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SomersetBeekeepers’Association
NEWSLETTEROctober2017no.131
PleasesendanycopyfortheJanuary2018editiontomeby15thDecember.Email:[email protected].
LetterfromtheChairman.
Itfeelslikesthesummerhasgoneinaflash–partlybecauseofthelacklustreweatherbutalsobecausealothasbeengoingonbehindthescenesinSBKA.
OurbeautifulandinformativenewwebsiteisliveandIhopeyouenjoyusingitanddiscoveringmoreaboutSBKAandyourownDivision.ThedesignandfunctionalityhasbeendrivenbyhowMembersandthepublicwanttoaccessinformation;nowthesiteworksjustaswellwhetheryou’reusingaPC,tabletormobile.Therearelotsofnewfeatures
includingafullyintegratedcalendar,photogalleryandMembers’blogsand,forthefirsttime,theDivisions’pagesareautonomous.Naturallytherewillbeafewteethingproblems,soifyouspotanyerrorsorproblems,pleaseusethesite’sContactUspagetoreportproblemstoournewwebmaster,NeilCook.And,ofcourse,I’dliketothankNeil(aYeovilmember)forputtinginanincredibleamountofworktocreateandpopulatethenewsitewhichIbelieveisthebestAssociationwebsiteintheUK.
InthenextfewweekstheExecutivewillmeettodiscussotherwaysinwhichSBKAcanmeetthechallengesofthetimesandfurtherengagewiththepublicasrequestedbyDivisions’delegatesatourrecentCouncilmeeting.
HoneyShows-whiletheshowsarepopularwiththepublic,relativelyfewMembersenterthecompetitions.Canwelearnanyusefullessonsfromthemostsuccessful?
EFB-thisyearSomersethasthedubioushonourofbeingthenumberonecountyforEFB,accordingtoBeeBase.CanwerisetothechallengelaiddownbytheNBU’sGilesBurge,ourSpecialLecturespeaker,whosaidwecoulderadicateEFBwiththerightmeasures?
PartnershipwithFerneAnimalSanctuarynearChard-thissummerFerneinvitedSBKAtoexplorewaysinwhichwemightworktogether.Afewofus,includingSouthWestChairmanRobertKemp,spentseveralhourswithDirector(andbeekeeper)ElaineHayeswalkingaroundthesite.NowweneedtolookathowwecandevelopapartnershipinlinewithouraimsandobjectivesandthatworksforFerne,too.
And,finally,whatabeekeepingyear!I’veheardreportsthattheharvestisoneoftheworstforyearswithtotalsdownbetweenhalfandtwothirdsonlastyear.Ihopeyouhavemanagedtopullyourcoloniesthroughthedifficultseasonandthatyouareoneoftheluckyones–Imetonebeekeeperwhohascropped800lbfrom20colonies!
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FORTHCOMINGEVENTSExmoorBeekeepershosttheir6thAnnualHoneyShowofthemoderneraattheTitheBarninDunster,TA246RY,onSaturday7thOctober2017.
YouaremostwelcometoenterlotsofclassesandcomealongandenjoyadayoutinthebeautifulhistoricvillageofDunsterinWestSomerset.Entryisfree.
Wehave28classesmadeupofnovice,openandall-comers.PleaselookontheSBKAand/orExmoorBKAwebsitesfordetails.
At10:30am,ClareDensleyfromBuckfastiscomingtotalktobeekeepersinthemorningwhilstSuzyPerkinsundertakesthetaskofjudging.
Throughouttheday,tea,coffeeandcakes,willofcoursebeavailableaswillalightlunch.
From12.30until4.30thegeneralpublic,particularlyfamiliesandchildren,areinvitedtojointhebeekeeperstoadmirealltheentries;tobrowseoureducationcornerwhereexperiencedbeekeeperswillbeonhandtoanswerquestions;toenjoyvariousbee-relatedactivitiesforthechildren,particularlyfacepainting;andtowanderaroundseveralstallswithaneyetoChristmaspresents.
Itisafundayoutandintendedprimarilytoencouragebeekeeperstopartakeandthepublictobecomemoreawareoftheimportanceofbeestoourhumanworld.
SouthEastDivisionHoneyShowwillbeheldatMarketHouse,LowerWoodcockSt,CastleCaryBA77BH
Sat14thOct10:30am-1:00pmWewillbeholdingourannualHoneyShowforthefirsttimeinCastleCaryMarketHouse.Themove,fromCharltonMusgrove,isinordertomaketheHoneyShowaneventforallthefamilywherewecanshowthepublicwhatwedoandsothatpeopleofallagescanlearnaboutbeesandbeekeeping.
Therewillbeaschoolartcompetitionandentrieswillbeexhibitedontheday.Aswellasprizesawardedbyajudge,thepublicwillbeaskedtovoteforthepicture,whichtheylikebest.TheAssociation’shoneyshowhasclassesforvariouskinds ofhoneyandwaxandcraftproductsanditems.Therewillbehoneytotasteandbuy,displaysofbeekeepingequipment,andteasandcoffees.FurtherinformationfromLesKimberleyon07855899257.
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THENATIONALHONEYSHOW
Thursday16thOctober–Saturday28thOctoberAtSandownRacecourseKT109AS
Competitiveentryformsaredueby9thOctober.Furtherinformationisonthewebsitehttp://www.honeyshow.co.uk/competitive-classes.phpandentryformsathttp://www.honeyshow.co.uk/download-schedule.php
ThemainlectureprogrammeforthisyearincludeslecturesbyTomSeeley,HeatherMattila,KimFlottum,WillSteynorandPeterTomkins.OnSaturdaythereisalectureprogrammespecificallyforbeginnerswithlecturesbyRogerPatterson,MegSeymour,PatLehainandDaisy.“
Pleasenote:Apparently,it’sbesttousethepostcodeKT109RTratherthantheoneabove.
SomersetBeekeepersAnnualLunch15Ocotber2017I am pleased to see we are already getting a lot of bookings for the County Lunch again this year especially as space is limited and we did reach capacity numbers last year.
The date is Sunday 15th October arrival from 12-30 to sit down and eat at 1pm at Long Sutton Golf club, Long Sutton, TA10 9JU
The lunch is two courses, a Carvery with up to 4 meats and a choice of deserts. There is a vegetarian option available on the day. The total cost will be £13.50. Tea or coffee can be purchased individually after the meal if you wish.
I do hope you can join us this year. They have said they can only cater for fifty and we nearly exceeded that number last year, so to avoid disappointment please book early.
Please send me your bookings (and the numbers who would like the vegetarian option) along with cheque as soon as possible made payable to Somerset Beekeepers. The latest date for receipt of booking is Friday 7th October subject
to space availability.
Suzy Perkins, Tengore House, Tengore Lane, Langport, Somerset, TA10 9JL Tel: 01458 250 095 Email: [email protected]
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SBKAmembersareinvitedtoaJointMeetingwithEastDevonBKAThursday11thJanuary2018
at7.30pmRogerPattersonwillbetalkingon
‘DeadBeesDon'tBuzz-SurvivingtheWinter’TobeheldatWhitchurchCanonicorumVillageHall
NrBridport,Dorset,DT66RF
SBKALectureDaySaturday17February2018
9.00am-5.00pmatEdgarHall,8CaryCourt,SomertonBusinessPark,
SomertonTA116SB
Ticketswillbeavailablefromdivisionalsecretariespriced£5toincluderefreshments.Pleasebringapackedlunch.
Programme9.00am Coffee9.30am OpeningbyKenTredgett,PresidentoftheSBKA9.35am “QueenRearing”-GedMarshall10.40am “Pollen”-MichaelKeith-Lucas11.40am coffee12.10pm “VarroaTreatments”-JeremyOwenofVita(Europe)Ltd1.10pm LunchSimonJonesRBIwillbeavailableduringlunchtohelpwithanyqueriesaboutbeediseases2.20pm Thanksandpresentations2.30pm “Theyearinthelifeofabeefarmer”-GedMarshall3.30pmRaffleandtea4.00pm “Theevolutionofplantsandinsects“-PamHunter5.00pm Close
BBKASpringConvention2018NextyearsconventionwillbeheldonFriday13thApriltoSunday15thApril2018atHarperAdamsUniversity,Newport,TF108NBAccordingtotheBBKAwebsite,programmeandticketpriceswillbeavailablenearerthetime.
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SBKASpecialLecture25April2018
atEdgarHall8CaryCourt,SomertonBusinessPark,TA116SBMargaretThomas,CSP,NDBwillbespeakingonthesubjectof
“SwarmControlfortheBusyBeekeeper”.BiographicaldetailstakenfromtheNDBwebsite:MargaretThomaslivedinEssexwheresheandherhusbandDicklearnttheirbeekeepinginthe1970sunderthetutelageofTedHooperCountyBeekeepingInstructoratWrittleAgriculturalCollege.SheretiredtoScotlandin2009.DuringthetimespentinEssexshepassedherBBKAexaminationstobecomeaMasterBeekeeperandthenwentontogetherNDBin1982.ShethenjoinedtheNDBtutorteamfortheweeks’residentialcourseheldatthetimeatSparsholtandlateratYork.
AtTedHooper’sretirementshejoinedthegroupofsome12beekeepersledbyClivedeBruyn(thenewlyappointedCBI)discussingvaryingtopicsandculminatedinatwoweekstaywithqueenrearerJohnKeefusinToulouse,France.Thegroupspentthetimegrafting(withadaptedmatchsticks),makingfondant,fillingmininucs,puttingthemoutformatingandplacingmatedqueensintravelcagesreadyforthepost.
Duringthe39yearsinEssexMargaretwasanactivememberoftheEssexBeekeepersandservedontheCECasSouthendDelegate,Disease,andExaminationsDelegate,managedtheEssexHoney(Barleylands)ShowforacoupleofyearsandwasawardedLifeMembershipoftheEssexBeekeepersin2010.
SheisoneoftheModeratorsoftheBBKAExaminationsBoardandalsotutorsfortheBBKACorrespondenceCourse.
SheisaretiredBeeFarmer–theBFAthatrepresentscommercialbeekeepersinUK,andduringthattimemanagedbetween40to60colonies.AsabeefarmersheservedonthecommitteeasMagazine,Pesticides,MinutesandPollinationsecretary,thelattermanagingplacingaround1000hivesinKentontopfruit,somehivesonborageandoilseedrapenorthoftheThames.RepresentingtheBFAshejoinedaresearchgroupasthebeekeeperprovidingthecoloniesforaprojectonpyrrolizidinealkaloidsinragwortandboragehoney.ShewasawardedLifeMembershipoftheBFA.DicktookovereditingtheBeefarmersBulletinforsomeyears.
MargarethasgivenlecturesinanumberofcountiesinEngland,Scotland,Ulsterandalsobeenguestlectureranumberoftimesattheweeks’courseatGormanstonjustnorthofDublin.Shehasbeentheweeks’tourlecturerforScotlandtwice.
SheisnowacommitteememberoftheScottishBeekeepersAssociation,whereherbriefisallsubjectsrelatedtohiveproducts.Beekeepingasanamateurwithalimitednumberofcoloniesinafickleclimateisanewchallenge.Shecontinuestoteachbeekeeping.
SheupdatedTedHoopersGuidetoBeesandHoneyandtheBeginnersBeeBook.MargaretiscurrentlythesecretarytotheNDBBoard.
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PASTEVENTS
THECOUNTYHONEYSHOWandTauntonHoneyShow
TauntonbeekeepersJennyandSidGammonscoopedtheblueribbonforthebestexhibitattheTauntonandSomersethoneyshowheldatTauntonFlowerShowwiththeirexceptionalsoftsethoney.JennyandSidwerealsoawardedthreetrophiesfortheirhiveproductsincludingprize-winninghoney,waxflowersandcandles.DavidPearceandGrahamWelfarewereawardedfourtrophieseachwhileRosemaryandEleanorBurgesswonthree.
FortyclassesattractedentriesfromTauntonDivisionaswellasExmoor,SomertonandDevonandwereviewedbymanythousandsofpeoplewhovisitedthetwo-dayshow.PeterMaben,ChairmanofTauntonBeekeepers,said:“Theshowisagreatshopwindowforbeesandhoney,providingvisitorswithplentytoseeanddoaswellasshowingtheenthusiasmandpassionoflocalbeekeepers.”
KenTredgett,PresidentofSomersetBeekeepers,addedhewasdelightedtoseesomanyvisitorsswarmtothefeatureandhopedtheywouldleavewithaloveofbees,adesiretoplantforpollinatorsandanappreciationoftheworkthatgoesintoproducingeverypotofhoney.
TheBlueRibbonforthebestexhibitinShowinthejudges’opinion:JennyandSidGammonCountyCups:JubileeCup-Mostpointsinclasses1-18inclusive:D.Pearce;MissM.DBindleyCup-Winnerclass2MediumHoney:S.Perkins;TerryArnoldPerpetualChallengeTrophy:Winnerclasses18-22incl.TheDuffinChallengeTrophy:(CakeofBeeswax)Winnerclass12R&EBurgess;
TheCliffordLangfordAwardforMead:Winnermostpointsin classes8–9:G.Welfare.
JennyGammonreceivedtheBlueRibbonawardfromKenTredgett
Schoolentry
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ReportfollowingCentralDivision'sHoneyShowintheBeeandHoneyTentattheMid-SomersetShow.
WearefortunatetobeabletoholdourHoneyShowattheprestigiousonedayMid-SomersetShow.Thisyear’sshowonSunday20AugustwasagreatsuccessandourBeeandHoneytenthadaveryhighfootfallfortheentireday.Theteamofvolunteersthatmannedthetent
throughoutthedaywasveryablyleadbyElaineCulley.Itisalwaysabrilliantopportunitytoshowcasethehoneybeeandbeekeepingandtherewasagreatdealofinterestinthedisplaysandthehoneyandwaxproducts.Thedemonstrationhiveandwaxcandlerollingwereverypopularandmemberswereon-handtoanswerthemanyandvariedquestionsfrommembersofthepublic.Althoughthenumberofentriesforthehoneyshowwasdownthisyear,salesofhoneyandrelatedproductswerebrisk.
JustareminderthattheSBKAAGMison10thMarch2018
hostedbyWedmoreandCheddarDivision.Itwillbeheldat
theIsleofWedmoregolfcourse,LascotHill,BS284QTFurtherdetailswillbecirculatednearerthetime
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ALLABOUTBEES
SOMERSETHONEYSURVEY Wewouldliketoknowaboutyourhoneycrop!AnaccuratepictureoftheharvestgivesusanopportunitytolocalisetheBBKAhoneysurveyworksowecantalktothepressandourMPsaboutthestateofourapiariesandif,say,ahusbandryfactoryisidentified,takestepstosupportimprovement.
Pleasespareafewminutesandletusknow: 1. Quantityofhoneypercolony 2. Howdoesthiscomparewithlastyear 3. RoughsplitbetweenSpringandSummerhoney 4. Yourexplanationforwhythecropwasupordownonthepreviousyear 5. Andyournameandlocation [email protected]
HornetAlert
Everyoneshould,bynow,havebeencontactedaboutthediscoveryoftheAsianHornetinNorthDevonandbeawareoftheneedtokeepalook-outintheirareaandtoputuptraps.TheNBUhasalsonotifiedeveryoneontheirdatabase.
Ifyouarenotregisteredwiththempleaseconsiderdoingsoinorderforthemtobeabletocontactapiariesinanyinfectedarea.Theirwebsiteiswww.nationalbeeunit.comE:[email protected],T:03003030094
Bulbs.Readthisbeforeyoubuy!ExtractfromTheGuardian30September2017
Recentarticlesinthenewspapershavedrawnattentiontothefactthatmanybulbsaresprayedwithpesticidesandfungicides.Neonicotinoidsareusedasaflowerbulbdrenchtokeepaphidsandothersap-suckinginsectsoffplants,andarecommonpesticidesinthebulbindustry.Thehalf-lifeofneonicotinoidsisestimatedsomewherebetween34daysandthreeyearsastheybreakdowninthesoil;itisnotonlyflyinginsectsthatareaffectedduringthattime,butbacteria,amoebae,wormsandinsectsinthesoil,too.Everybeethatvisitsyourbloom,everywormthattunnelsaroundyourbulbs,istastingatinybitofpoison.Thesolutionisnottogiveupplantingbulbs,buttobuysustainablyandnaturallyproducedones.Sitesmentionedwhichsellorganicbulbsincludewww.organiccataogue.co.uk,www.crocus.co.ukandwww.naturalbulbs.nl
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NEWSFROMTHEDIVISIONSEd.It’ssomewhatdisappointingthatmoredivisionsdon’ttelluswhatthey’vebeendoingbutit’suptoyou!!Youmightnotthinkthatyouhavemuchtosaybuthaveyouhadanygoodspeakersthatyoucanrecommend,haveyouthoughtofnewideasthatmayimproveyourinteractionwithschoolsorwiththepublic.Haveyoujustgotagoodrecipeforahoneycake!!TheSBKAdoesnotworkifit’ssimplyacollectionofdivisionsdoingtheirownthing.Weneedtoworktogether.It’sjustmyopinionandyoumightdisagreebutifyoudohaveanythingofinterestforthenextedition,thenpleaseletmeknow.CentralThisyear,CentralDivisionistoholdadditionaldivisionalmeetingsoverthewintermonths.Topicstobecoveredwillinclude:candlemaking,sellinghoney,waxandotherhiveproductsandpreparingexhibitsforshowing.Theconfirmeddateswillbepublishedonthewebsite.Therehasbeenalotofinterestshowninour2018BeekeepingforBeginners’Course,whichstartsinFebruary2018,withalreadyaconfirmedtake-upofoverhalftheavailableplaces.ForSaleASAFNaturaStainlessSteelmotorised9-frameradialextractor,withanewmotorandcontrolboxfittedthisyear.Ithashadverylittleuse,cost£800andisforsaleat£300.Thisisarareopportunitytoobtainanelectricextractorforyourdivision.ContactChrisiKennedyon07710252155oratckennedy@projectconsultants.co.uk
TauntonExtractionday.OneofthehighlightsoftheTauntonseasonisextractiondaywhenmanyofourbeginnersspendthedaywithDavidPearceathisverywellequippedpremises.Thisseasonourteachingapiaryhas16coloniesandtheyproducedatotalof330lbs;twothirdsoftheframeshadtobecutoutbecausethehoneyhadgranulatedandonlyafewcombsweresuitableforcutcomb.
WedmoreandCheddarWe’vehadagoodseriesofaroundMyHivemeetingsandamixedresultintermsofhoneyanddiseases.Somepeoplehavehadexcellenthoneycropsandsomehavebeenalotdownonpreviousyears.Somuchseemstodependonspecificlocationswithinthearea.Varrroahasbeenaproblem.ThosepeopleusingicingsugardoseemtohavecomeoffbetterandsomeofusdoquestiontheefficacyofMAQSstrips.Itwouldbeinterestingtohavesomefeedbackonthisfromotherdivisions.