I would like to thank all the members helping in various ways to support the beginners’ course in March. However, if anybody else would be free to offer a few hours support on March 22nd or March 29th to chat to the new course members, they would be very welcome indeed.

My recent holiday trip involved scouting out bee hives, where I found so many examples of the great work undertaken by the Bees Abroad programme. So the pennies and pounds we give to Dave Bonner when he gives a talk to us, are all very well spent.

Enjoy the Christmas season. Cathy Moore.

Well, suddenly December has sneaked up and before we know it, Christmas and New Year will be upon us, so enjoy the festivities with warm seasonal wishes, from Rugby Beekeepers Committee. As beekeepers the seasons never close entirely, we have livestock which needs monitoring and maintaining 12 months of the year. So on that note I offer a few point to consider over the next 4-5 weeks :-

Varroa Monitoring the varroa count in the hive via a sticky inspection board, will give a rough indication of the number mites present in each hive. Generally, at this time of the year a daily drop of 2 or more mites indicates treatment is necessary. For further information on monitoring / treating varroa visit The National Bee Unit who has recently updated their leaflet on Managing Varroa, available at - http://tinyuri.com/3er8cp7a

Apiary checks It’s wise to monitor periodically over the winter for signs of weather damage or vermin activity.

Do check mouse guard entrance holes to ensure space is present for bees to fly in and out. Dead bees can clog the entrance at times.

Monitor stores as discussed before and add fondant if necessary.

Colony records Maybe find a quieter moment to review last year’s beekeeping records then plan your strategy for the new season?

Wrap up and clean any dirty equipment that needs attention, so you’re all ready for action in the new year!

Merry Christmas all, Gail Plester

Next Meeting Please note that as the first Wednesday of January 2025 falls on the 1st, the meeting will be held on the 8th January 2025