A sale started today in Lidl for straps with tension ratchets – a set of 4 being £9.99. It may be worth checking them out for securing hives, etc!
Many thanks to Chris Welton for the ‘heads up’ on this!!
Equipment
Listening to Bees
According to this story on the BBC News website listening to what is going on the hive may help work out what is going on and, more importantly, assist with diagnosis of hive health or swarming. Interestingly enough this story appears in their Technology section and not Science/Environment. Also interesting, to me, is that the recorder is describes as being ‘about the size of an iPhone’ or an HTC Galaxy I guess, or almost any other smartphone but then Apple would have tried to sue – now you know it is a technology story, and it shows how we have moved on. In the old days it probably would have been described as being about the size of a pack of 20 cigarettes!
Will this story ever develop and appear again? Forgive me if I am cynical about this.
In the meantime we suggest you keep carrying out those inspections.
Thorne Online Sale From Jan 28 to Jan 31
Thorne’s are having an extra online sale at the end of this month. See what is on offer and the prices. Orders over £100 will be delivered free. But, if you are a member of Pembrokeshire Beekeepers’ Association, we suggest that you compare prices against Geoff Bazin’s list before placing an order. And remember, there are no delivery charges on orders placed with Geoff.
Thorne’s Online Sale Starts 21st November
Bargains available from 9.00 am Monday 21st.
Visit the Thorne website.
Hive parts and frames, second quality timber
National super £13.50
National Roof 18.00
National Open Mesh Floor 13.50
National Brood 17.00
National Crownboard, no escapes 7.50
National 14″x12″ Brood 28.00
National Solid Floor 13.50
National Hive Stand 5.50
National Sloping Hive Stand 7.00
Commercial brood body 22.50
Commercial super 13.50
Langstroth Brood Body 17.00
Langstroth Super 13.50
Langstroth Jumbo Brood Body 28.00
Smith Brood Body 18.00
Smith Super 13.50
Dadant Brood Body 28.00
Dadant Super 13.50
Frames (in 50’s)
DN1/SN1 frames £26.00
DN4/SN4 frames 29.00
14″ x 12″ frames 42.00
BS Manley frames 37.00
DN5/SN5 37.00
Commercial Deep, Shallow, Manley 37.00
Langstroth Deep, Shallow, Manley 37.00
Dadant Shallow, Manley 37.00
Langs Jumbo, Dadant Deep 42.00
And:-
Miscellaneous
Frame Cleaner 1.50
500g 3/4″ Frame Nails 3.50
Bee Brush 2.75
S/S Frame Wire, 200g 5.00
S/S Frame Wire, 500g 10.00
500g assorted galvanised nails 1.00
Narrow Plastic Ends 3.25
Secateurs 1.00
Economy Hive Strap 1.75
Ratchet Hive Strap 3.50
Castellated Mouseguard 2.25
Ventilated Mouseguard 2.25
Wire Crimper 5.50
Wire Excluder grid 17″ sq 6.00
Wire excluder grid 18″ sq 6.00
Insulated Quilt, WBC, Langs or Smith 2.00
Basic Hive Tool 2.00
S/S Hive Tool 6.50
S/S Hive tool and frame lifter 6.50
Frame Grip 5.50
Liquid Bee Smoke 1.00
Stainless Smoker 13.50
Corner supports, set 4 50p
Porter Bee Escape 50p
Rhombus Bee Escape 1.50
Circular Bee Escape 1.00
Uncapping Fork 2.75
Uncapping Knife 5.00
Uncapping Roller 15.00
Nylon Valve 5.00
Occasional Jacket & Veil 5.00
Open Mesh Helmet 5.00
100 Plastic Mini Pots 3.00
S/Steel Dbl Strainer 13.50
Nylon Double Strainer 6.00
Conical Tap Strainer, S/S 10.00
Stainless Steel Valve 25.00
200kg Stainless Steel Tank 160.00
50 8oz plain PET jars 11.00
50 Cut comb containers and 4C (colour of your choice) 8.00
500 Cut comb containers and 4C (colour of your choice 65.00
Please note the occasional container may have a small hole or poor fitting lid. They should all be checked with water before use with honeycomb.
Rect 8oz Comb Cutter, S/S 10.00
10 Trio 50p
Local Honey sign 50p
A3 Local Honey for Sale Poster 50p
Plastic Queen Catcher 2.75
Queen Cage 25p
Plastic Press in Cage 25p
Clip Catcher 2.75
Butler Cage 1.20
Pollen Trap 5.50
Propolis Grid 2.00
Polish Tins, 10 2.00
AFB Test Kit. Expiry August 2011 2.00
Mahogany Observation Hive, Commercial. 2 deep frames, 1 shallow frame. No tube or feeder. £50.00
Frame Feeder 8.00
2.5litre Contact Feeder 2.00
Red Mason Bee Book 50p
DVD, An Introduction to Beekeeping with Paul Metcalfe (updated version released this month) 7.50
500g Yellow Paraffin wax 50p
500g Pillar Blend Soy wax (slightly pinky colour) 50p
Star shaped sequins 50p
Hanger cord or Yarn 50p
Assorted candle decorations 1.00
Belinda Bee 2.50
Coloured candle sheets, mixed colours £3.50 per 10.
That’s all folks!
Thorne’s Windsor Sale – September 10th
Please see message below from Thorne’s with details of items on sale for those of you who may now plan to visit relatives in the area over that weekend – but from experience get there early!
Dear Beekeeper
We are now planning for the beekeeping equipment Sale Day at our Windsor branch.
More details below.
First, we want to tell you about our new plastic rapid-type feeder. It is rectangular and will hold 6 litres of syrup feed. The new design means that the hole in the feeder will fit on top of the central hole in a standard crownboard for all types of hives. They are now available online and in our branches at a special introductory price of £7.99.
We now have a Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/EH-Thorne-Beehives-Ltd/249052641772753 Do check it out from time to time. You can see pictures of our new site, new products and important news in the beekeeping community. We would urge you to read the message from Andy Wattam – the National Bee Inspector.
So, back to the Windsor Sale Day. Date is Saturday 10th September. 10.00am to 1.00pm Address is Oakley Green Farm, Oakley Green Road, Oakley Green, Nr Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4PZ Tel 01753 83056
Below is a list of many of the bargains available.
Frames – second quality timber – in 50’s only
DN1 & SN1 24.00 DN4 & SN4 27.00
DN5 & SN5, BS Manley 35.00 Langs Deep, Shallow 35.00
14×12, MD Deep, Langs Jumbo 40.00 16×10 & 16 x 6 35.00
Dadant Manley 35.00
Hive Parts – second quality cedar.
National Super 12.00 National B/Body 15.00
National Open Mesh Floor 12.00 National Roof 16.00
National crownboard 7.00 Nat 14×12 B/Body 26.00
National Hive Stand 5.00 National Sloping Hive Stand 5.50
16×10 B/Body 20.00 Commercial Super 12.00
Smith Brood Body 16.00 Smith Super 12.00
Langs Brood Body 15.00 Langs Super 12.00
WBC Brood Body 10.00 WBC Super 7.50
WBC Lift 10.00 WBC Crownboard 7.00
Very good quality seconds – Western Red Cedar
Commercial Brood Body 25.00 Commercial Super 15.00
National Brood Body 18.00 National Super 15.00
National Ass. Open Mesh Floor 20.00
Bees on a Budget Hive 140.00
Miscellaneous
Frame Cleaner 1.50 Bee Brush 2.50
Narrow Plastic Ends 3.00 Secateurs 1.00
Economy Hive Strap 1.50 Ratchet Hive Strap 3.00
Castellated Mouseguard 2.00 Ventilated Mouseguard 2.00
Wire crimper 5.00 Yellow Hive Tool 2.00
H/D Hive tool 5.00 American Hive Tool 5.00
Frame Grip 5.00 Liquid Bee Smoke 1.00
Stainless Smoker 12.50 Harmless Excluders 1.00
Swarm Lure 3.50 Corner supports, set 4 50p
Porter Bee Escape 50p Rhombus Bee Escape 1.50
Circular Bee Escape 1.00 Uncapping Fork 2.50
Uncapping Knife 5.00 Cold Uncapping Tray (no frame holder) 20.00
Nylon Valve 5.00 Lactic Acid 5.00
Small Vitagreen feed 5.00 AFB Test Kit 2.50
Jacket and Hood 20.00 Jacket and veil 20.00
Full suit and Hood (adult) 35.00 Full suit and hood (child) 30.00
Hat and Veil 3.00 Occasional Jacket & Veil 5.00
Open Mesh Helmet 5.00 Pair Leather Gloves 5.00
100 Plastic Mini Pots 3.00 S/Steel Dbl Strainer 12.50
Conical Tap Strainer, S/S 10.00 Stainless Steel Valve 25.00
1000 Tamper Labels 10.00 Mini Strainer & Tank 30.00
Rect 8oz Comb Cutter, S/S 10.00 50 ‘4C’ 7.00
Plastic Queen Catcher 2.50
Plunger Marking cage 2.50 Clip Catcher 2.50
Telescopic Queen Cage 50p Butler Cage 1.00
Pollen Trap 5.00 Blow Torch 10.00
Rapid Feeder 3.50 1/2gal Contact Feeder 2.00
1 gal Feeder 3.50 Red Mason Bee Book 1.50
Frame Feeder 7.50 2.5kgs Apifonda (burst packaging) 2.50
20 Honey Servers 5.00 Belinda Bee 2.50
Coloured candle sheets, mixed colours £3.50 per 10
Special Introductory Offer
English Feeder 7.99
First come-first served so don’t be late!
If Windsor is too far, we have more Sales later in 2011. The Stockbridge branch sale will be Saturday 8th October and the Rand Open and Sale Day on Saturday 12th November.
The online mail order Winter Sale will begin in the second half of November.
Gill Smith
E.H. Thorne (Beehives) Ltd, Beehive Business Park, Rand, Market Rasen, LN8 5NJ
Skeps for swarm collection
The swarming season is with us. Still collecting swarms in cardboard boxes or other unsuitable containers? Cotswold Beeskeps are specialists in British made swarm collecting and other skeps.
Harmless Plastic Excluders – Important Message from Thornes
This message has been received from Gill Smith at Thornes
IMPORTANT NOTICE
It has come to our attention that some of our Harmless Plastic Excluders purchased in the last six months may be faulty. A percentage of them have slots which are very slightly smaller than the recommended size and bees may become stuck.
Please check your hives which are fitted with these excluders and, if there is any problem, please contact us. We will immediately replace with the Natural plastic excluder.
Gill Smith
Thornes
tel: 01673 858 555
email: sales@thorne.co.uk
