An interesting article on the BBC News Wales website. Scientists are searching for a new antibiotic and they hope that beekeepers can help.

Many thanks to Lillian for bringing this to our attention.

Andy Cordy, one of our members, sent us this.

In the welter of information about the contemporary problems associated with the honey bee and beekeeping, it is easy to forget the joy of the experience of bees in our anxiety to keep things working. 

As a BBC Radio 3 listener for decades before bees came into my life, I was delighted to hear a programme devoted to writing about bees. Entitled “Bee writing” I found the programme really thoughtful and sensitive in it’s portrayal of our little favourites. Well worth the 45 minutes listening.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01shytv

‘The Verb”, for those who never experience it, is a weekly program devoted primarily to contemporary writing, poetry,prose and song.

Webmaster’s note. Programme is avalable until 17th May, 2014.

Following recent thefts of bees in South Wales, there will be an item relating to this issue in tonight’s BBC Wales Today programme, which starts at 18.30. 

If you miss it you can catch up on BBC iPlayer.

Most of you will have heard of Brother Adam and the Buckfast bee he made his life’s work.  It is sad that Buckfasts are no longer bred in the UK due, it is said to the problem of finding a suitably isolated site suitable for the mating apiary.

However a number of breeders have continued to breed and develop the Buckfast bee.  One of them is Dr. Peter Stöfen whose breeding station is on the peninsula of Friedrichskoog, Germany.  Dr Stöfen has produced some videos showing the excellent temperament of his bees.  The video below is one example – German commentary only but worth watching.  Oh for bees like these, I would kiss them too!

Visit the Friedrichskoog breeding station website.

The British Beekeepers’ Association just issued this press release which confirms the poor harvest experienced by beekeepers in 2012.  The average harvest for BBKA Members in Wales* is reported as 9.8 lb per hive compared to 31.6 lb in 2011.

* The sample size is not known for Wales.  Most of us keeping bees in Wales are members of Associations affiliated to the Welsh Beekeepers’ Association and are unlikely to have participated in the survey.