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Alnwick Training Apiary - continued
Alnwick Training Apiary Editorial
A Winters tale
A years work
2004 A year of Swarms and wasps
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2004 A year of Swarms and wasps
Location: Northumberland
As I reflect on 2004 it seemed to be a year dominated by calls from the public to swarms up trees, behind secondary double glazing and in lofts.
At the training apiary we fared no better the cold and wet spring delayed opening of the hives and bees were already preparing to abscond before we could take preventative action.
Because we had 9 new beekeepers in 2004 all seeking bees, swarms, as long as we captured them, helped satisfy immediate demands helping reduce the need to raise new queens in what appeared to be more difficult year than normal.
Wasps were a continual problem during the year and action had to be taken to prevent concerted attack on the hives by reducing the size of the entrances, giving the bees a better opportunity to defend their territory.
Previous mild winters had no doubt influenced the queen wasps survival chances and we were under attack from early in the year.
In addition to trying to learn how to handle bees the association ran two training days.
A honey extraction training session was hosted by Willie Robson from Chainbridge Honeyfarm near Berwick followed by an opportunity for the trainees to see honey extraction on a commercial scale at the farm.
We also held a candle making day when many of our beekeeping members wives were given an insight into the secrets of the preparation and use of beeswax.
We attended more shows during 2004 than ever before including, training talks at St Oswalds school Alnwick, and to the 'Newts' Junior Wildlife Trust members in Belford Northumberland.
Days out included 1000 schoolchildren on a countryside awareness day at Glendale each given a handout dedicated to the honeybee, as well as shows in Thropton, Swarland, Warkworth, Glendale and South Shields.
Members built a hive enclosure on the moors beside Doddington Northumberland and members and trainees prepared hives for transporting there in August, but a wet July, August and early September meant that the beekeepers got no return of heather honey.
Many of the apiary hives were badly infested with varroa as the year drew to a close with urgent, and we hope successful, treatment required.
With 16 new members for 2005 we face another busy training year, at least with 62 members now, up from 14 in 2002, we have more beekeepers capable of carrying out some mentoring.
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