The end of the swarm season, possibly.
This year has been a particularly active year for swarms with calls from the public every few days. Fortunately they have come to an end in the past ten days, although I could be counting my chickens before they are hatched, (I won’t go on to make any of the obvious jokes).
Many of the calls turned out to be bumble bees and we encouraged people wherever possible to just leave them alone and let them get on with their lives. There were the few where people insisted something was done about the nest, mainly because they were too close to their children.
You also meet an interesting variety of people. This year I’ve meet a couple who are members of an organisation called the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, who look after the huts and shelters of the early Antarctic explorers. And a Bushy Park Ranger who complained of bees in the cavity wall of his cottage that were getting into his house. When we asked how long they had been there we were shocked to hear that they had been in residence for about ten years, the family have had a thriving wild hive in their home for ten years! As they did not want to do anything that would harm the bees we had to say we could do nothing other than knock the wall down, the cottage is a listed building in a Royal Park!
There was also the swarm that settled on a grass verge despite the street being lined with mature trees. I didn’t see the deliveryman who had stopped his van by the kerb and stepped out onto a swarm of bees. I didn’t meet him but the neighbours were all talking this man who, accompanied by a small cloud of bees, must have broken the record for the 100-meter dash.
So now the phone doesn’t ring so often and the requests have all but dried up, I miss the sight of an upturned box with the bees crawling towards it as they join their queen in her temporary home. It’s an amazing sight and it illustrates the fact that a hive is a living organism that exists as one complete being.
Kingston Beekeepers’ barbecue
See here for more details
Beekeepers are stealing from the honeypot
Beekeepers are suspected of stealing each other’s hives out of desperation at dwindling bee populations and a shortage of honey.
Thefts of up to 100 hives have been reported in Shropshire, Selbourne near Petersfield, Basingstoke and the New Forest.
Given the complex skills needed to handle bees, it is thoiught that the people who stole them will have been beekeepers in many cases. The British Beekeepers Association said it was sad people may have resorted to such desperate tactics.
Protecting Honey Bees from Chemical Pesticides
Maryann Frazier, Senior Extension Associate, Penn State University, USA
Honey bees are vulnerable to many of the insecticides used to control damaging pest species by fruit, vegetable, nut, and seed growers. Growers dependent on honey bees for the pollination of their crop(s) must constantly maintain a delicate balance between protecting their crops from pests and pathogens, and protecting the insects that are necessary to pollinate these crops.
Read the full article here [PDF]
Scarlett Johansson’s bee gift
Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson has explained why he bought Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds a beehive as a wedding present.
Read the full article here
BBKA Basic exam
The British Beekeepers Association has examination which equip beekeepers through a series of tests to the point where you can become an expert beekeeper. As a beginner the entry to this course is the Basic Assessment in Beekeeping, the following is the association’s description of the Basic Assessment.
The starting point and entry requirement for all other examinations and assessments is the Basic Assessment in Beekeeping; this practical assessment tests the basic skills and knowledge of the craft. To take the Basic Assessment you should have kept bees for at least a year or attended an appropriate Course. The Basic Assessment Syllabus looks daunting at first glance but closer inspection will show that it merely lists the basic things which all beekeepers should know. The assessment is completely practical/oral and takes place at the hive. To apply for the assessment, complete the Application Form and send it with the Fee to your Area Examination Secretary or if an individual member, direct to the National Beekeeping Centre at Stoneleigh. The Area Examination Secretary will organise the assessment and contact you with details.
The general message seems to be that it is not an ardous test, if you have grasped the basics of manipulating a hive you can pass with ease. Please have a word with Avis or David Marshall, they are putting together a list and will arrange for the examiners to come and test the candidates.
Helen at the Chelsea Flower Show
Helen Turner helped out on the BBKA stand at Chelsea Flower Show this year. It was designed by Philippa O’Brien of Twickenham Beekeepers and actually won a Silver Gilt medal. The stand promoted bee-friendly planting for gardens, had a couple of empty hives for people to look at, a selection of small trees which flower in different months of the year plus a knitted swarm. Luckily Helen didn’t have to wear a bee costume! All sorts of questions were answered about beekeeping, such as how do you start up, how much does it cost, do you know any beekeepers who would like to keep bees in my garden. etc. and the stand was very popular.
