Norfolk Beekeepers' Association Buzzword Christmas edition 2017 Volume 18. Issue 7 Membership renewal change A A very Happy Christmas to all our readers and a really enjoyable year of beekeeping in2018 fter much consideration, it has been decided that a change to the system of membership renewals is required. Our membership year has always been 1st January to 31st December and the current system no longer ties in well with this and can lead to a number of administrative issues including renewal of hive insurance, BBKA membership etc. Therefore, with immediate effect the system will be as follows: Renewal letters and forms will be circulated in November. Subscriptions will be due by the end of December. The Year Book, Events Calendar and other documentation will be circulated in mid-january. Garry Bowler Secretary, Norfolk Beekeepers' Association Fun time Huzzah The Annual NBKA Trophy Presentation Evening will be held on Friday 17th November 2017 at Felthorpe Pavilion, The Street, Felthorpe, NR10 4DQ, starting at 7 p.m. We very much hope that you will be able to come along and join us. An excellent chance to meet fellow members and exchange notes on our beekeeping experiences whilst enjoying a buffet. C Our President, Paul Metcalf, will have the pleasure of presenting Honey Show Winners with their trophies. He will also take pleasure in providing us with one of his famously challenging quizzes. opy for the next Buzzword to the editor by February 14th 2018 please. Thank you. Please let Secretary Garry Bowler know you can make it by e-mail to secretarynbka@gmail.com or call 07711 868814. Contributions to the buffet will also be very welcome and Louise Hutchinson will be coordinating, she can be contacted on louisebuzz@talktalk.net or 07748 407399.
PAGE 2 BUZZWORD VOLUME 18. ISSUE 7 W hilst we hear a great deal about Asian Hornets and Small Hive beetle it is still worth remembering that varroa is here and needs to be controlled. In early September, I was asked to help address two problems. One beekeeper had dead bees outside his hive and I asked him to bring me a few to look at. About thirty were brought in a container and my first observation wasthat they were very small, real runts with no or deformed wings. There were several varroa mites in with the bees I counted eight but did not do a thorough count. As well as hatched bees, there were a few dead runty larvae that had been thrown out. I suggested immediate treatment with MAQs as the varroa level appeared so high and feeding at the same time. The second case were aggressive bees, which had to be moved from Norwich. They were defensive! When I inspected the brood chamber there were classic symptoms of Parasitic Mite Syndrome or too many varroa. Some sealed brood had died and the cells decapped I could see the heads and extended proboscis of the bees. When I pulled out the dead bees all had deformed wings. The hive was being fed but was not taking food enthusiastically - always a bad sign in the autumn. BRING ON THE C_OW_ S (L, N) W ith the price of butter going up by some 75% lately and many dairy farmers in very recent times being herded out of business I wonder if it is time for our national policy makers to think it out. Our bees too would benefit from the growth of clover to make up a decent meadow. And is there honey (and butter) for tea? Varroa 2 I treated immediately with Thymol and counted 300 mites dropping in the first 24 hours. Too many mites are still dying two weeks later - I should have used MAQs. As the varroa population was hammered the bees became less aggressive - my observation not scientific. The winter survival of the colony concerned is questionable. Varroa Biology All the varroa you see should be mated females. They enter larval cells just before sealing preferring drone cells to workers and lay eggs. They bite into the larvae making a feeding hole for their offspring but transmitting viruses by accident. The population of varroa increases through the bee-breeding season and levels become critical in the late summer and autumn when you might see parasitic mite syndrome. Beekeepers must kill as many varroa as possible before the winter bees are reared so you should treat in early August. I have FREE FERA booklets entitled Controlling Varroa if you want one.. Urgent jobs. Put on the mouse guards John Everett If needs be, protect your hives from the attentions of the green woodpecker. Read about your bees. Prepare for exams. Apiary maintenance.
VOLUME 18. ISSUE 7 BUZZWORD PAGE 3 Apiary offer I am really keen for my garden/land to be used by local beekeepers. Please could you advertise this opportunity amongst local beekeepers who may be requiring land. My address is, Cherry Tree Cottage School Road, Seething NR15 1DL kind regards, Elaine Parsley (laneyclarke@hotmail.com) Sadly no phone number has arrived as we go to press) Shopportunities for beekeepers Or planning for 2018 season. I t seems now all these opportunities offer as a bonus the chance to network. Some folk may just consider that absurd given the propensity for beekeeper to have very divergent opinions on even how to cross the road, let alone network with one another. The Central Association of Beekeepers Conference at Woodside Hotel, Kenilworth. Woodside Hotel, Glasshouse Lane Kenilworth, CV8 2AL From Friday 17th to Sunday 19th November offers probable the best chance of genuine networking given that it is the foremost scientific conference for beekeepers in the UK. The shopping here is a chance to catch up on one s book buying, as Northern Bee Books will attend. For details and/or booking contact: John Chapple (chapplejak@btinternet.com) or Pam Hunter (pamhunter@burnthouse.org.uk) Cost: Residential accommodation (B & B), all lectures, tea/coffee freely available, evening meal on Friday, lunch and evening meal on Saturday ( 280 for one or 430 for two people sharing a room) Tradex 2018 On Saturday, March 8th. From 9am to 4.30pm.you will find Tradex at Stoneleigh. NAEC STONELEIGH - CV8 2LG. many people consider that this is the major exhibition of beekeeping equipment in the UK with the most suppliers offering their wares. The parking is excellent. Not far to carry your bargains to the car or truck. Catering is adequate. It is probably worth the long drive from Norfolk. Only 4 for adults if booked online 5 on the day. BBKA Spring Convention at Harper Adams University, Telford TF10 8NB. Yes, it is Friday the 13th! The dates are Friday 13th April through to Sunday 15th April 2018. The lecture programme is excellent with superb lecture facilities. The trade show has disappointed traders and some beekeepers as it has, many believe, been undermined by Tradex at nearby Stoneleigh only a month earlier. The Offers are accommodation in student hostels, full catering and three days of different beekeeping activities. However, many beekeepers have found the Saturday to be the most convenient day to attend. This means both a long drive from Norfolk and juggling attending lectures over a spread-out campus and the chance for bargain hunting for equipment in the students union building. One cannot yet be in two places at once! Event prices not yet announced by BBKA 3
Autumn show results 2017 Members class A Light liquid honey B Medium or dark honey Results sheet Name of person taking 1st prize Mr & Mrs A Marshall C Creamed or granulated honey Venetia Rist D Novice Class E Composite class. F One cake of wax G Honey Madeira Cake Open Class H Light liquid honey Tish Kerkham Andrew Taylor Venetia Rist Garry Bowler Mr & Mrs A Marshall I Medium or dark honey Mr N Thrower J Creamed or granulated honey Venetia Rist K Composite class. Mr & Mrs A Marshall L 2 containers of cut comb hon- M Retail N Shallow frame O Commercial wax P Six 1oz blocks of wax Q candles R 1 bottle Sweet Mead S 1 bottle Dry Mead T Honey cake U Biscuits V Sweets No entry Venetia Rist Venetia Rist Lynne Petitt No Award Gift Class W Liquid honey X Creamed or granulated honey Venetia Rist 4
Rushed up to Rand? W ell, what a day! The weather was as near perfect as any we have enjoyed this year. A great many beekeepers, even some from Norfolk, braved the early start in the hope of snapping up the bargains. The sale was signed up to start at 10am; however, the greatest magnet for many was the chance to buy supers and brood boxes as third quality woodwork At 10 am the open sale of seconds was also well supported. Not only frames and boxes but all the other must-haves for the beekeeper. For those still not sated with the joy of retail therapy there was the restaurant doing a fast trade in bacon baps and a range of delicious cakes. Trouble was the temptation did not stop on the outside sale area but the retail shop really is a total delight with even more temptations. The attraction was the price. National supers for example selling at one sixth of the full retail price, in bundles of five. Even without nails and runners, this was a very substantial price reduction. One is aware that a third quality item may need some tender loving care with faults in the wood like knot holes. By 10 0 clock many cars were loaded to the roof with woodwork. The journey home joyful, but slightly apprehensive, about the consequences of flashing the plastic. Nevertheless, it is now time for a little gentle woodwork ready for 2018; it must be a better year. Pass me the wood filler someone please. Crime prevention. B eekeepers can do little to stop thieves making away with their hives; however, steps can be taken to help in the recovery of your property by the police. (Or an observant beekeeper being offered a good deal) available from beekeeping suppliers; it is easy nowadays to take photographs of your equipment, which can save a lot of explanation to your local police officer if catastrophe strikes. Finally do be discrete. A coat of garden shades paint can camouflage your hives in a remote When making up frames just mark the top bars apiaries. When renewing that bee suit the khaki or with your postcode (and for your convenience), the light green suit simply does not scream beekeeper year the frame was made. When during the winter, to the casual onlooker. We have seen red, white, you are making up brood boxes and supers take and blue suits out on demonstrations. In terms of the time to mark them clearly with an indelible crime prevention; patriotic but slightly potty. marker pen inside on the new wood. The same really applies to floorboards and rooves. Other methods of property marking include branding the woodwork with a branding iron Advice from St. Ambrose No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks No one heals himself by wounding another. Could well help with the argy bargy that seems to erupt at every ADM 5
NORFOLK BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION Buzzword diary November Fri 10th 19.30 Executive Committee meeting secretary Easton college NR9 5DX 01603 861447 Fri 17th 19.30 President s Evening & Presentation of Shields & cups as above Felthorpe Pavilion NR10 4AB Friday 17th Sunday 19th November 2017 CABK Autumn Conference. Venue: Woodside Hotel, Kenilworth. December Thurs. 7th St Ambrose s Day. Celebrate! Sun 10th 12.30pm NBKA Christmas lunch.@ Marsham Arms Pat Marshall Hevingham NR 10 5NP 01328 851471 January 2018 Sat 6th all day Annual Delegates Meeting @ Stoneleigh BBKA Sat 31th 14.30 Solar wax extraction demo. Room Sc110 Trevor Nash Easton College NR9 5DX 01362 696737 March 2018 Sat 3rd March 2018 Beetradex. 9:00am to 4:30pm Hall H3, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG April 2018 Friday 13th April to Sunday 15th April 2018. BBKA Convention- Venue: Harper Adams University, Newport, TF10 8NB - Duration 3 Days Buzzword connections Secretary NBKA Garry Bowler, 2 Lacey Road, Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6ND 01603 861447. Email: secretarynbka@gmail.com Secretary WNKLBA. Jane Bishop, Willow House, Kettlestone, Fakenham NR21 0JB Tel 07885 894946 e. mail: Janemitre1@aol.com Buzzword Editor, Candlemas House, Fakenham Road, Stanhoe, King s Lynn PE31 8PX Tel 01485 518073. Email: Lancefield@aol.com NBKA Web site Waveney Beekeepers Web site WNKLBA Web site www.norfolkbeekeepers.co.uk www.waveneybeekeepers.co.uk www.wnklba.co.uk 6