Report on Brogdale Cherry Festival

Posted on by July 10, 2012

Despite the mixed early July weather and lower numbers at the Cherry Festival, there was a lot of interest in beekeeping from attendees of all ages. The observation hive was particularly popular, as was our honey which a number of members brought along. In fact, we sold out!  These type of events are a great way to showcase our Club and provide a perfect educational forum for bee keeping to a wide audience.

You can see some photos of the event in our gallery.

Thanks to Maggie Mackenzie for coordinating the volunteer rota and to Chris Bristow & Chris Bailes for taking up the mantle of the talks which are generally handled by Julian Audsley.  Thanks to all members who volunteered their time this weekend.  Next volunteering opportunities are at Hambrook Marshes on 14th July. Contact Jenny Cotterill.  We are also looking at a late July date in Whitefriars and, of course, there will be the other festivals at Brogdale in the Autumn.

CBKA chairman trains beekeepers in Uganda

Posted on by June 26, 2012

Many of you will know that Stuart Andrews, our chairman, is also vice-chair of the charity Bees Abroad, which aims to relieve poverty though beekeeping.  He recently made a trip to Uganda to help train beekeepers – who themselves will become trainers in their local communities.  You can read more about this at the Bees Abroad website – here.

1st July visit by our seasonal bee inspector

Posted on by June 24, 2012

We still have spaces for more apiaries to visit by Michael Cooper on the Bee tour on Sunday 1st July.
Everyone who took part last year enjoyed it and thought it was worthwhile – Michael is a very helpful Seasonal Bee Inspector, so do come forward.  We would especially like to see new beekeepers and those who have not been visited by Michael this year.

If we follow last year’s pattern we will visit three in the morning have a break for lunch where people can join or leave the tour and then three in the afternoon.  There is no need to lay on anything more than a drink, although at  the lunch and last visit it is nice for people to bring a shared lunch or tea.

Please contact Julian Audsley ASAP if you would like to take advantage of Michael’s tour.

short-haired bumblebee release

Posted on by June 1, 2012

I was lucky enough to be invited to the media event and release of Bombus subterraneus (short-haired bumblebee) at Dungeness, to represent CBKA on 28th May.  Many of you will have seen Dr Nikki Gammans talking about this at our meeting in March.  The morning was very impressively organised, with lots of media and visitors.  I can’t do better than point you at the interview that Nikki did with the BBC (here), but I managed to take a couple of pictures of two of the 51 bees released, one in its container, and another resting on a flag iris, after taking to the wing.

Adrian