Newsletter October 2020

Posted on1st September 202010th October 20203 Comments

Summary of contents: Winter Meetings on the Web, September Swarms, Apple Tree Cluster, We Need Your Help, Terry Clare, Ready Read More …

Newsletter September 2020

Posted on1st July 202010th October 2020Leave a comment

Download the September 2020 newsletter in PDF format: Newsletter September 2020

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Posted on1st January 20209th October 2020Leave a comment

Newsletter September 2020 Newsletter August 2020 Newsletter July 2007a 2007b Newsletter June 2020 Newsletter May 2020 Newsletter April 2020 Newsletter Read More …

NOTICE BOARD.

All our autumn & winter indoor meetings previously held at Weald Memorial Hall TN14 6PT are now likely to held on Zoom.

Notice of these will be given to members a few days before with the direct link to connect on line.

Honey Harvest 2020

The honey harvest at the Barrwood and Hilbert Rd apiaries is now complete. The very hot dry weather this summer has reduced the volume of honey produced, but the quality is excellent. Both batches are quite dark in colour with an intense flavour. The Barrwood honey has a caramel note, while the Hilbert Rd honey is slightly more floral.

The honey is now available for sale at a price of £6.50 for a 16oz jar (Hilbert Rd), or £5 for a 12oz jar (Barrwood). Please note the honey is not pasteurised, and therefore unsuitable for infants under 12 months or expectant mothers. The honey is not for resale.

If you wish to buy any of the branch honey, please contact the treasurer on: treasurer@sevenoaksbeekeepers.org.uk

Website Editors:

John Farrow assisted by Sarah Rapley.

Site Visits since 1st Jan. 2019:

Topical 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.

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Apiary Meetings – All 2020 outdoor apiary meetings are temporarily postponed.

Hilbert Road: All meetings start at 10 am and will be held on most Sundays from March through to June. 😎👍Check with Vic Webb or here for late cancellations due to weather.😂

Barrwood: All meetings start at 2.00 pm and will be held on most Saturdays from March through to June. 😎👍Check with Cliff Hayward or here for late cancellations due to weather. 😂

Our MEETINGS page gives exact dates & more complete detail.

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

Author: John Farrow

Newsletter October 2020

Newsletter September 2020

Previous Newsletters in 2020