This is an update on Theodora’s PhD research at Newcastle University being done under the EARS 3 programme to which the Association makes a substantial financial contribution. CBPV is present around the UK and appears to be on the increase. It is a pathogen about which we all need to know more. This will be an online event via zoom.
For more details about Theodora and her research and to register for the event, use this link: CBPV
This talk assumes some knowledge of beekeeping, although it doesn’t assume you have reared your own queens other than through the natural process of the bees replacing their queen through your annual swarm control. It will overview why to requeen and when. Ged will explain how he rears queens and why he has chosen to use the methods and stock that he does. Finally, Ged will discuss problems that can arise with queens, what to look out for and suggestions of what to do.
It is with great regret that owing to the ongoing situation with the Covid-19 pandemic that the Trustees of Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association have taken the difficult decision to cancel the annual honey show for 2020. However, we have decided to run a Virtual honey show. Whilst we realise that this will not be able to replace the social aspects associated with the show, it does allow members to share their “exhibits” with other beekeepers in a safe environment. The aim will be to allow individuals to demonstrate their skills and has the additional benefit that it should produce material that can benefit others by being shared via the Beds BKA website, the Yearbook and for educational purposes (such as training new beekeepers and informing the public at future events).
Register your intention to enter classes by midnight on 28th October 2020
All Electronic Entries must be posted (as instructed) by midnight on Friday 30th October 2020
Results will be published on Saturday 7th November 2020
This course is aimed at those who are interested in taking up the wonderful hobby of beekeeping as well as those who would like to learn more about beekeeping. It includes a weekly series of classroom and practical sessions covering basic theory and practical handling of bees starting on the 1st March 2020 and running until May (twelve weeks).
The course starts indoors at Stockwood Discovery Centre on a Sunday morning from 10.30am until 12.30pm for 6 weeks. During the morning a break for coffee/tea is included.
After the indoor sessions the course moves outside to the training apiary (weather permitting) also on Sunday mornings. More details will be supplied during the classroom training.
The course fee of £70 includes all the classroom sessions and the practical sessions, as well as full membership of Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association until 31st December 2020. To register please go to Webcollect
This course is aimed at those who are interested in taking up the wonderful hobby of beekeeping as well as those who would like to learn more about beekeeping. It includes a weekly series of classroom and practical sessions covering basic theory and practical handling of bees starting on the 25th February 2020 and running until May (twelve weeks).
The course starts indoors at Moggerhanger Village Hall on a Tuesday evening from 7.30pm until 10pm for 6 weeks. During the evening a break for coffee/tea is included.
After the indoor sessions the course moves outside to the training apiary in Priory Country Park (weather permitting) on Sunday mornings from 10.30am. More details will be supplied during the classroom training.
The course fee of £70 includes all the classroom sessions and the practical sessions, as well as full membership of Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association until 31st December 2020. To register please go to Webcollect
This is our New Year Workshop aimed at beekeepers who would like to learn more about how to keep honey bees.
After a welcome coffee or tea and biscuit the workshop will be divided into 3 sessions with a Q&A at the end.
Hot drinks and biscuits will be provided. Please bring your own lunch. Tesco is a short walk for those who would like to buy a sandwich.
To purchase your ticket please go to Webcollect
The Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association 97th AGM will take place at Flitwick Village Hall on Saturday 29th February starting at 10am. After lunch, at 1.45pm, John Hendrie, President of the British Beekeepers Association will give a talk titled ‘A Year in the Apiary’.
Agenda
AGM Programme Saturday 29th February 2020
9:00 Tea and coffee. Stalls open.
10:00 to 12:00 AGM
Lunch. Please bring your own or pre-order from Jennie Tysom. There will be a choice of Carrot and Coriander or Leek and Potato soup, together with a slice of apple pie for £3 payable on the day. Please let her know by 21st February by emailing her on jennifer.tysom@yahoo.co.uk.
13:30 Bees and the Environment. Simon Barrow & Wally Thrale
13.45 Talk ‘A Year in the Apiary’ By John Hendrie, President of the British Beekeepers Association
15:00 Tea – contributions of both savoury and sweet items are welcome
Attractions
Bulk Purchase Scheme items available to purchase. Please see the price list.
Wax exchange – receive credit of £4 for each pound of rendered wax to use against purchase of Association items. We need nearly 800lb to pay for our foundation order.
Raffle in aid of Bees Abroad. Please bring your donations to give to Caroline Luxford.
BedsBKA Library – All books and DVDs should be returned to Angela Newberry before or at the AGM
Second Hand stall – The Association will sell your second hand items. Please mark your items with your name and price, and give your items to Chris Jenkins on the day.
Bee 1st – Gary Hammond and Chris Mercer will have a wide range of beekeeping supplies available
Martin Woodbridge will have a range of bee suits available
Membership and Bee Craft subscriptions – Rosemary will be available to accept your payment for these
Minutes of last year’s AGM are here: minutes-of-the-96th-agm
Queen breeding and rearing are two areas that many members have shown a keen interest in and further to our talk earlier in the year from Kevin Thorn on the native bee reserve at Abberton Resevoir, we have invited two of our members with experience in this area to talk about the projects that they have been involved in.
Paul Walton has organised a local bee breeding group with the aims of demonstrating the methods used by COLOSS to evaluate bees and encouraging it’s members to follow these in order to find objective data with which to improve their breeding stock. He will be reporting back on the successes of the group.
The presentation is here.
Dave Corbett has run a number of sessions to demystify the ‘dark art’ of queen rearing, and enable beekeepers of all levels to have a go at raising their own queens, with a number of members having attended practical sessions in the apiary. He aims to encourage bee improvement by equipping members with the skills and and understanding of how they can raise their own queens and the impact that selection has across their surrounding area.
The presentation is here.
Bees Abroad provides education and technical advice on beekeeping and relevant business skills. We achieve this by setting up and supporting field extension services. Training courses are also run for local beekeepers and we finance trainers. As a non-profit making organisation, support can be given to beekeepers and their families wherever poverty defines need. Our skilled team of trustees ensures this happens effectively.
Projects are managed by designated, unpaid, project managers and run within a group structure. Our Project Managers design them to become self-funding small businesses after a defined period of time.
Bees Abroad uses funds for the relief of poverty and this is overseen by the trustees. Projects are bound by our legal, charitable requirement to reach the poorest sectors of society. We need to make sure that projects can be sustainable. A group cannot depend on continued funds from outside the area or on one person’s hard work.
Bees Abroad promotes and supports projects that use affordable, appropriate techniques and equipment. We cannot accept applications involving unsuitable beehives or imported species of honey bee.
The talk is free and open to all.
The Bedfordshire Beekeepers Christmas Social will be held on Saturday 30th November 2019, commencing at 7.30pm. The venue is Cranfield Campus Social Club, postcode MK43 0AL. A branch of Santander Bank is situated close by.
The cost will be £17 per head for a 3 course buffet meal. Members only.
The starter consists of cold meats and fish platters, a cheese board and various choices of salads. There will be a choice between 2 main course hot dishes served with seasonal hot vegetables. Should you require a vegetarian meal this will be available, please state this at the time of booking. There is a variety of choices for the pudding course. A bottle of red and a bottle of white wine will be on each table and tea and coffee will be served at the end of the meal. Further drinks can be purchased from the Social Club Bar.
We have quiz sheets on each table, with a prize for each member on the winning team.
A raffle will be held and any donations of prizes will be welcomed, with the proceeds going to “Bees for Development”.
Please notify Anne Cross via email : annecrossbees@gmail.com or telephone : 01582 696074 if you wish to attend. Payment will be by cash or cheque to Anne.