Stories of Interest

National Honey Monitoring Scheme

apiarymanager Stories of Interest

I am writing on behalf of the National Honey Monitoring Scheme. We are a citizen science project based at the UK Centre of Ecology & Hydrology working with beekeepers from all over the UK to collect honey samples for pollen and pesticide analysis. The pollen analysis is to find out what honeybees are feeding on and whether this changes through time, between regions or according to land use surrounding the hive. The pesticide analysis is to find out what pesticides honeybees are exposed to while they are foraging – whether these are pesticides that are currently in use or banned pesticides persisting in our environment – and whether these pesticides have an effect on the health and longevity of hives.

I am getting in touch because for this year’s sample collection we would love to have an equal representation of beekeepers taking part from all over the UK. In previous years, participation has been heavily biased towards the South East and South West regions of England and have dropped off the further north we go.  In previous years there have been few samples from Wales and we are hoping that more Welsh Beekeeper will send us samples in the future.

Our website is https://honey-monitoring.ac.uk/ and if beekeepers do wish to participate, they can click the “Taking Part” link to create an account and request a sampling pack.

Dr Jennifer Shelton

Molecular Ecologist

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Excellent apiary meeting!

apiarymanager PBKA, PBKA Apiary, Scolton Beekeeping Centre, Starting Beekeeping, Stories of Interest, Training

A great turnout this afternoon at the second apiary meeting of the season.

We were delighted to welcome all those budding beekeepers, who attended last weekends’ beginners course and decided that they wanted to get some ‘hands on’ experience. It looks like we are going to have a busy season……bring it on!!🐝

 

Reminder – WBKA Spring Convention – Saturday 25th March

apiarymanager Events, Stories of Interest, Suppliers, WBKA

Venue: Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground, Builth Wells, Powys. LD2 3SY

Trade Hall opens 08.30am
Opening Addresses
09.45am

With our larger venue at the RWAS showground you are bound to find something of interest. We have a full trade hall with a mix of traders and general interest stands.:

Abelo, BB Wear, BIBBA, B J Sherriff, C Arden Books, C Wynne Jones, Maisemore, Modern Beekeeping, Old Castle Farm Hives, Thornes Ltd, Wyefield Apiary, Bees Abroad, Bees for Development, NBU, Plant Life, Welsh Assembly Government, WBKA, Woodland Trust.

Places are still available on the two workshops, one on taking the BBKA Exam modules, led by Caroline Mullinex, £5, and one on Varroa Control, led by Lynfa Davies NDB, £20. To find out more and book your place contact me on the email below as places on the two workshops are limited convention@wbka.com

Below is the updated speaker program:

9.45-10.15: Tim Maile – Wax Chandlers opening talk

10.15-11.15: Wally Shaw ‘Honey Bee Nutrition’

11.30-12.30: Giles Budge – ‘Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus’, BDI sponsored lecture

1.45-2.45: Trisha Marlow – ‘Bees Abroad’

3.00-4.00: Bob Smith – ‘Beyond the Basics – beekeeping for improvers’

For more information read the article in the Welsh Beekeeper.

However for two hours of your time you could get in for free. A few stewards are still required to make sure that this event runs smoothly. If you would be prepared to join this group of volunteers send me an email stating when you could steward ie early/ mid/late. Stewarding starts at 8am and goes on until 4.30pm.

Jill Wheeler

WBKA Events Secretary                email:convention@wbka.com’