BRECKNOCK & RADNOR BKAhttps://breconandradnorbka.wordpress.com

Newsletter August 2015

David’s August Beekeeping Notes

RED ALERT!Colonies may be starving at this point in time.

THE MOST VULNERABLE ARE COLONIES WHERE A SPRING HONEY CROP WAS TAKEN OFF IN MAY/JUNE, AND SWARMS OR SPLITS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED FROM EARLY JUNE ONWARDS.

IF HONEY IS BEING TAKEN OFF NOW, BE SURE TO LEAVE ENOUGH RESERVES,OR FEED SUMMER STRENGTH SUGAR SYRUP TO TIDE THEM OVER.

DILUTE 1KG SYRUP IN ONE LITRE OF HOT WATER.

As reported last month, the weather continues to be unkind to our bees, and their performance has been generally disappointing. Reports are still coming in of queens disappearing and virgins failing to mate properly, or disappearing soon after starting to lay. Hive weights have been reducing, particularly in the stronger colonies, as bees have not been going out to forage.Here are my tips for the month:-

1. Beware marauding wasps. Try reducing entrances, or put panes of glass, or tube entrances to confuse them – the bees will quickly adapt to the modification. Wasps will target certain hives, and can rapidly overwhelm them once a successful scent trail has been laid into the hive.

2. Consider uniting smaller colonies/casts after preferably culling the poorer queen. A single sheet of broadsheet newspaper with a couple of short slits in it placed between the boxes at dusk, then left alone for a week works well.

3. If harvesting honey, make sure there are enough stores left behind to tide the bees over, or replace with supplementary sugar syrup (summer strength, 1Kg/1 Litre water).

4. Beware of ROBBING from other bees. Do not spill syrup or honey, reduce entrances, and operate in the evening when bees are not flying.

5. Make sure colonies are queen right, with brood at all stages.6. Consider giving Varroa treatment in mid August, when winter bees are starting to be produced. The “Best

Practice Factsheet” can be downloaded from the beebase website, and it summarises the key features about Varroa management. Thymol medication requires removal of supers first to prevent honey contamination, whereas the newer MAQS treatment method recommends keeping full/part full/empty supers on the hive for safer application.

ALWAYS ADHERE STRICTLY TO THE MANUFACTURERS’ INSTRUCTIONS.Now follows a summary of Varroa Control Methods and a copy of a Veterinary Medicine Administration Record, which can be downloaded from Beebase or the vmd website as displayed at the bottom of the record page. Honeybees come under the same legislation as all food producing animals.

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Varroa Management

Jane Griffiths writes… Beekeeping and Local Summer FeteSummer was in full swing on the day of our fete at Felindre. This was the second time I had been asked to take bees for other people to enjoy. Last year, Fred kindly let me borrow his observation hive. This year, I decided to set mine up for the big day!What do people expect to see apart from the bees, I asked myself. Also, what message did I want to get across to interested people who stop to chat? Was it important that there is plenty to look at to hold interest of adults and children alike?

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Once I had planned what I would do in the space I would be allocated, now it was time to set about displaying everything in an attractive way.

Luckily for me, my husband had purchased a gazebo in case of a shower or two and to provide shade for my bees. The shower didn’t come, but a few gusts of wind did – blowing over one small vase of wild flowers. No damage done, mopped up water and stuck vase down with Blutak! Lesson one – use a heavier vase next time!The usual questions were asked, such as “Do you get much honey?’ To this question, I always answer…. sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t, which is pretty accurate, I think, for some of us. As usual, the children just love to find the queen bee and I had marked her to help them find her easier. This always brings shrieks of delight from the little ones and even the odd adult gets a little excited when they spot her rambling around her dedicated workers. One lady was keen to find a big fat drone as she had been reading

about them and only a few were present which is another lesson learned by me…. put a few more in next time!It is important to me to put the message to others that the bees are the providers of all the goods on display, me being the lucky person who is able to create something with their ingredients. I decided just to take a small quantity of different types of honey, candles and polish. The candle rolling for the children proved to be a bit of a challenge as the weather had turned cold and the wax brittle. I gave the children an extra piece of wax and wick to take home and make one in the warmth later. This seemed to satisfy them all as they had learned with their purchased one what to do. Satisfaction for me is knowing the kiddies go home feeling they have learned something. The children are the beekeepers of the future, so they need the support to learn. A few children told me how much they had enjoyed seeing the observation hive in their school, so thanks to the association on their behalf. The general interest from local people and a few holidaymakers was keen and it is pretty evident that more of the public are taking an interest in the plight of the honey bee. On a local level, it is good to meet up with familiar faces and exchange news and enjoy seeing happy faces and hear plenty of laughter. Personally, I just want to share my passion with others and hopefully inspire others to learn more about this craft.If anyone out there is thinking of doing a little stand about beekeeping, variety and passion is all it takes. Happy beekeeping to one and all!

The Royal Welsh Show – Honey ShowWell done all our winners at the show this year and special congratulations to Shane Llewellyn Jones, who won the RWAS Silver Medal Diploma Card, having gained the highest number of points in open and closed classes. Unfortunately not enough Brecon and Radnor members came forward with contributions for there to be a B&RBKA entry to the composite class this year. Hopefully more of us will take part next year. If you’re considering showing: Martin Buckle, who judged honey at the show this year, gives thorough advice for competitors on his website: http://www.martinatnewton.com/page11.htm along with a lot of interesting information about skeps and skep making. A number of our members helped prepare for and steward at the show, with Fred, as Chief Sectional Steward, ensuring smooth running throughout, between call-outs to some 14 wasps’ nests!

Shane’s display of hive products

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This Month

Open Garden, Saturday 8th August (2-5pm)Monmouthshire Meadows Group is hoping to raise enough money to buy and preserve 12 acres of traditional wildflower meadows at Kingcoed, near Raglan. Called “an astonishing modern garden” by the Telegraph, Veddw House Garden, Devauden, Monmouth NP16 6PH, will be open on the afternoon of Saturday 8th August in support of the appeal, by permission of Anne Wareham and Charles Hwes. Entry £7. Plant sales and refreshments. www.momouthshiremeadows.org.uk

Our Honey Extraction 22nd August 2pm Jubilee Hall, Llanelwedd Demonstration and tea.

Talgarth Festival August 29th and 30th

Fred’ll be there on behalf of the association, with an observation hive, and Peter Guthrie will be there on his stand.

Proposed visit to Shane Llewellyn Jones’ bees on the heather at Glascwm, 29th August. - Watch our website for confirmation/details.

Other Shows and Events this yearSennybridge Show (with both open classes and the B&RBKA’s own closed classes) September 5th

The schedule for exhibitors is obtainable from our website, and also from the Horticultural Secretary: Mrs Rosemary Payne, Ty Coch, Crai, Brecon, LD3 8YL (01874 638037 http://www.sennybridgeshow.com/Sennybridge/Contact_us.html

Kington Show September 12th.

The NEW National Honey Show website www.honeyshow.co.uk is now up and running, so you’ll be able to find all the information you need about this year’s show show there. Their newsletter is also posted on our website.

Calendar Of Our EventsSaturdays afternoons Beekeeping at the Wern Apiary maintenance, advice, chat + tea

22nd August 2.00pm Honey Extraction and Tea Jubilee Hall Llanelwedd

Autumn Beginners’ Course 2015 Starting September 9th The course will be run at David Coles’ house, Lower Lloyney, Clyro, Hereford, HR35SG, SO203446, on six successive Wednesday evenings from 7.30-10.00pm, commencing on September 9th. There will be no access to live bees, but theory and practical will be taught based upon the basic assessment syllabus of the national beekeeping associations. It will be open to members/associate members of the association. The fee will be £50, payable in advance to B&RBKA, to cover expenses, plus B&RBKA membership.

Autumn Workshops£10 per workshop. Please bring a packed lunch; drinks/refreshments provided.19th Sept 10am - 4pm  Dinah Sweet: 'All you want to know about Honey & Pollen' Jubilee Hall, Llanelwedd17th Oct 10am - 4pm Lynfa Davies    'Bee Behaviour' Jubilee Hall, Llanelwedd    November Peter Guthrie [title and date to follow] Jubilee Hall, Llanelwedd

5th December 12 noon Christmas Lunch Venue yet to be decided

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Hire of Association EquipmentExtraction equipment is available for hire from the association, for a nominal fee of £5 per week. Please contact Roger James for more information.

Contributions & Advertising for the Newsletter and B&RBKA websitePlease email contributions and ads you’d like included in the newsletter to Cmirylees@aol.comand for the website, to Peter Bustin. And Remember to keep an eye onhttps://breconandradnorbka.wordpress.com/home/- for the latest news during the month.

BB Wear offer members 20% off all items in their clothing range. Free gloves are not included with the full suits. They can also offer us 50% off Washable Leather Gloves or Spats. In order to get the discount, you need to contact BB Wear direct, by email or phone, and place your order. You’ll need to ask our Chairman or Secretary to email BB Wear confirmation that you’re a member. They will then process your order. Nb: if you order online you will not get the discounts, and discounts cannot be refunded after the order has been placed through the website. They also offer an embroidery service. Suits are normally embroidered on the breast pocket. Prices start at £6.50. Tel :- 01872 562731 Email :- mike.bb1@btinternet.com   http//www.bbwear.co.uk

Our Key ContactsActing Chairperson:  Peter Bustin (01874 )690445Acting Secretary:   Roger James (01874) 636126Treasurer: Martin Nosworthy (01597) 823261

Membership Secretary: Diane Williams (01497) 822747Apiary Managers:

The Wern: David Coles (01497) 820419Peter Bustin (01874) 690445

Cefn Dyrys: Fred Eckton (01591) 620456Swarm Contact: Peter Bustin (01874) 690445

Seasonal Bee Inspector: David Coles (01497) 820419

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WYEFIELD APIARIES BEEKEEPING SUPPLIES

Wax Foundation, Deep and Shallow Frames and Equipmentfor National Hives

together with Honey Jars,Syrup and Fondant available all the year round.

Tel: 01874754412 to come by appointment only to Peter and Marian Guthrie

Wyefield Apiaries, Ty-Gwyn, Boughrood-Brest, LlyswenBrecon LD3 0BQ