The April meeting will take place on Saturday 2nd April 2011 Contact Joan or Julian for more details.
NEXT MEETING –Wed 2nd March – “The Asian hornet – a threat to UK beekeeping”.
Speaker Michael Cooper – our Seasonal Bee Inspector
7.30 to 9.30 Stelling Minnis Village Hall
As you see we have changed the topic. This should be an interesting talk and also an opportunity to meet your seasonal Bee Inspector.
The Village Hall is in what was the old Methodist Chapel on Bossingham Rd. From Stone Street take Curtis Lane then turn right into Bossingham Rd and the Chapel is several hundred yards on the left hand side of the road. Map/satnav CT4 6AG
Please continue to check that hives have not been damaged and that mouse guards are still in place. Do check levels of food stored since I have noticed a couple of my hives are getting a little light. Feeding options are candy/fondant or some people use a kilo bag of sugar with a 2cm hole made in one side water added until all moistened and then inverted over the hole in the coverboard. Once you start feeding you should continue to do so. In emergency feed sugar syrup either in a frame feeder or directly into an empty comb.
It’s not too late to treat with oxalic acid given the cold weather we’ve been having. Check the natural fall. Over 2 a day will mean some action will be required in the Spring.
Julian
This year we are going to try to find a location for a branch teaching apiary, reasonably close to Canterbury – any suggestions please let Julian Audsley know. Consideration should include access, security and parking. Secondly we want to improve access to the winter meetings by choosing a location closer to Canterbury and with better winter access than Stelling Minnis. Again any suggestions please let Julian know.
This report is based on the minority of beekeepers who make a return to the Regional Bee Inspector Alan Byham last year. The average yield per colony was 44lb and the average direct price was £4.31.
Read the 2010 honey survey