Newsletter October 2019

Posted on1st October 20196th October 2019AuthorJohn FarrowLeave a comment

Summary of contents: Honey Show, Should You Switch to Double Brood, Swarm Control for Warre Hives, Bee Extractions from Buildings, Read More …

Newsletter September 2019

Posted on1st September 201913th September 2019Authoradmin2 Comments

Summary of contents: Get Ready for the Honey Show, Should You Switch to Double Brood? Honey Harvest from the Club Read More …

Newsletter August 2019

Posted on1st August 20193rd August 2019AuthorJohn Farrow3 Comments

Summary of contents: Keeping Track of the Queens at Barrwood , Help with Honey Extraction, Bee Handling for Beginners at Read More …

Notice Board.

Apiary Meetings:

Hilbert Road: All meetings start at 2 – 4.00 pm and will be held on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of March through to June. 😎👍Check with Vic Webb or here for late cancellations due to weather.😂

Barrwood: All meetings start at 2 – 4.00 pm and will be held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of March through to June. 😎👍Check with Cliff Hayward or here for late cancellations due to weather. 😂

Our MEETINGS page gives more complete detail.

Website Editors:

John Farrow assisted by Sarah Rapley.

Site Visits since 1st Jan. 2019:

Tips for October, November & December.

At the beginning of October heft the hives to check that they are all heavy. They need to feel as though they are nailed down, if not, continue feeding.
With all the required food now in the brood chamber, all should be well for winter.
Strap or weigh down the roof against winter wind.
If you have solid floors, make sure the hive slopes gently forwards so that rain will not run into the entrance. If you have open mesh floors it is better to have the hive completely level to keep comb construction vertical in the frames.
If green woodpeckers are in your area, protect the hives by putting wire netting or shiny black plastic round all four sides.
Monitor the now small entrance regularly for the build up of dead bees. Bees are dying all the time and just a few can block the entrance leaving the others unable to get out for water or cleansing flights.
Keep regular checks for woodpecker damage or rain getting in?
Be aware that sheep, badgers, deer or other animals could knock the hive over rubbing against to satisfy an itch. Use secure stock fencing if this is a risk.
Feeding should not be required yet, but keep an emergency block of fondant available just in case. Most of the colonies that die out do so because of starvation.

Swarms: If you have a swarm of honeybees land in your garden, and they look like this:

go to our SWARM PAGE to check if in fact they are honeybees and to find a list of beekeepers who are prepared to collect them.

Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells Beekeepers

A branch of the Kent Bee-Keepers Association

Category: Newsletters

Newsletter October 2019

Newsletter September 2019

Newsletter August 2019