(Founded 1887 - Scotland’s
oldest Local Association?) (www.eastlothianbeekeepers.org.uk)
Newsletter 141 December 2006
OK, I haven’t
completely run out of ideas – it must have been the honey laden food, the
copious wine and the free flowing conversation at November’s Beekeepers’ dinner
that got me going again. For those who weren’t there, the evening was a great
success with eighteen of enjoying another honey-themed menu at Bonar’s, and there
were enough spouses and partners to ensure that beekeeping talk was kept to a
minimum.
Forthcoming Events:
Sunday
17th December 1pm - a demonstration by Gordon Biggar
of “hive cleansing” (see below) by the oxalic acid trickle method at my apiary,
at Clerkington, Haddington.
Call 01620 822441 to confirm and for directions. Mince pies a distinct
possibility!
Thursday
25th
Thursday 22nd
February Haddington Town House,
Thursday 15th
March Haddington Town House,
Thursday
26th April, Haddington Town House,
I’m also hoping to
organise a visit to the National Library in
SBA Secretaries and
Council meeting
The latest word from
Alan Teale, the SBA Bee Diseases officer, is that
Oxalic Acid is and will remain an illegal substance for the treatment of Varroa
infection. However, oxalic acid can be used as a “hive cleansing agent” to
remove fungi, bacteria and parasites. There is a caveat that beekeepers are then
responsible for making sure that oxalic acid doesn’t end up in their honey. If
a problem with oxalic acid residues does arise then legislation against its use
will no doubt follow and that will be that.
Professor Teale also requested that beekeepers send samples of 30
fresh dead bees to be tested for
The other major item
of interest to me was that the SBA magazine desperately needs more copy. The
editor can only print what his membership sends in! You may have seen that Gordon
Biggar contributed an article on oxalic acid earlier
this year. There must be many more members of our Association who have
something to say about beekeeping that is worth sharing with a wider audience –
the alternative is that the magazine will degenerate into a kind of news
clipping service about beekeeping around the world. Just send your anecdotes,
words of wisdom or questions to editor@scottishbeekeepers.org.uk
or by post to Nigel Hurst, 11 Munro Way, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 8LP.
At the meeting I also returned
the Moir library box to the librarian. I also presented
her with the Czech and German beekeeping books which came to the Association
through Gordon Biggar from Paul Millar, the honorary Consul
for the
Going to the meeting
reminded me of how valuable the SBA is to us and what a lot of work is done on
our behalf by the unpaid and overworked officials. Most Association members are
already members of the SBA, but those who aren’t are missing out on third party
insurance for claims against injury caused by your bees or honey, as well as compensation
if your stocks have to be destroyed because of disease or if they are stolen.
There’s also the monthly magazine with an eclectic range of topics from the
local to the international, access to the Moir library,
the website …all for only £20 a year. Application forms can be had from me.
Membership forms will
be sent out after the AGM in January once the fee has been decided. It’s also
about time that another list of members’ contact details was produced – the
membership form will ask for your agreement to include your details on this
list. I should mention that the newsletter is circulated more widely than just
the membership – if you no longer wish to be on the mailing list then please
let me know.
Beginners group
Any beginners who would
like to join Mike Bain’s study group of aspiring beekeepers, please contact him
(01875 341226 or msbain@globalnet.co.uk).
Evening meetings will start in January.
Some musings on
what the Association should do next year
I’ve been secretary
for three years now, and I’m thinking that it’s time for some new enthusiast to
take over the none too onerous duty of being
secretary. A computer and access to email helps, but my tenure has proved that being
an expert beekeeper isn’t crucial! Nevertheless, as secretary you get to
dispense all sorts of advice, which gives you a satisfyingly similar sensation.
If you aren’t up to
being secretary, have a think about what sort of things you would like to see
the Association doing next year, and how you could help organise them? A few
starters:
-
Establish
an Association apiary for training beginners
-
Surveying feral
sites (being done by Helensburgh BKA)
-
School
visits to get the next generation enthused
-
Adding to the
Association library – books, DVDs?
-
Preparing
new exhibits for Haddington Show
Donald Smith (Secretary)
Garden Cottage
Clerkington
Haddington EH41 4NJ
01620 822441 gardencottage@ntlworld.com