Members

The Buzz from the Branch News Letter – May 2026

Dear Member,
Our summer programme now begins. I have attached another copy for you so you can look afresh at what’s on offer. Remember the colour coding which signifies the target audience

Red is continuing Beginners course sessions

Green event on an external site

Black is for ALL branch members

CALLING IMPROVERS
We have two sessions coming up this month specifically designed to provide support for Improvers who have been keeping bees for a few years or more.

The first will be on Saturday 16th May at the Beeshed from 2.30pm. Several of the more experienced members of EDBK will be there to answer your questions which could be theoretical or practical. We are not planning any powerpoint presentations, the afternoon will be spent discussing and/or demonstrating techniques at the hives in small groups or even one to one depending on numbers. To help us organise the session itis essential please that you let Nick Silver know (silvernicholas@hotmail.com) if you are planning to attend. Please also let him know any specific questions you might have or things that you would like to see demonstrated. For example you might like to inspect a hive together with an experienced beekeeper or you might like to try a particular technique or manipulation together with some help. So please do let him know if you are planning to attend and if there is anything you would like help with.

The second session will be at the same time on Saturday 30th May. The theme for this will be “Making Increase”. This is the time of year when you can easily build up your colony numbers in order to recover from those winter losses. There will be some theory but again the emphasis will be on practical demonstration. More details to come!
BRING YOUR BEESUITS FOR BOTH SESSIONS.

Sugar Scheme
It may be the case that if you request sugar the frequency of collection could be reduced from now on. A change in production techniques with packaging has meant that our Tesco reject sugar is not available in the quantities we have been used to. Please still place your order with Rhiannon (rhiannonhodson1@gmail.com) but expect less quantity over time.

HONITON SHOW Thursday 7th August
Thank you to the 25 members who have signed up for stewarding. We need to double that figure if we are to have a successful day. Please please let us know if you can fill one of the three hour slots. Free ticket for the show , free parking all provided. WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS JOHN.

John celebrated his special birthday at the first summer meeting for beginners when hives were opened for the first time. A glorious warm, sunny afternoon, very well behaved bees and lots of lovely cake were much enjoyed.

Bees for sale
Our member Brian Godfrey from Kilmington has bees for sale. Check out our For Sale and Wanted on the branch website (posted 8/4/26)
https://www.eastdevonbk.co.uk/?page_id=277

Kit for sale
Anyone interested in two secondhand National hives in good condition, please contact Clare Heath for further details. rustypaws@btinternet.com 07841 649491

It’s NO MOW MAY for those of us that enjoy the challenge!
Not mowing in May can allow some wildflowers, longer grasses and weeds to bloom so helping with both habitat and food sources for many pollinators.

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

YLAH: Milly Frankpitt amelia.frankpitt@gmail.com