Countryfile 6th May 2012 examines recent evidence from Royal Holloway College, London and interviews Julian Little from Bayer and Miles Parker from DEFRA on concerns that neonicotinoids are having a major impact upon the bee population.
This link will only be active until 12th May http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hpdjj
Our hosts in Turkey are generous and welcoming, ensuring everyone’s comfort and safety. The Safari includes bee experts as well as professional tour guides and is organised by Biyotematur and the TEMA Foundation, Turkey in co-operation with BfD
Turkey Bee Safari Brochure
The price for this Safari is £1,775 per person with £284 single supplement
“This Safari to Turkey was for me the best trip I have ever been on. When are we going again?”
Phil Cunningham
Find out what Brian (Mr B J) Sherriff thought of our Safari to Turkey click here
Please contact us to book your place helenjackson@beesfordevelopment.org by 8 May 2012
Kind regards
Helen
From: Keningale, Benjamin [mailto:bjk201@exeter.ac.uk]
Sent: 19 March 2012 15:14
Subject: Honey bee epidemiology project
Good Afternoon,
I am a student at the University of Exeter who will be conducting a project on bee epidemiology for my final year project. As a brief outline, I wish to survey a quantity of bee keepers across the UK, asking them to provide samples of comb, propolis, honey, brood and adult bee and complete a questionnaire relating to the general health of their hives in relation to diseases such as nosema, the various brood diseases and prevalence of varroa. I want to then analyse the various samples for concentrations of chemical agents such as neonicotinoids and cross reference the results with the questionnaires, eventually discussing any emerging trends. I would also find it interesting to see if the samples contained any agents that seemed to correlate with a reduced rate of disease prevalence. The results of the questionnaires would be anonymous. I feel that this is an important undertaking as it may provide insight into how certain chemicals, such a pesticides, may be affecting British honeybees and may provide invaluable data for future research.
To this end I require a list of contacts for beekeepers in your area willing to supply samples for the project and would greatly appreciate any help that you can offer me.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Kind Regards
Benjamin
A student from Exeter University called me yesterday to inquire about photographing, recording and interviewing some of of our members for her university project. She has been assigned a multimedia project to complete in about a month from now and she has decided that she would like to record the processes behind producing honey. She is looking for a few beekeepers who would be willing for her to photograph them working and to explain what their work entails. Her work would obviously not be published without any of her subjects consent. Her timetable is very flexible so it you can decide when is best to come and photograph you.
She hopes to produce something as lovely as this piece of work http://vimeo.com/33205292
If you can help, please contact Bernie.
It is the policy of both the British Beekeepers’ Association and West Cornwall BKA to encourage their members to source their bees from locally raised stock. This is principally because these bees are most likely to be adapted to our local climate and conditions. It makes no sense to expect bees which have evolved in a Mediterranean or other climate to thrive in West Cornwall. It also reduces the potential for further harmful diseases and pests being introduced into the area.
Some new beekeepers do not know where to turn in order to obtain their first stock of bees and often go to the internet, without knowing where these bees and the queen originated. So, to make life easier for new beekeepers as well as others seeking bees, we are listing those members who may have bees available for sale. The purpose of the list is to allow buyer and seller to make contact; the transaction is private between the two parties; and WCBKA cannot be held liable for deficiencies or dissatisfaction which might arise for either party.
Most often, bees are sold as a nuc, and both buyer and seller are advised to be aware of the ‘British Beekeepers’ Association Standard nucleus Guidance notes,’. In particular, a nuc should be a well balanced colony of between 3 and 5 frames, containing a current or previous season’s queen. Brood and eggs in all stages should occupy at least half the total comb area. There should be enough food for at least two weeks and there should be a good balance between young and flying bees, with the frames well covered. The bees should be healthy, and good tempered when handled in good conditions by a competent handler.
The seller should give instructions or assistance regarding the immediate care of the bees.
Your attention is also drawn to a recent Advice Note from fera-‘Advice for Obtaining Honey Bees,’ in which it is recommended that those selling bees should keep a record of the name and address of the purchaser. This is to enable contact tracing in the event of disease.
To Obtain Local Bees Contact
Roger Dewhurst tel: 01209 842860
Tamsin Harris tel: 01736 850692
James Kilty: Honey-Mountain 07980 486245, 01736 850373 for enquiries about nuclei and queens.
Anne McQuade: email, tel: 01326 373749,
Matt Pitt: email, tel: 01209 831095 or mobile: 07590 984192
Stephen Putnam: email, mobile: 07809 897706 or tel: 01736 798333
The Central Association of Bee-Keepers – Bringing Science to the Beekeeper
Spring 2012 Update for Members
Social Evening Thursday 25th October 6.30pmVenue: as National Honey Show – St George’s College, Weybridge, Surrey
Speaker: (tbc)
Lecture followed by finger buffet including wine or soft drink.Stratford Conference Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th NovemberVenue: Legacy Falcon Hotel, Stratford-upon-AvonAs usual there will be seven lectures spread at a leisurely pace over the weekend.Members and non-members welcome.
Spring Meeting & AGM Saturday 31st March 10.30am – 4.30pmVenue: Roots and Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth, SE11 6DN
Three lectures and CABK Annual General Meeting.
A delicious vegetarian lunch can be pre-booked at a modest cost.
pat.allen@btconnect.com / bibba26@talktalk.net
www.cabk.org.uk
Booklet news:
• Karl Showler’s booklet is being printed and will be with members soon.
• Two further booklets are in the pipeline.
Workshop 1 Testing Honey Bee Colonies for Hygienic Behaviour
This Workshop will be taught twice: 1300-1700 Friday 8 June and 1300-1700 Saturday 9 June 2012. It is aimed at more experienced beekeepers who are interested in queen rearing and breeding. It will give background on hygiene and then show beekeepers how to test their own colonies for hygiene using the
freeze-killed-brood bioassay. Colonies found to be hygienic can be used in bee breeding and queen rearing.
Workshop 2 How to Decode the Honey Bee Waggle Dance
This Workshop will be taught twice: 1300-1730 Sunday 10 June and 1300-1730 Monday 11 June 2012. It is aimed at anyone interested in science, as well as people with particular interests in honey bees, plants, and conservation. Those attending will learn about the waggle dance, one of the most remarkable discoveries in Biology of the 20th century and how it can be used to help make Britain a more bee friendly country.
Workshop 3 Finding Out Which Garden Plants are Best for Bees
This Workshop will be taught twice: 1300-1730 Friday 15 June and 1300-1730 Saturday 16 June 2012. It is aimed at gardeners, growers, garden centre workers, conservationists, land managers, parks departments, teachers, beekeepers and others who want to make gardens more bee and insect friendly. Those attending
will learn to identify common pollinating insects and determine which plant varieties are most attractive.
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Further Information http://www.sussex.ac.uk/lasi/newsandevents/events/
Workshops will be taught at the Laboratory of Apiculture & Social Insects, University of Sussex, and are free of charge. These events will be taught by Professor Francis Ratnieks and other LASI researchers including Dr. Karin Alton, Dr. Margaret Couvillon, Dr. Christoph Grüter, Dr. Francisca Segers, Mr. Norman Carreck, Mr. Nick Balfour, Mr. Gianluigi Bigio, Mr. Mihail Garbuzov, Mr. Hasan Tofalia.
The Honey Cup – Tamsin Harris (10.5 points)
The Show Cup – Tamsin Harris (28.5 points)
The Reeve Cup (new beekeepers) – Heather Williams (8 points)
Best Exhibit – Anne McQuade for her medium honey
New Exhibitor’s honey prize – Jenny Dodd
detailed results in An Hes