It was a dreary damp day and the wind was starting to get fairly brisk when we turned up to to carry out our annual apiary cleanup session



This year we had three colonies over wintering, all doing well, but as we have enough hives for eight and the spares were in need of a good scrape and torching we set about the job



A small team of scrapers were employed and as the weather was fairly inclement and the temperature around 7C the wax and propolis were easily removed. It wasn't long before a small pile of scraped boxes, queen excluders, crown boards, etc. were piling up ready to be torched.

One of our volunteers had brought along an industrial sized gas bottle and blow lamp to seriously take on the job of torching the hive parts



Despite the low temperatures, disturbing the colonies upset them a bit and some of our valiant volunteers decides to go into fully suited mode to stop the guard bees doing their job!



Many thanks to all of you who turned up to help, as we had plenty of help we just managed to finish, tidy up and leave as the first drop of rain started to fall.

Same time, same place next year

Last Wednesday, the 5th February, was our AGM. We just about managed to squeeze a quorum out of the members attending. All items on the agenda were approved, the last minutes, the year end accounts and the membership fees. The current committee, including the three officers were re-elected and our two trustees of the Warwickshire Beekeepers Association CIO were also re-elected to represent us on the board.

At the end of the meeting we enjoyed a very informative presentation given by one of our members who flew for the RAF and is now a commercial airline pilot.

Of course tales of beekeeping and winter woes were also exchanged!

Microscopy Group

WBKA has a successful microscopy group. It meets at Eathorpe Village Hall on Saturday mornings (10-13.00) every other month and also has zoom calls on the second Thursday of the month. To find out more contact us.

The dates for 2025 are:

• Meetings (Eathorpe Village Hall )
  • 4th Jan, 8th March, 3rdMay, 5th July, 6th September, 1st November
    
• Zoom calls (7.30-9.00)
  • 13th Feb, 10th April ,12th June, 14th August, 9th October, 11th December

BBKA Honey Bee Health Certificate

If you have your Basic Assessment, why not take the Honey Bee Health Certificate? This is a totally practical assessment which really gets you to understand hygiene, disease and pests - it is very useful to your beekeeping. To prepare you and give you confidence, the Warwick and Leamington branch will be having a training programme. This involves a number of zoom study calls and a day workshop:

• Zoom March 20th 7.00-8.30
• Zoom March 27th 7.00-8.30
• April 13th- whole day workshop at Eathorpe Village Hall, CV339DE and apiary (weather permitting) 9.30 - 4.30
• Zoom call 24th April 8.30-9.30.

There is a charge of £5, which will include the cost of refreshments at the day workshop. These sessions are for members who have enrolled in the Honey Bee Health Certificate. To sign up for the course and enroll for the assessment please contact us

The Warwick and Leamington Branch are organising training which they have opened up to other branches. So this could be a great opportunity to fulfil one of your new year's resolutions

Towards the BBKA Basic Assessment

If you have a year or more of beekeeping experience by next summer, why not take your Basic Assessment- your beekeeping "driving license"? This is a practical assessment which involves going through a hive, discussing your beekeeping and making a frame. To support members of Warwickshire we are running a blended training course of zoom calls and a training day. This will boost your confidence and put you in touch with other beekeepers doing the same thing. The sessions will be:

• Zoom 2nd April 7.00-8.00pm
• Day workshop 12th April 2025 Eathorpe Village Hall, CV339DE, 9.30am - 4.30pm
• Zoom 24th April 7.00 -8.00pm

There is a charge of £5 for refreshments.

This course is intended for those who have entered for the Basic Assessment next year. To get the sign up details for the course and register for the Basic Assessment please contact us