Grant for ‘Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Centre’ confirmed by the Princes’ Countryside Fund!!

apiarymanager PBKA Apiary, Scolton Beekeeping Centre

Following our successful funding bid last year to Environment Wales for Phase 2 of the ‘Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Centre’ at Scolton Manor. I prepared and presented a further funding bid, this time to the Princes’ Countryside Fund, with a view to completing Phases 3 and 4 of the project. I am now delighted to be able to officially confirm, that we have also been successful in this bid for the full amount. 

This is a very exciting time for the Association and I would like to thank everyone who has supported and assisted in the project so far and I look forward to more people getting involved as the Centre develops!

It’s going to be a busy year! 

Paul Eades

Apiary Manager

Interested in being a Seasonal Bee Inspector?

apiarymanager National Bee Unit

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: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com

Tel: 01558 650663
Mob: 07775 119480

Parasitic Fly Implicated in US Bee Losses

apiarymanager Bee Health

The New Scientist has this coverage of evidence that a small parasitic fly Apocephalus borealis may play a significant role in Colony Collapse Disorder in North America.  The parasitic fly causes the bee, in this case, to become disorientated and this in turn helps spread the parasite to other bees in the area.  Full report.

This reminded me of the effect Toxoplasma gondii has on the brains of rats which also has the effect of allowing the parasite to spread more rapidly.