The Buzz from the Branch News Letter – May

🐝SWARMS🐝🐝

Reminder again of swarm request procedure:
Contact Stan Wroe ( stanwroe@aol.com ). PLEASE provide him with this information:

• Your name.
• Your address and if different your apiary address.
• A What Three Words is also very useful.
• Your home landline number.
• Your mobile number.
• Your email address.

Please be ready to receive the swarm. That means your hive is set up and waiting to receive the bees.

Sugar Collection

Plan ahead and think about your needs for autumn feeding. Contact Rhiannon Hodson (rhiannonhodson1@gmail.com) so she can put you on the sugar list. Remember you only collect when Rhiannon notifies you that it is your turn. Bring your own container £2 for 10kgs. Contact Rhiannon if you need further clarification about the sugar scheme.

Honiton Show

Names to Keith Bone please if you would like to volunteer your help for a shift on the day. Thursday 1st August. Remember, in return for your help you receive a free ticket for the show.

Asian Hornet verifiers

In preparation for the inevitable arrival of this predator, a number of initiatives are coming into being. Beekeepers are the first responders when it comes to identifying this insect. We need to build up a bank of members who can be called upon to confirm the identity of the insect if called upon for help. Our swarm collectors already have this role but more verifiers will be very useful. If you would be willing to be added to a register of names to help with identifying Asian Hornets in the East Devon branch area then please inform our AH Co Ordinator Kevin Jackson (kevindjackson@hotmail.co.uk) This is just an identifying and reporting role, nothing more. No necessity to pass any test that in the past was set up by BBKA – that requirement was abandoned. You are just acting in a confirmation role that a sighting in your area is genuine.
Also see Asian Hornet Update from Gerry Stuart in Beekeeping magazine pages 20-23.

May dates

Devon County Show 16th-18th May.

Branch meeting at the Beeshed for Improvers, 25th May 2.30pm ‘Making, Managing and Using Nucs.
If you can book a place it would be helpful to know how many will attend. Names to Nick Silver please: (silvernicholas@hotmail.com)

Let’s hope May brings better weather cos we sure have not had much to be joyous about so far. It really has been a question of making the best of the better weather moments for inspections. But we should be well ahead with frame cleaning and boiling, equipment sorting and tidying our bee storage sheds!
Also remember ‘No mow May’.
Val🐝

Contacts:

Chair: Alasdair Bruce. chair24@edbk.co.uk

Treasurer: Keith Bone. charandale@gmail.com

Secretary: Val Bone. val.valbone@gmail.com

Swarms: Stan Wroe. stanwroe@aol.com