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

Bumblebee Re-introductions 7th March

Posted on by February 14, 2012

Our next branch meeting is on 7th March, and we are pleased to welcome Dr Nikki Gammans,  Project Officer from the British Bumblebee Conservation Trust.  She will be giving a talk on the short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project near Dungeness.

Whitefriars Conference Room, Canterbury, 7.30-9.30pm.  As has become usual, parking will be free in the multi-storey car park so collect your ticket as normal and this will be processed during the meeting. Park on the 1st floor on the left and take the corridor down to the management suite at the bottom of the corridor on the left.
By car Set Sat Nav post code to CT1 2TF

KSRC course shop is open

Posted on by February 14, 2012

As of 14th Feb, the new Kent Beekeepers improver courses may be booked on-line using the site that recently appeared on CBKA webpages. You should see a button on the top ribbon, but just in case, it’s also here.

Initially, just the March courses will be released for bookings, the first of which tackles the highly interlinked subjects of bees and flowers. This course has deliberately been scheduled before the 24th March date for the BBKA Module exams and will be an invaluable revision aid for anyone who will be taking Module 2.

The current plan is to release the April courses on 1st March, the May courses on 1st April, etc

So, if you are a 2yr+ beekeeper, and are interested in learning more, have a look at the shop. Bookings are now being taken via the website; payments may be made by cheque but there are also options to pay by electronic bank transfer or via PayPal.

Progress continues in establishing a dedicated bank account for this scheme; hopefully it will be in place by 1st March.