(Founded 1887 - Scotland’s
oldest Local Association!) (www.eastlothianbeekeepers.org.uk)
Newsletter 145 January
2008
The Headline news of
this newsletter is the date of the Association AGM: Thursday 31st
January at
AGENDA: 1. Apologies
2. Minutes of AGM held
3. Treasurer’s report and setting of membership
fee 4. President’s report
5. Election of Office Bearers
6. Any other business
Following the AGM, I
have invited those beginners who first got their hands on some bees last year
to give a brief description of their experiences (good or bad). Hopefully, the
audience will be able to provide them with some useful comments, and we will be
able to discover the sorts of things the Association can do to help get
beginners going. I will also bring along several items of beekeeping equipment
donated to the Association by Kay Kemball, and which are languishing in my shed
waiting for someone to adopt them. A full list can be found in the May and
August newsletters. Please also bring along any books that you may have
borrowed from the Association library so that these can be re-circulated. If
you have any suggestions for speakers or events for the coming year these would
be appreciated.
Past events We were very lucky to be selected as one of the
venues for the SBA touring lecture given by Bryan Hateley, and indeed the
audience at the meeting on 1st October was swelled with visitors
from the Edinburgh and Caddonfoot Associations.
A month or so later we
were treated to another welcome visit from Graeme Sharpe of Auchincruvie who
managed to cover the entire spectrum of bee diseases in an hour. His message
was to be aware of the appearance of healthy brood frames so that you notice
any problems such as gaps, uneven cappings or shrivelled larvae. There was an
outbreak of European Foulbrood in North East Fife last summer, so it is well to
be on the lookout.
Finally, at the end of
November, the largest turnout of the year was for the Association Dinner,
transferred at the last minute due to the closure of
Bonar’s to the Maitlandfield House Hotel.
Despite the short notice, the chef still managed to produce a fine
honey-themed menu. Ensconced in a room to ourselves around a very long table,
the conversation ran on late into the evening, though there were sufficient
numbers of non-beekeeping family members to ensure that there wasn’t too much
bee-related talk.
Association Apiary
I took off another two
full supers from the Association hives in August which I have extracted and
sold through my normal contacts, with the proceeds going to Association funds.
The hives have been treated with Apistan, and George Barton added some old oil
seed rape honey supers to keep them going through the winter. Hopefully, the
coming season will be less inclement so that we can make more use of the apiary
as a teaching resource.
Association library
I have acquired two
new books – “The complete and easy guide to Beekeeping” by Kim Flottum, 2005,
beautiful photographs and very clear instructions, and “Beekeeping” by Andrew
Davies, 2007, a chattier, less daunting book that would be good for a beginner.
Beginners Class
If there is sufficient
interest, Mike Bain intents to run a beginners class again, possibly running on
Tuesday evenings. This is the best way of preparing yourself for your first
hive of bees! Contact him on 01875 341226 or by email to: bees@msbain.co.uk
Hives for wanted / for
sale
Gordon Biggar has
Smith hives and parts for sale. Contact him on 01875 821611. Drew Stenhouse has
both National and Smith hives for sale as well as an extractor: tel: 01620
829629. Peter Wright is looking for some extra colonies in Nationals. Call him
on 0131 667 2941 or p.wright@ed.ac.uk
SBA secretaries
meeting, Perth 10th November
In order to comply
with the data protection act I will have to ask on the 2008 membership form for
permission before I can provide your contact details to outside bodies such as
the SBA. The SBA website has been revamped and, as always, is worth a look (www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk).
The SBA will conduct a survey of feral bees this year, as well as questioning
about 10% of members to monitor changes in the pattern of colony loss.
Gifford Show
Results
Numbers of entries
were low. 601: Clear, Dark Blossom Honey 3rd James Bell; 602: Clear,
Light to Medium Blossom Honey, 1st John De Pree, 2nd
William Fife, 3rd, James Bell; 603: Naturally Granulated Honey, 1st
Sandy Boggon, 2nd James Bell; 604: Soft Set Honey, 1st
James Bell, 2nd Sandy Boggon; 605: Heather Honey, 1st
John De Pree, 2nd James Bell; 606: Cut Comb Blossom Honey, 1st
James Bell, 2nd Sandy Boggon; 607: Cut Comb Heather Honey, 1st
John De Pree, 2nd James Bell; 608: Section Flower Honey, no entries;
609: Section Heather Honey, no entries; 610: Shallow frame Blossom Honey, 1st
John De Pree, 2nd James Bell, 3rd Sandy Boggon; 611: Shallow
frame Heather Honey, 1st James Bell, 2nd John De Pree; 612:
Mead, 1st John De Pree, 2nd James Bell, 3rd,
Sandy Boggon; 613: Beeswax, 1st John De Pree; 614 Honey cake, no
entries. James Bell won the Gifford Horticultural Society Trophy for most
points and John De Pree won the George Turnball Trophy for Beekeeping for best
exhibit.
Membership
I will send out a 2008
membership form following the AGM when the membership fee will be decided.
Donald Smith (Secretary)
Garden Cottage
Clerkington
Haddington EH41 4NJ
01620 822441