(Founded 1887 - Scotland’s
oldest Local Association!) (www.eastlothianbeekeepers.org.uk)
Newsletter 147 May
2008
Not the kindest of
Springs for our bees – too much cold and wet weather for them to get off to a
great start, though the oil seed rape is ready for them when the good weather
comes. I’ve had a smattering of reports of winter losses. Results from the
questionnaire on the membership forms show a total of 7 winter or spring losses
from an over-wintering total of about 80 hives. This is about the level (10%)
that you might expect, and lower than the previous winter when there were 39
losses out of 116 hives (33%). Summer losses last year were 15 colonies – we
have nothing to compare that figure with, but it seems quite high to me.
Look out for a feature
on the Association appearing in the East Lothian Courier in the next week or
two – for a change, they approached us!
Past events
The Beekeepers’ Show and
Tell night on 28th February was a event filled with mystery,
intrigue, poetical license, musical mayhem and honey themed gorging – but you
had to be there to know what I’m talking about.
The talk by Mike
McInnes on “Honey and the Hibernation Diet” was a departure
from our normal beekeeping territory with more biochemistry than most of us are
used to. There was plenty of scepticism about his ideas that honey can help you
diet and recover from exercise. Time will tell who’s right.
Forthcoming events
Sunday 11th
May
Saturday
14th June 2pm Visit to William Fife’s apiary at 12 Kingston
Cottages,
Saturday 5th
July all day Haddington Show – this is our main public event of the year, a
chance to get beyond their “bees sting” fears. We will have an observation hive,
honey tasting, candle rolling and a variety of educational displays. Come and
help!
16th &
17th August Gifford Show – time to start thinking about how you are
going to win some prizes or one of the cups – the Gifford Horticultural Society
Trophy for Honey for most points in classes 601 -613 and the George Turnball
Trophy for Beekeeping awarded for the best exhibit in classes 601-613. Entries
can be made from
601 1lb jar clear dark blossom honey
602 1lb jar clear light to medium blossom honey
603 1lb jar naturally
granulated honey
604 1lb jar soft set
honey
605 1lb jar heather
honey (liquid)
606 one piece cut comb
blossom honey (approx 8oz)
607 one piece cut comb
heather honey (approx 8oz)
608 one section flower
honey
609 one section
heather honey
610 one shallow frame
blossom honey
611 one shallow frame
heather honey
612 one bottle wine
type mead (not fortified)
613
one piece beeswax 8 to 12 oz
614 honey cake (no
recipe given)
5th & 6th
September - we have been asked to provide a display on bees and honey for the
East Lothian Horticultural Society Flower Show – any ideas and/or volunteers
welcome.
Library books
One of our former
members, George Cairns, has kindly donated several books to the Association
library:
Maeterlinck
The life of the bee 1920(?)
Edwin Teale The Golden Throng 1946
G.Gordon Samson Bees for Pleasure and Profit 1892
Karl von Frisch Bees:
Their vision, chemical senses and language
1968
Frank Vernon Beekeeping 1976
Tickner Edwardes The Lore of the
honeybee 1913
J.G.Digges The practical Bee Guide 1941
Henry Taylor The Bee-keeper’s
manual 1880
A.B.Flower Bee-keeping up-to-date 1952
HMSO Swarming of Bees 1969
HMSO Beekeeping 1972
SBA Introduction to bees and
beekeeping 1980
SBA Scottish Beekeeper Magazine 1977-1985
These and all the
other books in our impressive library can be borrowed from me at Association
events, or by contacting me. Any suggestions for additions most welcome – we
have the funds to spend!
Feral Bees
The SBA has launched a
survey of feral bee colonies which are now under threat because of varroa.
There is a form inside the April edition if you would like to participate.
Alternatively, let me know of any feral sites and I will register them on your
behalf.
Beginners Class
The beginners
class have now moved on to apiary visits at the Association site. These are
weather dependent and sometimes arranged at short notice. Contact Mike Bain on
01875 341226 or by email to: bees@msbain.co.uk
if you would like to be put on his email list to be advised of meetings.
Bees & Swarms
Quite a few people
have asked me for bees – several are beginners wanting to get started, but its also a reflection of the heavy winter losses in 2006/7, the
rarity of swarms last summer and the increased summer losses last year. Let me
know if you have any spare colonies or swarms (but bear in mind George Hood’s
warning about the danger of introducing diseases to your own apiary when taking
swarms of unknown provenance).
New members
We welcome new members
Alex Craigie and Ian McMullian.
Donald Smith (Secretary)
Garden Cottage
Clerkington
Haddington EH41 4NJ
01620 822441
gardencottage@virgin.net (note recently
changed email address)