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Preparing for a Honey Show (2) – Beeswax
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Preparing for a Honey Show (1) – Preparing Honey
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Healthy Bees Day with the NBU Inspectors
NBU inspectors demonstrate inspection for and recognition of bee pests and diseases (including AFB and EFB).
This is an event that all beekeeping members should attend to learn about, or refresh your knowledge on, bee pests and diseases. Even if you have attended previous similar events, you should not miss the opportunity to update your knowledge and ability to recognise exotic pests and devastating diseases. Seeing EFB and AFB infected combs at first hand so you can recognise them is so important to us all.
The day will include:
- Latest information on exotic pests – Asian Hornet and Small Hive Beetle
- Latest information on permitted varroacides and varroa management
- Comb Workshop – examination of real infected comb (including the reportable diseases AFB and EFB)
- Inspectors demonstrating an apiary hive health inspection – how to do a thorough disease inspection.
Introductory Microscopy
Sean Stephenson (chair of Bucks County BKA and a Master Beekeeper) will run an 1-day introductory microscopy course for us at Steppingly village hall on Sunday 30th March. The course will include introduction to bee dissection and making pollen slides. Microscopes and all other equipment required will be provided. If you have your own microscope, you are welcome to bring it along. You will need to bring your own lunch. Course fee is £20.
10am start till 4pm (2 x 2.5 hour sessions).
There are a maximum of 16 places.
You can book a place here: https://webcollect.org.uk/bedsbka/event/introductory-microscopy
Annual General Meeting and Trading Day
The AGM is our biggest event of the year. We review the year just gone and plans for the year to come. There is always a talk on a bee/beekeeping related subject, usually from a renowned external speaker and plenty of opportunity to meet other members and discuss our beekeeping highlights and lowlights of the past and plans for the future. We typically hold our main trading event at the same time so members can collect the goods they have pre-ordered via our Bulk Purchase Scheme.
Full details will be published and circulated to members closer to the time.
Beekeeping Workshop – January Training Day
Our regular January Training Day aims to cover topics of interest to beekeepers of all levels – beginner, intermediate or experienced, all will gain something from this day. It is a chance to learn and an opportunity to meet and mingle with other beekeepers.
Doors open 10am for a 10.30 start and we aim to finish by 4pm.
Tea, coffee and biscuits provided but do bring your own packed lunch.
Programme:
- 10.00 Doors open.
- 10.30 Alternative methods of swarm control – Wally Thrale & Colin Hall.
- 11.15 Pests – we thought varroa was bad – John Macdougall.
- 12.15 Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet Update – Phill Howes.
- 12.30 Lunch – Please bring your own.
- 13.30 Finding and Improving your Queens – Gill Brewer.
- 14.30 All about Wax, Part 2 – Sue Lang.
- 15.30 General Q & A session for the season ahead.
- 16.00 Finish.
You can sign up for the workshop on WebCollect: https://webcollect.org.uk/bedsbka/event/beekeeping-workshop-january-training-day.
Annual General Meeting and Trading Day
The day will run as follows:
- 9.30am Doors open; tea/coffee
- 10.00am Trading commences
- 11.00am AGM
- 12.30pm Lunch; tea/coffee, trading
- 1.45pm Asian Hornet Update
- 2.00pm Talk by Giles Budge
- 3.00pm Tea/coffee and cake, trading, raffle prizes
- 4.00pm Event closes
The following stalls will be available through the day:
- Bulk Purchase Scheme (BPS) – pre-order pick-ups and sales
- Bees Abroad – with a raffle to support this charity (raffle prize donations appreciated)
- Second hand equipment (members may bring items to sell, labelled with name and price)
- Association library
- Membership subscription/renewal (remember – only paid-up members can vote at the AGM)
Please Note:
- We suggest that you bring along a packed lunch; otherwise, Tesco is close by for you to purchase food.
- We would also ask you to bring along your own mug or keep-cup if you have one.
- If you would care to bring a cake to share, it would be much appreciated.
- And please don’t forget to bring a prize for the raffle in aid of charity Bees Abroad.
Asian Hornet Workshop
2023 Honey Show Results
A message from the Honey Show secretary, Sue Lang:
“Thank you to everyone who entered/helped at the Honey Show and Festival on Saturday 7th October at The Discovery Centre, Luton.
It was a brilliant day, lots of great quality entries for the honey show, and lots of people through doors for the festival. The stalls were swamped and all the honey was sold. There was also great interest in the Yellow Legged Asian Hornet stand. This event is only successful because of all the people who give up their time to support the association, so Thank You again.
I’m very pleased to report that Bedfordshire came 2nd this year in the Federation Cup, hosted by the National Honey Show. Thanks to the class winners at Bedfordshire’s honey show, who kindly allowed their winning entries to be put forward (Wally Thrale, Phil Archer, Caroline Luxford, Sue Lang)”
National Honey Show Federation Cup Beds entries and places
The 2023 Honey Show was managed using the following:
Honey Show Schedule 2023 – details and description of entry classes
Rules for 2023 – please make sure you follow these rules to ensure that all your hard work is judged!
Labelling Exhibits – details of how to label your exhibits
Recipes – these are the recipes that should be used for our show (note they are not the National Honey Show recipes)
Awards for 2023 – details of the awards given for various classes
Beds BKA Honey Show Entry Form 2023 – all entries must be received by midnight 1st October 2023