Category Archives: PBKA

Bees and Teas Report

sconeWe enjoyed a great afternoon at Tom and Barbara’s.  Tom was able to show us his bee colonies including the creation of a classic artificial swarm - a simple process which we agreed is much easier to understand when demonstrated than when read about.  Thanks too to the bees who had helped by raising a swarm cell for the purpose, obviously, of the demonstration.

We then got down to the serious business of afternoon tea. Copious quantities of sandwiches, scones, and cakes had been prepared by Barbara for the feast with a constant supply of tea to keep the whistle wet.

Thank you Barbara and Tom for your hospitatility.

Great stuff.

Welsh Beekeepers Association Website

The Welsh Beekeepers Association’s website is undergoing a redesign under a new professional web designer. An interim version is now online at wbka.com.

If you are a beekeeper in Wales the WBKA want your suggestions for the final website.

Have a look and let them have your ideas using the link on the home page.

Some suggestions to generate ideas:

+ When you last visited the website, did you find what you wanted?

+ What would you like to see on the website?

+ What should be on the WBKA website and Association websites?

Visit http://wbka.com/ now.

Auction of Bees – Prices

Prices paid for bees at today’s PBKA Auction of bees and equipment were as follows.

Bees on frames

2 frames brood – £88

3 frames brood – £125 to £140

4 frames brood – £150 to £175

5 frames brood – £155 to £190

8 frames brood – £205

bees in nucs or hives

Nat hives 4/5 frames brood – £200 to £240

Nuc with 2 1/2 frames brood – £150

WBC – 6 super frames brood – £205

WBC – 1/2 frame brood – £130

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PBKA Membership Subscriptions

Just a gentle reminder to those of you who haven’t yet paid your PBKA subscription for 2013. Could you please forward your sub to George Durham as soon as possible, especially if you want to maintain your BDI hive insurance. You can download a membership form here.

Many thanks!

First Meeting of the Season

Despite the rain earlier in the day and the breezy conditions, over thirty of us enjoyed the afternoon in the Walled Garden courtesy of Lesley.  No chance of looking at the bees but we had demonstrations of kit assembly from Geoff, hive body scorching from John, wise words from Paul and plenty of chat over the tea and cakes.

The next meeting will be in two weeks (April 28) keep an eye on the website for details of the venue.  Gotta be able to look at bees in a fortnight – surely.  To make sure you are kept up to date with news click on the Follow this blogGet news by email box on the right hand side of the page.  This is only used by the Association – you will not get junk mail by doing this.

Here are some photos from today:

2.00 pm - still overcast

2.00 pm – gathering for introductions.

Hives needed the windbreaks - but wind coming from an unusual direction.

Hives needed the windbreaks – but wind coming from an unusual direction.

14042013028 (Mobile)

Bees ignoring the main entrance and using the gap to the side of the entrance block.

Even after we took the workbench away Geoff couldn't resist reassembling a 14 x 12 brood box.

Even after we took the workbench away Geoff couldn’t resist reassembling a 14 x 12 brood box.

Geoff reassembling a 14 x 12 brood box.

Final adjustments and it was perfect.