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Here you will find information for East Devon Beekeepers branch members, including downloads of the current and archive Newsletters below, information about the branch library, reminders about bee management and disease control, ‘For Sale’ and ‘Wanted’ and more.

The Buzz from the Branch News Letter – February

Dear Member,
Our next meeting:
Thursday 6th February 7.30pm. Kilmington Village Hall
Geoff Blaye is our speaker and the topic is ‘The effect of weather patterns on bee behavior and management. ’ 🌪️⚡🌧️ 🐝
This meeting we share with members from West Dorset and they have kindly offered to bring a savoury buffet 🥪🥖with them to accompany our usual ☕☕tea and coffee refreshments. We look forward to seeing you. If you haven’t been for a while do come and meet up with beekeepers you’ve not seen for some time.

Library 📚
Simon will be attending with our usual blue library boxes. Please take time to browse the literature and if you have had loans for more than a couple of months please return them on 6th Feb at the meeting. We rely on you to be mindful of loaned books so we can keep track of them. Thank you.

Advance notice: Thursday 6th March – Alan Baxter and the Asian Hornet : Fit 2Fight and Integrated Colony management.

Advance, advance notice: Our last winter meeting at Kilmington is April 3rd and the subject is wax moth. Zoe Mack and James Pearce from the Exeter University apiary are coming to talk to us about their research into the biology of the wax moth (Galleria mellonella). They will cover the wax moth’s life cycle, how best to spot them, and some practical implications for beekeepers. We will also hear about how wax moths are thought to be involved in the transmission of common bee diseases across colonies and what we can do about it.
ALL THREE ABOVE MEETINGS SHOULD BE RELEVANT TO US ALL WHATEVER OUR LEVEL OF BEEKEEPING SKILL.
With our January meeting from Dan on being prepared for the season the Spring talks have provided plenty of food for thought.

DBKA Passwords
You should all have received your passwords from Devon Beekeepers direct by now (mailed on 10th Jan), thus enabling you to access the Devon Beekeepers website.
For those of you who are unaware, they change every year and are case sensitive. Contact the secretary if you have a problem using the system.

EDUCATION

BASIC assessment: If you have kept your bees for a couple of years and have moved beyond beginner level, do consider preparing for your Basic qualification. It is not onerous, it is enjoyable and you will learn so much. Please get in touch if you have even a stirring of interest. I will send you all the details. This is something well worth doing if your aim is to be a better beekeeper. I can put you in touch with other members who have taken it and they can tell you first hand about the benefits. They are always very enthusiastic and glad they made the effort.

Many congratulations to Andrew Bartlett who has gained a distinction in his BBKA module 2 – Honey bee products and forage. Well done Andrew. There is life after Basic with varied subject matter on offer through the Module pathway. Again make contact if you’d like more information.

Swarm Collectors

I keep making the same plea but we really need swarm collectors in the Sidmouth, Sidbury areas and Lyme Regis district in particular. But everywhere in our branch area could do with more volunteers. Our swarm co-ordinator Stan Wroe has set up a good system via WhatsApp which keeps our swarm collectors in touch during the season and he’d be delighted to have more participants in the scheme.

*** Finally, some sad news. We have learned of the passing of Christopher Charlton. Chris was Secretary of our branch from 2002 for ten years and passionate about his bees. Together with his wife Jeanne (who was branch Treasurer), they formed a loyal and hard working team in support of the East Devon branch. We send our condolences to Jeanne and the family.
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

Buzz archive. Download current or previous issues.

Winter Varroa treatment – Oxybee solution

Treatment around Christmas / beginning of January aims to catch the Varroa when there is no brood for Varroa to hide in.

Treatment:

  • The solution should not be too cold, nearer blood heat would be good.  The day can be cold with the bees well clustered.
  • Ideally draw up 50ml solution in a syringe.
  • Have a lit smoker handy (but should not be needed if crown board removed very carefully).
  • Between the brood frames are ‘seams’ of bees. Use 5ml for each seam of bees. Only treat the bees, do not put the solution down empty seams/gaps.  So if there are only 4 seams of bees only use 20 ml.
  • Practice with water beforehand so that you know how to deliver 5 ml along each seam.  We find that 5 ml is a continuous series of little drops.
  • If you have a super on top of the brood box and you know the cluster is below it, you can remove the super gently to treat the bees.

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Productive New Beekeeping Year!

Notes from the Oxybee Instructions:

  • Oxybee is an acidic substance. Use gloves and eye protection.
  • Oxybee shall only be applied in brood free colonies.
  • Do not use higher doses than recommended.
  • Outside temperature should be at least 3°C during treatment.
  • Use only once per colony.

Buzz Archive

2025

January 2025February 2025
March 2025April 2025
May 2025June 2025
July 2025August 2025
September 2025October 2025
November 2025December 2025

2024

January 2024February 2024
March 2024April 2024
May 2024June 2024
July 2024August 2024
September 2024October 2024
November 2024December 2024

Sub-pages:MembershipApiaryLibraryFor Sale & WantedEducation