As an extension to the Winter Training Talk occasional series aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of beekeeping, the first session aimed at the Proficient level was held on Wednesday 29th November 2017 at the Petersfield Community Centre, 7:15.
Presented by: Brad Davis
The areas covered included:
Carrying on the Improver Training sessions, the ninth session of the occasional series aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of beekeeping was held on Saturday 28th October 2017 at the Petersfield Community Centre, 7:15.
Presented by: Brad Davis
The areas covered included:
Carrying on the Improver Training sessions, the eighth session of the occasional series aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of beekeeping was held on Wednesday 4th October 2017 at the Petersfield Community Centre, 7:15.
Presented by: Brad Davis
The areas covered included:
Carrying on the Improver Training sessions, the sixth session of the occasional series aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of beekeeping was held on Wednesday 23rd November 2016 at the Petersfield Community Centre, 7:30 start.
Presented by: Brad Davis
The areas covered included:
Carrying on the Improver Training sessions, the fifth session of the occasional series aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of beekeeping was held on Wednesday 26th October 2016 at the Petersfield Community Centre.
Presented by: Brian Herbert
The areas covered included:
Carrying on from the Improver Training sessions of last winter, the fourth session of the occasional series aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of beekeeping was held on Saturday 24th September 2016 at the Petersfield Community Centre following on from the EGM, unfortunately this impacted heavily on the time available and Graham was necessarily restricted to a brief overview but included some useful insights into show entries. It is intended to reschedule this session at a later date.
Presented by: Graham Rowden
The areas that were to be covered include:
The second session of an occasional series aimed at improving knowledge of beekeeping was held on Wednesday 28th October 2015 at the Petersfield Community Centre starting at 7:15 pm.
This session dealt with beekeeping procedures. The areas covered were:
Presented by: Brian Herbert
Unfortunately technology issues meant Brian gave the presentation without the intended aid of slides. The outline presentation provided by the BBKA CiC is here: 2015-16 Improvers 2
The initial session of an occasional series aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of beekeeping was held on Wednesday 2nd September 2015 at the Petersfield Community Centre starting at 7:15pm.
This session dealt with the natural history and some aspects of the biology of honey bees. The areas covered were:
Presented by: Brad Davis
Notes: 2015-16 Improvers 1
A harvest of 84lbs resulted from the main flow extraction that took place on 9th August. The venue had to be changed at the last minute and thanks go to Pippa for the use of her facilities and those members that turned out to help the association harvest. The main flow ended very abruptly and some of our colonies have already required feeding.
The association apiary now houses 14 colonies. A long top-bar hive courtesy of Peter Reader was added during August. The autumn disease inspections will be completed by the end of August ready for varroa treatment in September. This year we will be using the formic acid based treatment MAQS.
September sees the start of next years preparations and a refreshed team of Apiary Trustees. As a reminder there are three apiary trustees each serving a three-year tenure. Liz Hawes, who has been actively shadowing this year and has requested the 2-year vacancy and Mel Espin who has kindly agreed to join the team, join Richard Williams, starting his 3rd year. As always the apiary trustees will require support from rank and file members which I trust will be forthcoming.
Many thanks to Fred Whetnall who completes his 3rd year as a trustee and retires along with myself.
– Brad Davis
Two notable achievements at this meeting: a) all colonies have now been checked for brood disease – and passed b) all queens have now been marked. 1-1 Syrup feed was provided to the following hives after the last meeting: #4, #9, #10 & #15H. Additional feed was provided at the meeting as per the following notes. Most of the ‘wet’ supers put on at the last meeting were removed having been cleaned by the bees. It was noticeable that any whiff of honey within the apiary or indeed in the car park and store resulted in close attention from bees and wasps. Lack of experienced beekeepers meant some hives were not inspected.
Weather: Cloudy, 17C
Not inspected this meeting but ‘wet’ super removed fully cleaned.
Not inspected this meeting but 2 ‘wet’ supers removed fully cleaned.
Inspected by: Liz H
Brood Chamber (Single Deep):
Queen (Unmarked/2015) seen and marked Blue.
0 queen cells
2 frames with brood (eggs and larvae)
0 frames with stores – needs feeding
room for laying OK
Supers: 1
‘Wet’ super removed fully cleaned
Temper:9
Inspected by: Mel E
Brood Chamber: (Single Deep)
Queen (Green/2014) not seen
0 queen cells
5 frames with brood including eggs
Brood Health Check: OK
5 frames with stores – fed with 1:1 syrup
room to lay OK
Supers: 1 – super marked as hive being fed
Temper:8
Not inspected
‘Wet’ super removed – being used to store nectar put over #15/B
Not inspected
Inspected by: Richard W
Brood Chamber (Double Shallow):
Queen (Blue-2015 & Clipped) seen
Top Shallow
0 queen cells
5 frames with brood
stores OK
room to lay OK
Bottom Shallow
0 queen cells
1 frame with brood
stores OK
room to lay OK
Supers:1
‘Wet’ super removed fully cleaned
Temper:9
Not inspected
Warre Hive
Inspected by: Brad D
2 Boxes:
Top Box
Queen (Unmarked/2015) seen and culled – Drone Layer
0 queen cells
3 frames with brood including eggs. All sealed brood drone.
5 frames with stores but total stores low
All frames checked for removeability
Bottom Box
Top bars only
Topped up contact feeder with 1l 1:1.
Unite with one of nucs at next session.
Temper: 9
Not inspected
Inspected by Richard W
Single Deep:
Queen (Blue/2015) seen
0 queen cells
4 frames with brood some sacbrood
2 frames with stores low
room for laying OK
Added ‘wet’ super from Hive#5 over crownboard
Temper: 9
Inspected by Jon M
Single Deep:
Queen (Unmarked/2015) found and marked Blue
0 queen cells
4 frames with brood
0 frames with stores – Needs feeding
4 frames with room for laying
Supers: 1
Moved from Hive#8
Temper: 9
Not inspected
Inspected by: Brad D
Wooden Nucleus
Queen (Blue/2015) seen, actively flying
0 queen cells
1 frame with sealed brood
1 frame with stores
1 drawn frame with room and 2 foundation frames
Queen not originally seen, started dismantling nucleua when she arrived. Probably too late for her to successfully mate but left till next session just in case.
Temper: 10