Varroa update
Varroa: a problem or not, how do I know, and what to do about it.Plus: an overview of the Asian hornet threat. A talk by Nigel Boulton and John Badley A quick reminder of the life cycle of the Varroa mite will set the scene for the talk. CHEMICAL TREATMENT PHASE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PHASE …
Varroa update
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Improvers Day 2025
Hygiene in the hive Nick Silver introduced the session by saying we would be having informal discussions about various hive hygiene considerations. We would then go into the apiary for some demonstrations and hive manipulation practice to improve handling techniques. The following are notes of the topics covered. John Badley started the discussions by reminding …
Improvers Day 2025
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Wax moth in the hive Apr ’25
Wax moth in the hive – a talk by Zo
When Asian hornets come to Devon
When the yellow-legged Asian hornet comes to Devon Understanding the insect and taking action – a talk by Judith Norman, General Secretary of DBKA. Report of East Devon Beekeepers meeting held at Kilmington Village Hall on 6th March 2025. 40+ attendees. Left: Yellow-legged Asian hornet. Right: European hornet * * Images APHA Crown copyright ID …
When Asian hornets come to Devon
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Weather and bees 06/02/25
The effect of weather patterns on bees and bee management A talk by Geoff Blay, Master Beekeeper and Bee Farmer Report of the joint winter meeting of East Devon Beekeepers and West Dorset Beekeepers, Kilmington Village Hall, 6th February 2025. 64 attendees. Geoff’s first slide said:Unsettled conditions:— we’re British, we always moan about the weather— …
Weather and bees 06/02/25
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Better season 02/01/25
East Devon Beekeepers January meeting 2025 Preparations for a Better Season – a talk by Dan Basterfield NDB Held at Kilmington Village Hall. Attendance 35, Including friends from West Dorset branch. Dan Basterfield and farther Ken run the Blackbury Honey Farm in East Devon, currently with between 90-100 hives. They are both BBKA and NDB …
Better season 02/01/25
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Insulating hives Oct 24
EDBK winter meeting 2024 A talk by Derek Mitchell, Hives and Insulation: Fact or Fiction? Held at Kilmington Village Hall, 3rd October Derek is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Thermofluids, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds. He first became interested in bees after attending a talk at Buckfast where he learned that …
Insulating hives Oct 24
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Queen Cells in my Hive! What do I do? A talk by Nick Silver 27/4/24 Finding queen cells in your hive is the beginning of a natural process which ends with swarming and the establishment of a new colony in a new location. Hopefully, the old colony will rear a new queen who will mate …
Stan and Mike’s Cut-out Video + Nick and John’s ‘To Clip or Not to Clip’ April meeting, held at Kilmington Village Hall. 30+ attendees. The evening started with Stan Wroe and Mike Jones giving an illustrated description of their bee cut-out adventure. Stan was originally alerted to bees going in and out of a large …
LETS SPARKLE A Talk and Presentation at the December Social meeting 2022Introduced by Val Bone, with Nick Silver and John Badley. 44 people attended the evening. Introduction by Val Bone: Our Honey judge at Honiton Show said, ‘Show honey should sparkle’, hence the title. We aim to look at how you go that little bit …