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.
On average this is a weekly task during the bee season and starts when the weather warms sufficiently to open the hives. Rule of thumb: if it is comfortable outside in shirt sleeves, it is ok to open a hive.
There are those who will bother their bees a great deal less. Personally I would like to check them loads more, but that would be for my personal satisfaction and would be very disruptive to the colony.
My first collection request came as a bit of a shock.
It was only my second summer when I found an answer machine message out of the blue from a very worried couple who had been given my phone number. That happens a lot.
Hive number 8 came through the winter well. However. It became apparent that the colony was not building up.
The queen appeared sluggish and the laying pattern was not all it could be. I decided to introduce a new queen from British stock from an acknowledged breeder.
