Inspection Records Online

For all you ‘tech heads’ who are not afraid of the internet and modern technology – here is one for you! This is an application called ‘Beetight’, that can be accessed from your PC and from Apple or Android Smart Phones or Tablets, which apparently will keep records of all your inspections, photos of your hives, treatments, diseases, etc. A free service is available for those with up to six hives while the whole package costs just over £9 a year. I succumbed to temptation early in December 2011. I have entered all the hives in so far and plan on using it next year to see how well it works in practice.  It is designed primarily for US users – one of the mandatory inspection points relates to Africanised bees for example.  There are options to include or exclude other questions for example to notes relating to swarm or supercedure cells.

The link to their website if you are interested is https://www.beetight.com/

Paul Eades, Apiary Manager 9/12/2011

Updated and republished by John Dudman, PBKA Webmaster 25/1/2012 who has signed up for the free version.

Training Apiary Meetings 2012

Meeting dates have been added to the website.  Members can view them here or by going to Members using the menu above and following the link to Association Apiary.

Hope to see you there!

Paul Eades, Apiary Manager

p.s. If you are a member and don’t have the password follow this link.

Great News!!! Successful Funding Bid for Scolton Manor!!

As you may recall, in June 2011 I prepared and presented a funding bid to Environment Wales to enable completion of Phase 2 of the Scolton Manor Project, which was subsequently approved in total in September 2011. I then prepared and presented a further funding bid, this time to The Prince’s Countryside Fund, with a view to completing Phases 3 and 4 of the project. I am pleased to be able to report, that we have also been successful in this bid for the full amount, which should enable us to complete the project. See the Annual Apiary Manager’s Report 2012 below for full details!

Paul Eades

Apiary Manager

Protected: Annual Apiary Manager’s Report 2012

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Interested in being a Seasonal Bee Inspector?

We (National Bee Unit) are likely to be looking for a Seasonal Bee Inspector to cover part of South West Wales. The post is seasonal (April to September) and full training will be given. Candidates will need strong practical beekeeping skills, good knowledge of bee diseases and their control, and effective communication skills. Seasonal Bee Inspector duties include:

  •    organising and conducting the inspection of honey bee colonies for disease;
  •    maintaining accurate and up-to-date apiary inspection records;
  •    forwarding samples of hive material from suspect diseased colonies to the National Bee Unit lab for diagnosis and following procedures for treating or destroying diseased colonies;
  •    contributing to the work of the NBU in general.

I would hope to be in a position to recruit in early spring and, at this stage, am keen to generate interest. Of course, the process will be subject to standard equal opportunities procedures. I can neither offer the post nor any preferential treatment to anyone. However, I am very happy to answer any questions or to receive expressions of interest in the post from potential applicants and make sure that they receive job details and an application form when they become available.

Best wishes

Frank

Frank Gellatly

Regional Bee Inspector Wales
The Food and Environment Research Agency
Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ

Email: francis.gellatly@fera.gsi.gov.uk

Web: www.nationalbeeunit.com

Tel: 01558 650663
Mob: 07775 119480