also an expert beekeeper. He joined Rothamsted Research in 1987 as an agronomist.  Between 1991 and 2006 he was apiculturalist in the Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, with responsibility for maintaining about 80 colonies of honey bees. He is also a  Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society  He has recently joined Prof. Francis Ratnieks at the newly established Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects at the University of Sussex.
 
"The Origin of Species" when discussing the struggle for existence between species, contains the famous passage linking the pollination of red clover by bumble bees with mice that destroy their nests, and cats which control the mice. This is arguably the first, and possibly the most well known example of a food chain, forerunner of modern food chains and food webs which have done so much to improve our understanding of ecological systems. Norman has attempted to reproduce the simple experiments carried out in the hay meadow behind Down House which began this important area of biological endeavour, and also to examine critically the links in Darwin's original chain.  
 
Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to hear some little known facts about Darwin’s work at the place where he carried out his experiments. The lectures will take place in Down House. Numbers are restricted and booking is therefore essential. Entrance, lectures and audio tour £10. English Heritage members £5. Please contact Pam Hunter, 01403 864007. Email: pamhunter (AT) burnthouse.org.uk. 

If booking send a cheque payable to IOB KSS Branch to Pam Hunter, Burnthouse, Burnthouse Lane, Cowfold, Horsham. RH13 8DH.