Mark Hobday has invited the branch to visit his apiary in Chilham on 26th April, from 2-4pm. He’s got 6 colonies in place at the moment, and with the good weather through March and April, they all should be developing nicely, and I imagine Mark will be looking for signs of congestion that might lead to swarming.
You will find joining details in the email sent to all members. If you want to come along as a a visitor, you are very welcome, just drop us an email at chairman@canterburybeekeepers.org.uk, and we’ll provide the precise location information.
As usual, please come with clean suits and gloves. Continuing Kent BKA’s policy from 2024, we will ask folks to sign a disclaimer form, acknowledging the (small) risks inherent in beekeeping.
If you don’t have a suit, please let us know ahead of time so we can arrange to bring loaner suits. We don’t like leather gloves, but kitchen marigolds are fine, as are hospital/surgeons’ gloves. Wear wellie boots (to keep the bees from your ankles), and preferably avoid woollen/hairy clothing, as bees can get caught up in the fibres.