PLYMOUTH BEEKEEPERS’ Apiary Programme 2018/9btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site2056/Bee Brief...

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www.plymouthbeekeepers.btik.com

DECEMBER

Sunday 9th Branch Christmas Lunch – Boringdon Golf Club

Saturday 15th DBKA AGM / Beekeepers Day (hosted by Plymouth Branch)

9.30am start

JANUARY

Tuesday 8th Branch Meeting / Quiz: Blindmans Wood Scout Centre Outland Road, Plymouth. PL3 5TB

7pm for 7.30 start

Sunday 27th Wax Extraction / Frame Making Session: Branch Apiary

10am

FEBRUARY

Tuesday 12th Branch Meeting: Blindmans Wood Scout Centre 7pm for 7.30 start

Sunday 24th Wax Extraction / Frame Making Session: Branch Apiary

10am

MARCH

Sunday 3rd Improvers Meeting 10am

Sunday 10th Beginners Meeting (1) - Education Team 10am

Sunday 17th General Meeting 10am

Sunday 24th Beginners Meeting (2) 10am

Sunday 31st Apiary Maintenance Morning 10am

APRIL Easter Sunday 21st April

Sunday 7th Improvers Meeting 10am


Sunday 21st Easter Sunday No Meeting


MAY




Sunday 26th Bank Holiday Weekend No Meeting

PLYMOUTH BEEKEEPERS’ Apiary Programme 2018/9

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JUNE

Sunday 2nd Improvers Meeting 10am



Sunday 23rd Beginners Meeting (8) 10am

Sunday 30th Apiary Maintenance Morning 10am

JULY



Sunday 21st General Meeting 10am


AUGUST (Bank Holiday: Mon.26th)




Sunday 25th Bank Holiday Weekend No Meeting

SEPTEMBER

Sunday 1st Improvers Meeting 10am

Sunday 8th General Meeting/Apiary Maintenance Morning 10am

OCTOBER

Tuesday 8th Branch Honey Show: Blindmans Wood Scout Centre

6.30pm for 7pm start

NOVEMBER

Tuesday 19th AGM: Blindmans Wood Scout Centre 7pm for 7.30 start

DECEMBER

Sunday 8th Branch Christmas Lunch: – TO BE CONFIRMED

Turn left off the A38 at Lee Mill and follow the signs for Tesco

Drive past the Tesco entrance, take next right for Central Avenue on the industrial estate

Drive down the hill of Central Avenue, looking for East Way on your right

Drive along East Way, looking for Cadleigh Close on your left

Drive into Cadleigh Close; the apiary site is behind the big iron gates of the Bandvulc tyre factory

Park inside the gates, walk up the concrete path & the portacabin is on your right

The Blindmans Wood Scout Centre is on Outland Road, Plymouth PL3 5TB

Meetings will be held at the Branch Apiary Site, Lee Mill, Ivybridge unless advised otherwise

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CHAIRMAN’S BLOG

Hello Again,

I know it’s a hackneyed phrase, but I really can’t believe that another year has gone by and that I’m writing the Yuletide blog for 2018. It has been a good year for the Branch and mercifully free from the infighting and tension that has dogged our progress in previous years. We have had good attendance at the Branch meetings and an excellent group of beginners who, in their feedback forms, all said they thoroughly enjoyed the course and thought it was very good value for money. Interestingly, the list for the 2019 beginners’ course has filled up very quickly just on the basis of the information on our web site and so we look forward to welcoming fourteen potential new beekeepers to the Branch next year.

Much of the Branch’s success over the last five years has been down to the hard work of various committee members, especially that of our Social Secretaries, Jean and Steve Russell. Sadly, they have now decided to stand down but I’m pleased to say that they have given us twelve months’ notice. Jean and Steve have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that our Branch’s social activities run well and I want to use this blog to thank them on behalf of the whole membership for all that they have done. Their twelve months’ notice gives us some breathing space, which is a great opportunity to find a replacement or replacements for them. So, if there are any good organisers out there who could help the Branch by taking on this role, please do let us know. If we don’t find someone, the future of winter meetings and even the Branch Honey Show is uncertain. Of course we would still continue as a Branch, but without a Honey Show or winter meetings it would be a much diminished Branch.

If Bee Brief is published before 9 December, this might be a good opportunity to remind you that the annual Branch Yuletide lunch will take place at 1230 on Sunday 9 December at the Boringdon Golf Club. Do come along; you will be most welcome. To book a place, contact Jean or Steve Russell.

I’ve gone a long way with this blog and I haven’t yet mentioned the bees! All I will say on that subject is that we must all make sure that they’ve got enough food to get them through the winter. It hasn’t been especially cold (yet) so they will have been eating what stores they have: please do check on them. Also, if you’re a fan of sublimation for varroa treatment (as we are), the time is fast approaching when it should be done.

Last month, Valerie and I visited Ernesettle Community Primary School. We dressed in our bee suits and took with us plenty of beekeeping equipment. The icing on the cake was the fact that it was warm enough for us to take our observation nucleus hive. The children absolutely loved it and it was a joy to see the expressions on their faces as they searched the frame to try to locate the queen. If any of you get the chance to go into a primary school to talk to the children about bees and beekeeping I would commend it to you as a highly worthwhile and satisfying way to spend a morning or afternoon.

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Now, a plug! Please do try to get along to the Branch Quiz on 8 January 2019. It really is a great way to shake off those post-Yuletide blues and is a good way to socialise with other members. People were reluctant to take part last January because they feared that their knowledge of bees and beekeeping was not that great. WELL LISTEN UP. You don’t have to speak!! You simply join in with one, two or three other members and AS A TEAM, you write the answers to the questions on a sheet of paper. It’s just like a pub quiz and its great fun. This year, we had around 30 members, so next year I’d really like to see that number increase to at least 40. As well as being fun, it’s a great opportunity to increase your knowledge. And finally; I do hope you’ve remembered that on 15 December, Plymouth Branch is hosting Devon Beekeepers’ Day at the Future Inn Hotel, Derriford. This is the first ever Devon Beekeepers’ Day and we have the honour of being the first Branch to host it, so it would be good to see a healthy turnout from Plymouth members. I look forward to seeing you there. Compliments of the season. All the best,

Terry

GENERAL MEETINGS AT THE APIARY

Unfortunately, during the 2018 season the General Meetings were very poorly attended. The committee have discussed this and put forward a couple of ideas: we can book them in for the 2019 season and see what happens or not have General Meetings and keep those dates as a back up to use for the Beginners’ hands on sessions if their lessons gets rained on. If any members, as this is your Club, have any suggestions or ideas as to what these meeting dates can be used for please contact Jean French, Secretary. Neil Downing-Waite Vice Chair

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DBKA Plymouth Branch Committee for 2019

Office

Present Holder

Honorary President

Bill Finnemore

Chair

Terry McAuliffe

Vice-Chair

Neil Downing-Waite

Secretary

Jean French

Treasurer

Bernie Talling

Apiary Manager

Patrick Mansfield

Apiary Manager’s Asst’s

Allen Blight Neil Downing-Waite

Branch Librarian

Lizzie Wallis

Editor

Dawn Clarke

Education Team

Education Officer 1: Valerie McAuliffe (Beginners) Education Officer 2: David Milford (Improvers) Team: Neil Downing-Waite, Jean French, Patrick Mansfield, Terry McAuliffe

Social & Honey Show Secretary

Steve and Jean Russell

Branch Microscopist

Vacant

Spray Liaison Officer

Jo Jones

/JEF November 2018

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LISTER ROOM PROGRAMME

09.30 Refreshments on arrival outside the Lister Room

10.00 Welcome and Introduction - Christopher Smith, DBKA President

10.15 DBKA Annual General Meeting - Chaired by Tony Lindsell

11.15

John De Carteret from Jersey Beekeepers and a leading member

in their campaign to deal with the Asian Hornet

Lunch - see note below

13.30

Presentation of awards including Education Certificates,

Frank Alston Memorial Skep

14.30 Dr Claire Bethune – Consultant Immunologist at Derriford

Hospital. ‘Reactions to Bee Stings’

DBKA Prize Draw

15.00 Q & A Session with DBKA Officers on any issues members would

like to raise.

15.30 Closure by Christopher Smith

DEVON BEEKEEPERS’ DAY AND AGM (Hosted by Plymouth Branch)

Plymouth International Business Park 1 William Prance Road, Plymouth PL6 5ZD

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FLEMING ROOM

Branch, NBU & DARG Displays & National Bee Supplies

Free entry including a cup of tea/coffee on arrival but does not include refreshments. PARKING: there is plenty of free car parking but drivers MUST register their cars at Reception as soon as they arrive. Failure to do this could result in the vehicle being clamped and its driver incurring a £100 release fee. LUNCH: can be taken on site in Fishbone Restaurant or you may bring your own packed lunch but this MUST be eaten within the confines of the conference rooms. A variety of meals are available from sandwiches, salads and main courses. DIRECTIONS: From the A38 use the left lane to take the A386 slip road to A374/City centre/Tavistock/Torpoint. At Manadon Roundabout, take the 5th exit onto the A386 slip road to Tavistock/Airport/Derriford/Southway/Belliver/Estover then merge onto Manadon Hill/A386. Continue to follow A386 for 0.8 miles then use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto William Prance Rd. Take the first left and left again to enter the hotel car park.

Please note this programme may be subject to change

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EDITOR’S NOTE Thank you to members who made contributions in 2018 to the Bee Brief. I can’t emphasise how much more interesting this makes your newsletter – the news snippets, photos and articles all help to make it more thought provoking and informative. If you make any New Year’s Resolutions perhaps you could add one Bee Brief contribution in 2019 to your list of good intentions!

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Christmas and all the very best for 2019

Dawn

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Future+Inn/@50.4141672,-4.1277278,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m7!3m6!1s0x486ced3c062d6745:0xaae9f6bcc96dfcba!5m1!1s2018-09-02!8m2!3d50.4141672!4d-4.1255391

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DBKA PLYMOUTH BRANCH ANNUAL HONEY SHOW 2018

Tuesday 9th October

This year, Plymouth Branch held its annual Honey Show at Blindmans Wood Scout Centre, having made the decision earlier in the year to move this event together with our winter meetings to bigger, roomier premises.

The event was not as well supported as the previous year but we still had 16 entrants exhibiting 51 items in 14 of the 15 classes.

DBKA - PLYMOUTH BRANCH - HONEY SHOW 2018 – RESULTS & WINNERS

No. Class Prize Winner Second V H C

1 2 x 1 lb jars of Light Run Honey

Slater Cup

Roger Round

Phil Aitken

-

2 2 x 1 lb jars of Medium Run Honey

Edwards Cup

Terry McAuliffe

Phil Aitken

Ian Staples

3 2 x 1 lb jars of Dark Run Honey

Tucker Cup

Ian Staples

4 2 x 1 lb jars of Crystallized Honey

Winnicott Cup

No Winners

5 2 x 1 lb jars of Creamed Honey

Perpetual Trophy

No Winners

6 1 Pair of beeswax Candles

Prosser Tray

Phil Aitken

Jean Russell

-

7 1 Bottle of Mead Mansfield Tray

Steve Russell

Phil Aitken

Martin Hann

8 1 Shallow frame For extraction

Eric Goss Tray

Steve Russell

-

-

9 1 Jar of Honey Labelled for Sale

Interserve Tray

Jean French

Roger Round

Andy Lennon

10 6x 1oz blocks of Beeswax

Poole Tray

Martin Hann

-

-

11 Wax Open Class Bandvulc Tray

Phil Aitken

Jean Russell -

12 Honey Sandwich Ward Cup

Martin Hann

Jean Russell -

13 12 Pieces of Honey Fudge

Barton Cup

Martin Hann

Jean Russell

Liz Hill

14 Novice Class

Milford Cup

No Entries

15 Open Class Mayflower Marina Cup

Ian Staples

Claude Pool

Jean Russell

Overall Winner’s Cup (Chrysanthemum Trophy) Phil Aitken

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Best in Show Rosette: Not Awarded Whilst judging was in progress and results collated, members were invited to ask bee related questions to the Q&A Panel (Neil Downing-Waite, Martin Hann, and David Milford) who were as equally entertaining and informative as their Radio 4 counterparts in Gardeners Question Time! Once all questions had been answered, members enjoyed tea and refreshments, a good chinwag and the customary raffle. Back again by popular request, was the informal Honey Tasting; this year won by Jean Russell with her jar of fermented honey! The evening concluded with the Prize Giving; our Chairman, Terry McAuliffe, announcing the winners and Bill Finnemore, Honorary President (and Judge for the night), presenting the trophies. Lots more photographs can be viewed by copying and pasting the following link: https://www.ak47art.com/Party/Branch-Honey-Show-2018 Finally, on behalf of the Committee, I would like to say a BIG ‘Thank You’ to all who helped in making our Honey Show such an enjoyable evening. Well done everyone! JEAN FRENCH – Branch Secretary

Margaret Talling (Show Steward) & Bill Finnemore (Judge)

https://www.ak47art.com/Party/Branch-Honey-Show-2018

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Martin Hann, Andy Lennon & Phil Aitken debating the winner of Class 2

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Who added the jam?????

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For next year’s Beginners Course the Committee thought that it would be a good idea to introduce a Bee Buddy Scheme. This would involve a beginner on the course having an allocated Buddy ‘on call’ for advice and practical help if needed.

Ideally the Buddy would live in the same postcode area or very close to the beginner.

If any member is interested in becoming a Bee Buddy please contact Valerie McAuliffe so that a list can be drawn up ready for the Beginners course starting in March 2019 so that Beginners can be matched with Bee Buddies.

2019 MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS

Your membership subscription for 2019 is now due and should be renewed very latest by end of December 2018. Payment can be made electronically, by cheque or cash. If you are making an electronic payment, please do remember to complete a membership form and send to Bernie; without it, your membership cannot be processed.

A copy of the 2019 membership form can be obtained from our Treasurer (Bernie Talling) or myself.

Many thanks, Jean French Branch Secretary

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Skep Making

Make your own skep on this weekend course

with Paula Carnell

*

January 19th & 20th 2019 10am—4pm

Venue-Buckfast Bee Barn

Total cost for weekend £60, including the materials for you to make and take home

your own skep.

Tea and coffee provided, please bring your own lunch.

To book your place call Deborah Southon—07876541877 or email

me at [email protected]

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PLYMOUTH BEEKEEPERS LIBRARY

The library books and DVDs are permanently kept at

the apiary site on a very smart new shelf unit.

The books are still separated into the three

categories (Novices; General; Specialised) and have

been re-numbered with a colour-coded system to

help you more easily choose the right book for you.

The new numbers are on the website.

The DVDs remain with their old numbers.

If you have a request on a particular topic and would like help to choose the right

book please contact me and I’ll be happy to help.

If you read one of the books and can recommend it (or otherwise) then please let

me have your feedback.

Liz Wallis, Windlestraw, Penquit, Ivybridge PL21 0LU

01752 698384

[email protected]

Link to PBKA Library

www.plymouthbeekeepers.btik.com/LibraryBooks

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The Buzz – Honeybees & Beekeeping

£60,000 fund to develop and test pollinator habitat mapping

On 25 October Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced a £60,000 fund to develop and test pollinator habitat mapping. Farmers will play a major role in spearheading new bee-friendly initiatives. The fund will identify where new habitats will provide the greatest benefit for bees and other pollinators.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/michael-gove-announces-new-funding-to-protect-bees

Busy Bees Take a Break during Total Solar Eclipses

The 2017 North American eclipse gave researchers an inside look at how bees respond to light. A study conducted during the 2017 total solar eclipse in North America found that bees remained active during the partial-eclipse phases both before and after the period of totality, but they essentially ceased flying during totality. (Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org)

Read more on the Smithsonian website:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/busy-bees-take-break-during-total-solar-eclipses-180970502/

Scientist unveils blueprint to save bees and enrich farmers

Urgent planting of wildflowers will attract pollinators and boost farmers’ food crops, expert to tell UN.

Read more on the Guardian website:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/23/scientist-unveils-blueprint-to-save-bees-and-enrich-farmers?



https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/23/scientist-unveils-blueprint-to-save-bees-and-enrich

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/23/scientist-unveils-blueprint-to-save-bees-and-enrich

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Why a balanced diet is the bees’ knees

Yet more evidence that shows how important it is to grow a variety of flowering plants to keep bees happy

Read more on the Daily Telegraph website:

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph-saturday/20181006/282029033175796

Contact Details – Plymouth Branch

Chairman

Terry McAuliffe

219573

[email protected]

Vice Chair Neil Downing-Waite

309483 [email protected]

Secretary Jean French 338279 [email protected]

Treasurer Bernie Talling 709470 [email protected]

Editor Dawn Clarke 309483 [email protected]

Branch Librarian

Liz Wallis 698384 [email protected]

Apiary Manager

Patrick Mansfield

07887 997764

[email protected]

Social Secretaries

Jean & Steve Russell

215827 [email protected]

Microscopist Vacant

Spray Liaison Officer

Jo Jones [email protected]

DBKA Website - Members Area Password:

If you have forgotten the password, contact Terry McAuliffe or Jean French.

Member Advert

mailto:[email protected]

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HEMBURY BEE SUPPLIES

Agents for the main manufacturers We can supply all your

Beekeeping needs Foundation – Hives – Frames - Jars

And many, many more

We can be found at:

John Harler Outer Finches

Hembury Cock Hill, Buckfast, Devon,

TQ11 0HN Tel/Fax: 01364 642517 Mobile: 07769 878476 Email: [email protected] Please Phone before you make a visit

PLYMOUTH BEEKEEPERS’ Apiary Programme 2018/9btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site2056/Bee Brief...

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