(Founded 1887 - Scotland’s
oldest Local Association!) (www.eastlothianbeekeepers.org.uk)
Newsletter 143 May
2007
Winter meetings
There was a packed
house for Ross Langlands’ well-researched talk on “Bees, Honey and Health”.
Just when he had persuaded us to give anecdotal evidence less weight than
controlled studies, up popped Sandy Boggon with a convincing anecdote about how
he used his own honey to heal a persistent wound (see April’s Scottish
Beekeeper). In March, four members visited the Moir rare book collection in
Future events
23rd May
26th May
2.00pm Apiary visit hosted by Mark Hedderwick at Gifford Bank, Edinburgh Road,
Gifford – last house on the right if you take the road to the golf course out
of Gifford.
29th May
16th
June
7th July
Haddington Show,
21st
July Day visit to Chainbridge Honey Farm – joint trip with Edinburgh and
Midlothian Beekeepers Association. Call me for further details and to arrange
joint transport.
1st October
Talk by Brian Hateley on “Recovery of beeswax / solar extractor”, as part of
the SBA lecture tour.
Library
The Association has
acquired copies of Celia Davis’s beautifully illustrated books “The Honeybee
inside out” and “The Honeybee around & about”; both can be borrowed from
me.
Colony losses
I have had several
reports of unusual winter losses. I think it would be a good idea to get a
general picture for the county. If you have (or had) bees, please could you let
me know:
A. Number of colonies overwintered
2006/7
B. Number of colonies surviving to
spring 2007
C. Did the dead colonies contain
bees?
D. Did the dead colonies contain
stores?
E. Do you have Varroa?
F. Had they been treated for varroa
– if so with what?
For ease of response
why not send your answers by email or leave a telephone message. I will report
back to the membership in the next newsletter as well as informing the SBA of
the results.
Equipment for sale
Kay Kemball has very
kindly donated a number of items to the Association. The committee has decided
that a smoker, a metal double strainer and a comb brush should be retained for use
in the
Association apiary. The other items are available to the highest bid sent to me
by the 25th May.
Smith travel screen 2
Smith zinc queen excluder (unframed) 1
Smith crown board 4
Smith varroa screens (but too small?) 2
Smith hive stand 1
Smith Super 1 National floor 1
Queen excluder (smaller than Smith) 1
Mouse guards 7
Wooden entrance reducers 2
Box of metal ends 1
Honey pails with lids – large 2
Honey pails with lids – small 2
Leather gloves with sleeves – small 2 pairs
Sleeves 1 pair
Veil without hat 1
Hive entrance rapid feeder 1
In addition there are some
items donated by Sandy Murray:
Smith super – flat pack 1
Smith DN4 frames 1 pack of 10
A number of hives
(without bees) are also available, Smith hives from Drew Stenhouse (01620
8296290) and National hives from either Colin Russell or Andy Sim (0131 669 1790
or 0131 669 4732). Drew is also selling a manual extractor, an MG heather
press, and a set of National hanging section frames.
Member contact
details
I have produced an
updated list of members’ contact details but I can only circulate this to
members of the Association. If you have not received a list and would like one
then why not join us.
New members
We welcome the
following new members to the Association:
Krystyna Campbell of
Athelstaneford, Stuart and Sheena Cowan of North Berwick, Jamie Crichton of
Innerwick, Dave Crosbie of East Linton, Jane McCormack of North Berwick, Finn
Warholm of Coldingham, and Ros Weaver of Gullane.
Donald Smith (Secretary)
Garden Cottage
Clerkington
Haddington EH41 4NJ
01620 822441