First Apiary Day Saturday 21st April
The Sun shone as we all arrived. Lots of anticipation and excitement as we all donned our suits and walked over to the Apiary. We started with a briefing from Margaret around safety and dos and don’ts. We then all had the opportunity to light our Smokers and get familiar with smoke control and some good tips on what to use.
Starting out as a beekeeper is quite daunting, what do I do, can I do it, should I do it, wish I had not done it…
On Wednesday 15th March 2017, Rugby Beekeepers Association held their monthly meeting and Speaker for the evening was Peter Spencer (Coventry Branch).
Peter's talk was "Swarm Control Plan B. (without finding the queen)" and was informative, enlightening and peppered with amusing beekeeping anecdotes that the members thoroughly enjoyed.
On the morning of Saturday 11th February the branch held an Asian Hornet Workshop.
As a result of last year's arrival of the asian hornet to our shores, and the possibility that it may be back, the workshop was held to allow our members to get together and make up the trap recommended by the NBU.
This is a fascinating look at last year from Jo Schup, our Regional Bee Inspector.
Tim Riggs explains why gardeners need to protect pollinating insects, and suggests how.
One of the dreamy delights of a garden is the sound of buzzing insects as they move from flower to flower, gorging on nectar and transferring or collecting pollen. If we like to save our own seed, or wish to encourage self-seeding, these pollinators are welcome agents of fertilisation, and of course they pollinate our apples, pears, plums and raspberries, but whether we benefit directly or not, we can enjoy their presence. A garden devoid of bees, hoverflies and butterflies is unthinkable.
I started this little project because we came into possession of an expanded polystyrene box and lid of a suitable size, about 60cm x 35cm x 25cm.
You will require such a box, with a close fitting lid and walls thick enough to allow fittings to be added, in this case about 3cm thick. A wooden box of a similar size would be fine and may be easier to work if you have some basic woodworking skills and tools.
