Welcome to Farnham Beekeepers
A Division of the Surrey Beekeepers' Association
In the Apiary - March
Apiary cleaning of Equipment on February 20th
This was a great success as willing helpers came along and scraped boxes and useable frames, passing them on to those with burners to flame so that equipment could be clean ready for the coming season. This year, with so much more equipment we shall be cleaning as we go, so those taking off boxes will be cleaning them before they are put back, and we shall be using acetic acid to sterilise the frames. I do thank all those who turned up on a not very welcoming day (although it did stay dry) including those who did stirling work clearing the grass of last years leaves and leaving it looking great. EVERYONE, not just new beekeepers, do come along when the fruit trees are flowering - it will look lovely.
Notes from my apiary and bee shed
(contributed by Hazel Sharples)
As I write today, 26th February, I have yet to see a honey bee in my garden – not even a foundress queen bumble, although all my snowdrops, yellow crocus and species tomasinianus are in full flower and just waiting for those few extra degrees to bring in the pollinators. As for shrubs, Chimonanthus – wintersweet - brings in the bumble bees from early January in some years and smells wonderful.
Up at my out apiary I see that all 5 colonies have made it so far through the winter, but March is a critical month, increasing brood needing both pollen and honey but the older workers starting to die off. Although I left brood boxes full of food, and supers also, it will be my fault if they starve. As soon as it is warm enough, I’m now ready to feed 50:50 syrup to those without supers, should the hive feel too light.
I’m also aware that time is getting short and I must be ready with all my equipment for the coming season. To this end, I’ve had an exciting time in the kitchen this week with my ancient Burco boiler, a couple of tablespoons of washing soda, 40 odd frames which went through the wax extractor last summer and more steam than one would wish to see in a domestic setting. Luckily we are paper stripping in the hall. I had thought that it might be simpler in the kitchen than in the greenhouse where I normally wash frames but it will take weeks to chip the wax flakes off the floor. On the positive side, I have enough clean frames for a brood box of foundation for each hive to use as a super and enough also for each hive to have a comb change in the brood box. Last year I managed to use 2 brood boxes as supers and now, after extraction and cleaning by the bees, they are ready to form the backbone of my Bailey comb change (see Web or wait until next month) and my artificial swarming. You stand a much better chance of success with both procedures if you have some drawn comb to offer. Mouse guards can be removed now, so that the pollen will not be knocked off when they do start bringing it in, but probably better to leave woodpecker protection in place until we are sure the weather has warmed up.
Also, to improve my beekeeping, I’ve been preparing for the last two of the BBKA modules – exams in 3 weeks. It has been a long haul but immensely interesting and I do recommend them to you.
The beginning of the beekeeping season is a really hopeful time – I have such plans for 2010 – I wonder if they will fit in with the plans that the bees have.
Forage for March
One of our new members, Anne Jones, has very kindly contributed the following:-
I've noticed that my Chinese honesuckle and Mahonia japonica are both flowering away merrily, also some early heathers and Viburnam tinus. Outside the garden I've seen nothing except hazel - plenty of catkins but not advanced enough to be dropping pollen yet. The snowdrops, mahonia japonica and witch hazel are also still flowering well. I've noticed on our travels down the hill from Hindhead that the catkins on the hazel trees are more advanced than mine and that the gorse is flowering well on Hankley Common. The Jet Stream is still well and truly anchored over the Mediterranean instead of being north of Scotland where it should be and the latest prediction weatherwise is that Spring is going to arrive at least a month late this year, and there will be very few bees foraging until the weather gets up to 10C.
Here is a list of what forage one would expect to be available at this time of year:
Blackthorn, sloe (Prunus spinosa), Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera), Corsican Hellebore (Helleborus corsicus/argutifolius), Goat willow (Salix caprea) Gorse, Hazel catkins, Heathers, winter flowering - red, pink and white, King cup/marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), Mahonia aquifolium, Mahonia lomariifolia, Ornamental quinces, Red Alder tree, Stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), Willow (Salix), Viburnum bodnatense fragrans, Viburnum tinus
Beekeeping Survey
Defra have commissioned a survey that can be found at this link for anyone who wishes to take part - I have just completed it and found it interesting:
http://www.peoplescienceandpolicy.com/beestudy/
ApilifeVar
Please be cautious before buying this - apparently it needs an even higher temperature for efficient use than Apiguard. It is made for the Mediterranean countries rather than here (their web site is basically Italian) and, so I am told, is of little use in this country.
Beecraft
Do make time to read this months magazine. Wally Shaw is the contributor for Newcomers (in fact of great interest to all of us) and his article is really good. He was a great colleague and friend of David Fourt’s and this article will ring bells for many of you!
National Honey Show
St George's College, Weybridge, Surrey 28th to 30th October 2010
It’s a bit early to be thinking about the National Honey Show isn’t it? Well, not really, especially if you are new to beekeeping and joined your local association after 1st August 2009. Is that you? If so, you can get in free! To get your free ticket you need to ask your association secretary to apply on your behalf to the NHS General Secretary. Your secretary will need to supply your name, address and your email address if you have one. The NHS is run entirely by volunteers. Using email helps simplify the administration. The cut off date for applications is 31st July and time rushes by when the season starts so get that application in now.
This year the show will be bigger than ever. The trade stands will all be together in a brighter hall and there will be a proper lecture theatre with tiered seating. A full programme of workshops and lectures with world class speakers will run during the show and there will be a wide selection of equipment and books to buy.
Whilst you wait for the active season to start, why not have a look at the NHS website? You will find lots of information about the show and notes on a wide range of beekeeping subjects; all written by experts in their fields. www.honeyshow.co.uk
Bob Maurer, National Honey Show Publicity
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
