Dear Member,

Now we are into June, but the weather continues to present us, and the bees, with challenges. There have been fewer swarms than expected in May, probably as a result of the cold Spring which delayed the build up of some colonies, and then few warm days when we could have expected swarms. This has meant that some of the newer beekeepers and those who have lost bees over the winter have not been able to stock their apiaries.

Perhaps if the weather improves in June we will see more swarms, so continue to check your colonies for signs of swarming. Contact Cathy Moore if you take a swarm that you don’t want so she can let you know who to pass it on to.

I hope you will all join me in congratulating Sam Peckett who has gained her Advanced Theory Certificate with credit! This is a great achievement as it means she has successfully completed seven of the BBKA modular examinations with an average of 70% . This sets a standard for us all to aspire to! Working in a study group for one of the modules, whether you decide to take the exams or not, is a rewarding way of increasing your knowledge of bees and beekeeping. The more you understand about bees, the more enjoyable beekeeping becomes.

Thanks to all who came to help at the Rugby Spring Fair. This is the biggest annual charitable event held in Rugby and attracts a huge number of people and many charities raise money for their good causes. It provides us with a golden opportunity to inform and educate the public about bees and beekeeping. In the days following the Fair, several people mentioned to me that they had intended to come over to our stand, but it was always filled with crowds of people. This indicates the level of interest from the general public; so support from our members in staffing these events is much appreciated.

Events like the Spring Fair and Dunchurch festival always provide an opportunity for members to sell their honey and wax products, and despite the weather this year, which prompted an early closure of the Spring Fair owing to downpours in the afternoon, honey sales went very well. This means that honey sales can offset some of the cost of equipment – so the better you get at beekeeping and producing honey, the less expensive your hobby!

We are fortunate in having some knowledgeable and well respected beekeepers in Warwickshire and as a result we are being offered training courses such as Queen Rearing and the Bee Health day. Do take advantage of these opportunities for increasing your beekeeping knowledge. The Economist E.F. Schumacher (Small is Beautiful) said; ‘an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory’ and this is especially true in the craft of beekeeping. If you are interested in a course, contact Samantha Peckett for details.

Margaret Holdsworth