THE PHEROMONE - British Beekeepers Association

THE
PHEROMONE
Newsletter of the
Newcastle and District Beekeepers’ Association
www.britishbee.org.uk/local/newcastle
AUTUMN 2011
ISSUE NO : 130
Facebook / Newcastle & District BBKA
http://twitter.com/NewcastleBees
http://www.flickr.com/people/newcastlebees/
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OFFICERS
Hon President . George Batey
President . Vacant
Chair . Tony Hellen . 01207 542280
Secretary . Suzanne Taylor . 0191 454 1850 . newcastlebeekeepers@yahoo.co.uk
Treasurer & Membership Secretary . Stephen Langley . 0773 781 9091 . langley_stephen@hotmail.com
Librarians . Frank Hopper . 01670 513748 . Barbara Keating . 07833 695764
Apiary Managers . Dave Varty . 01207 570229 . Kyle Miller (& Exam Secretary) . 0191 414 4183
Website / Pheromone Editor . Armele Philpotts . 0771 362 8593 . newcastlebeekeepers@yahoo.co.uk
Committee Members: Bill Scott, John Telford, Ian Campbell (New Members’ Contact), Helen Simmons (BBKA Delegate)
BBKA INSPECTORS
Local Bee Inspector - Ian Wallace . 0777 511 9445
NDBA encourages members to contact the SBI for suspected infection of bees. Information is on the FERA website or
contact the Northern Regional Bee Inspector . Ian Molyneux . 01204 381186 . 07815 872604
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THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
EDITOR’S WELCOME
It’s that time again, the nights are drawing in and we’re getting the hives ready for winter.
Time to take stock of the last season, make notes and plan which mistakes we WON’T
make again next year.
Looking forward, now is also good time for us to focus on the future health of the
Association and to think about what we’d like it to provide. With the AGM coming up it’d
be great for people to suggest how they’d like to see the Association to move forward and
get involved in making this happen. Please do get in touch with Suzanne our Secretary to
nominate yourself for a Committee position and come to the AGM in January to share
your ideas.
Our extensive beekeeping Library has been moved to Jesmond, hopefully making it more accessible for
members. There’s a full listing of books on our website and members can borrow books by contacting our new
Librarian, Barbara Keating.
For more frequent Association updates you can also join our Facebook Group (http://bit.ly/c5BPLn) and follow
our tweets (www.twitter.com/NewcastleBees).
Enjoy this Pheromone, and be ready for anything our crazy weather can provide!
ARMELE PHILPOTTS - newcastlebeekeepers@yahoo.co.uk
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE PHEROMONE VIA EMAIL?
You can save paper, which is good for our funds and for the environment!
Go to www.britishbee.org.uk/local/newcastle and follow the link on the Home page to sign up.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
HIVE SPACE - Space on West Street Allotments, Wallsend, for two hives. This allotment holder is an
experienced beekeeper and a member - ireddish@blueyonder.co.uk.
BEESWAX WANTED – by surfer who wants to make surf wax http://twitter.com/#!/Anth_Atkinson
BEE PRODUCTS WANTED – for Sage Christmas Fair. If you’d like to sell your wares please contact
tonyturnbull11@gmail.com who will put you in touch with the organiser.
David Varty has been to visit www.solwaybees.com, a Galloway equipment supplier at Templeton Mill which is
10% cheaper than competitors, and offers free delivery on orders over £140.00
The information above is included at the request of our members and the Association accepts no liability for transactions arranged. To have
your ad included here send information to newcastlebeekeepers@yahoo.co.uk or Newcastle Beekeepers, 17 Hudleston, North Shields
NE30 4QS including clear contact details and any deadline.
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THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
NEWCASTLE ALLOTMENT BEE GROUP (NABG) UPDATE IAN CAMPBELL
So Autumn has come and the bees are tucked up for the winter. For many in the group
this is the end of their first season, most have completed training with Ian Wallace and
acquired bees. Since then it has been a steep, and mainly enjoyable, learning curve,
gaining experience and confidence as the season progressed.
For the fortunate, mostly those in their second year or beyond, the honey extractor
funded by Newcastle council has come into its own. For a small annual fee and deposit
members can hire the extractor in three day blocks to spin out their precious crop.
The Newcastle Allotment Show gave the Allotment Bee Group a chance to team up with the Newcastle
Beekeepers Association to meet the public and chat about all things beelike. The association’s observation hive
attracted much more attention than the NABG extractor and recently acquired beesuits but children at the show
did seem drawn to how fast they could spin the extractor handle!
Our outgoing Chair/Secretary Peter Whewell has handed over
to Tony Turnbull and we thank Peter for his invaluable help
over the past couple of years and welcome Tony to his new
role. We also note a change at the Newcastle Council Bee
Project with Russell Nelson handing over to Jill Davison.
The group has been informed about the potential of new
funding initiatives and Peter has agreed to continue to coordinate the somewhat complex applications.
Finally our fame is now national with the group’s activities
featuring in a new book ‘Bees in the City’ by Alison Benjamin
the Guardians’ environment editor.
The next meeting will be at 6.30pm on Tuesday 1st November at the Scotswood Natural Garden offices, John
Marley Centre, NE15 6TT.
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FOCUS ON HEATHER KYLE MILLER
The heather plant, Caluna Vulgaris, is Known as ling. This plant is in the
family Ericaceae which also includes the bell heathers, bilberries cranberries
and some naturalised Rhododendrons. This group of plants thrive in thin acid
soil and are very hardy.
Heather, (Caluna Vulgaris) has many named cultivars available that are
suitable for parks and gardens. The white cultivar is sold as “lucky” heather.
The heather plant is the principal diet of the red grouse, it is also an
important part of the diet of other species.
The main threats to heather moors are the heather beetle which can destroy large areas of moorland; bracken
can overpower the plants, and over grazing by cattle and sheep.
Old heather plants produce little nectar. To control this, sections of the moor are burnt in rotation during the
winter. The seed requires the chemicals from the smoke to stimulate germination. Heather flowers from late July
until early September, the honey is unique as it has thixotropic properties, it becomes fluid on agitation but soon
re-sets afterwards. It is slow to crystallise.
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THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
THE DIARY OF A NOVICE BEEKEEPER BRIAN DIVER
“You can make a little money from beekeeping but
it costs a lot to do it” announced Dorian Pritchard at
the recent training course at Kirkley Hall. As a new
bee keeper I now know exactly what he meant.
I also learned one hive is not enough and two is the
bare minimum along with fondant, thymol, enough
sugar to feed a developing nation along with an
inordinate amount of paraphernalia that seems to
have limited value other than being shiny and
looking good.
Years ago I began with ducks, took on chickens
and had been threatening to keep bees for years.
Last Christmas my bluff was called. My long
marvellous wife sick of me talking about bee
keeping bought me a hive and organised my family
to buy me a suit, smoker and other tools.
I was overjoyed that day. There was talk of honey.
Crisp brown toast drizzled with Wallsend honey,
gallons of homemade mead and wax candles
galore. Boxing Day came, the port wine wore off. I
had a flat pack hive to assemble. With the help of
my son, who firmly believes his old dad could not
put together a child’s jigsaw, we worked – there
was tension but we put it together.
Hive constructed I settled down with the last of the
port, cosy in front of the fire with the worst of the
weather locked out. My faithful dog Homer at my
feet, I began to read the bee keeping book supplied
with the hive. After an hour or so my enthusiasm
began to dwindle, fear crept in as I realised I had no
idea what to do. I put the hive in the back bedroom
wishing I had kept my big mouth shut and
contemplated the punishment my family would
deliver having spent a small fortune on my present.
Racked with guilt I began to look for help. The
internet I believe sensing my desperation found the
Newcastle beekeepers, a group of like-minded
people who could help, nay save me. I turned up at
my first meeting and thank goodness I met Kyle
Miller. “Don’t worry lad we will help you” his words
were like honey and lemon to a raw throat. I ended
up on the beginners course at Kirkley Hall, a must
for any novice, and began to realise my hive would
not be left in the back bedroom, which had become
a grave to my previous waffling and displayed with
a newness that belied their age a treadmill, rowing
machine and doughnut maker. I began to look at
the hive as a possible home for bees.
After an excellent course where I actually learned
how to manage bees Kyle delivered my nuc and
with a patience that told of many visits to newbies
rearranged my hive set up and I had bees.
With continued support I hope to get my flock
through winter and taste the first fruits next
September. Through the coming months I hope to
entertain, amuse and inform all of my exploits
through my first year of beekeeping.
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A TRUE STORY TONY TURNBULL
A beekeeper and friend were inspecting hives one
early morning. It was chilly so he had left his coat
on, pulling his smock over the top. Part way through
the inspection he realised his smock had ridden up,
exposing the jacket pockets which had bits of old
wax etc inside. He pulled down the smock and
carried on with the inspection.
After a minute or so he heard a buzzing in his ear;
thinking it was an over excited bee he ignored it.
Then another and another joined in, at this time he
realised the bees were inside his hood not outside.
Frantically, he left the hive, pulling open his hood
zips to release the bees, at this stage there were at
least a dozen bemused bees buzzing around
inside.
On checking how this had happened he realised the
bees had crawled into his jacket pocket, becoming
trapped when the smock was pulled down thereby
making their way to the only bit of light, his hood.
Luckily no damage was done but his friend thought
it was the funniest bit of slapstick he had seen since
Charlie Chaplin!
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THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
SEPTEMBER MEETING REPORT BARBARA KEATING
The meeting was opened by Tony Hellen who showed 2 new books:
“The Buzz about Bees” by Jürgen Tautz-Springer, a great new book, quite scientific in approach, full of
wonderful photos, and The Bee Garden by Maureen Little, on planting a garden for bees.
Kyle Miller commented on the Bako fire affecting fondant supplies and gave a great talk on how to produce cut
comb honey for sale and exhibition.
Top tips:
1. Don’t use saved, recycled comb as it’s likely to be grubby looking, and won’t look good on display.
2. Give your bees a quarter of a strip of foundation as a starter in the frames. (Although you can sometimes get
away with an eighth for normal honey production it’s a big ask for the bees to produce all that)
3. Don’t feed your bees during a honey flow as the honey in the comb will be too sugary and fall foul of trading
standards. (Watch out for sugar sources nearby as the bees might be feeding on sugar elsewhere. If you live
near a baker’s, confectionery factory of a fizzy drinks plant your bees much be going there. Kyle mentioned
some bees robbing dandelion and burdock...or silage which has molasses in it ..what flavour honey did that
produce?)
4. For show you should make sure the honey is all capped.
5. In spring make sure you build up your colony to be very strong, and only produce cut comb if it is thriving.
6. Heather honey has a long “shelf life” others crystallise quicker..eg. rape, rosebay willowherb.
7. Encourage people to eat it fresh, and not to expect to hoard it, but enjoy at its best.
How to:
Equipment
Understanding partner/spouse
Newspapers
A couple of trays
Boxes
Sleeves
Labels
6 “ knife
bowl for excess bits
hot water
cloths
scales
Place a tray on top of newspaper on your table.
Use the knife to go round the edge of the honey in
the frame. Let the comb rest on the tray. You can
then take a container and place it on the comb to
use as a template. Cut round so it is the right size to
fit the box. (You should get 5x half pound / 250 gm
pieces out of a full frame.)
Let the cut comb stand 30 mins or so to let the
honey drain from the edges.
When that’s done, put it in the containers, close
then, put a sleeve on and label it. The labels should
read “not less than” when you put the weight on as
it’s hard to be accurate.
If the lid is left off for too long water can get in and
cause fermentation. It will keep fresh for longer in a
fridge, or can even be frozen.
Chunk honey is produced by putting a piece of
comb in a jar, the pouring in a different light clear
non-crystallising honey to fill the jar.
We also talked about wasps and hornets, and how to get rid of wasps’ nests:
Watch where entrance to wasps’ nest is during the day and mark entrance with white tissue or flour. At night
when they have stopped flying, block it and bring a squeezy bottle of petrol. Inject it into entrance. The fumes
will agitate the wasps, they will fly around inside the nest, thereby raising temperature, making the petrol fumes
heat up enough to overcome them.
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THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
SPOT THE QUEEN
This was a hive when a virgin queen was returning after her mating flight.
THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
APIARY UPDATE DAVE VARTY & KYLE MILLER
Following an indifferent summer the five colonies were inspected
by Ian Wallace in August, apart from varroa and chalk brood no
other diseases were identified. The bees were calm and thriving.
David and I are to replace the current stands with ground cover
and blocks, and, with permission from the estate we will cut back
the saplings.
The monthly Saturday meetings were well attended and a variety of
demonstrations carried out, only one meeting was rained off.
The apiary was used for the basic exam programme. Valerie Hawley and Ian Campbell were successful.
Junior membership: the 12 members of the Kingsmeadow School Bee Club have completed their year. The
second group have commenced their year. This will include apiary work, theory, visits and selling their produce.
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SEASONAL ADVICE KYLE MILLER
Apiary - the bees will thrive if the hive is sheltered from strong winds, away from over-hanging branches and
frost pockets and the midday sun is on the hive for about two hours in winter.
The hive requires to be secure, a rope or a strap securing the hive and stand should prevent the hive losing its
roof or blowing over; putting stones on the roof is not enough in a strong gale.
Feeding with syrup should be finished. “Heft” the hive to estimate the amount of stores in the hive: if you
consider it to be light, about 1kg of baker’s fondant or a sugar bag can be placed over the brood cluster. Sugar
can be prepared by placing a 1 kg bag of sugar into a plastic bag and pouring about 50ml water into the bag,
keep in a warm place and it will form into a solid mass and be ready to feed to the bees. Do not feed bought
honey to bees, it can introduce diseases to the colony.
Observe the entrance of the hive, you should see some bees using the entrance, some will have pollen in their
pollen baskets. In the end of October mouse guards should be in position, check that mice cannot enter
through the crown board or any other space. Try not to examine the bees during the winter, there is nothing to
be gained from seeing the queen or brood, and the disturbance can cause the death of the queen.
Varroa treatment in winter is restricted to oxalic acid, please read all the instructions before using this treatment.
Use the winter months to repair unused equipment, order new and make New Year’s resolutions.
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EAT! FESTIVAL 2011
We took part in two events for NewcastleGateshead’s EAT! Festival this year, and both were a great success.
The Association turned out on a beautifully warm Sunday 26 July for the EAT! Festival’s Cakebook event at
Gibside Estate. It was a great opportunity to promote the work of the Association with a stall and a cake
showing our observation hive in the Walled Garden at Gibside.
Volunteers for the Association welcomed a steady stream of visitors who came to look at the mini observation
hive and equipment on the stall and ask questions about bees and beekeeping. We plan to continue to get
involved with the Festival next year and anyone who would like to get involved would be warmly welcomed by
Barbara Keating, our Librarian.
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THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
MAKE YOUR OWN TONY TURNBULL
FONDANT
Consumables
Refined (white) granulated sugar (cane or beet)
Fresh Water
Cooking Oil
Newspapers
Equipment
Heavy Duty cooking pans
Source of heat
Wooden or metal spoon for stirring
Measuring jug
Cooking thermometer capable of immersion, e.g.
jam thermometer
Scales (optional)
Plastic Containers
Enamelled or Pyrex dishes
Method of Preparation
Put 500 ml (1 pint) water in a heavy saucepan, and
add 2 Kg refined granulated sugar (two 1Kg bags is
perfect). Heat the sugar and water to boiling point,
stirring all the time to prevent the sugar on the
bottom from burning.
Continue to boil briskly until the syrup reaches a
temperature of 1170 Centigrade.
Meanwhile prepare an enamel or Pyrex glass dish
(large enough to contain the hot candy with room to
spare,) by generously coating the inside with
vegetable oil, then lining with a sheet of newspaper.
Also, soak an old towel in cold water, and lay it out
flat on a waterproof and heatproof work surface,
such as a steel drainer.
As soon as the boiling candy reaches 1170
Centigrade, remove the pan from the heat and
place it on the wet towel, which will start to cool the
mixture quickly. (Don’t be alarmed as the towel
hisses and steams - this is normal as the
temperature of the pan and the candy is now well
above the boiling point of water.) Stir the mixture
continuously, and observe that as it cools it quickly
starts to turn cloudy and thicken.
Continue stirring only so long as the mixture can
still be poured easily, then pour into the lined tins or
dishes and leave undisturbed until set and cold.
Remove from the moulds by pulling gently on the
edges of the paper liner to remove the block of
candy.
Method of Application
Normally placed directly over the top of the frames
of bees.
Shelf Life
Should be sealed into double thickness of plastic
bags as soon as removed from the mould, and will
then last for several weeks or even months in a
warm dry room (but not in a damp outbuilding or
shed).
LIP BALM
2 part shredded beeswax
4 parts of coconut oil
1 part glycerine (optional)
2 parts liquid honey
4 drops of essential oil
peppermint, orange or lemon
Add the honey and stir until the mixture starts to
thicken (140 degrees or so), then evenly add the
essential oil while stirring and continue to stir the
mixture until cool.
such
as
almond,
Heat the beeswax, coconut oil and glycerine to 160
deg F. Remove from heat.
THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
Pour into final containers (small screw-top balm
jars) at about 120 degrees and let set until
completely cool.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Our meetings are informal and friendly and consist of lectures, demonstrations, local information and sharing
knowledge with other beekeepers in your local area.
Non-members are welcome to attend up to 3 evening meetings for free before deciding whether to become a
paid up member.
2011
Tuesday 8 Nov – Ian Campbell on Getting Started in Beekeeping - John Marley Centre
Tuesday 13 Dec - Dave Varty on Spring Management - John Marley Centre
2012
Tuesday 10 Jan - AGM - John Marley Centre
Tuesday 14 Feb - TBC - John Marley Centre
Tuesday 13 March - TBC - John Marley Centre
Tuesday 10 April - TBC - John Marley Centre
EVENING MEETINGS
All NDBKA evening meetings take place at the John Marley Centre, Muscott Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15
6TT on the second Tuesday of the month and start PROMPTLY AT 7PM.
To get to the Centre:
Take the A186 (Hexham, west) out of Newcastle.
Turn left at the Denton Hotel onto the A191 Denton Road (south).
Turn left at the next roundabout into Whickham View.
Muscott Grove is on the right, there is a sign indicating the Centre.
APIARY MEETINGS
Saturdays from 11:00 to 13:00 during the summer season (April – September). Activities will vary subject to
prevailing weather and the time of the season but these meetings are an ideal opportunity for beginners to gain
experience of bees and beekeeping equipment.
The Association Apiary is at Cutthorn Farm, Gibside, NE16 6AA
IMPORTANT NOTE: Owing to insurance restrictions, the branch apiary meetings are only open to members of
the Association.
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THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011
Newcastle & District Beekeepers Association
AGM JANUARY 2012
The Annual General Meeting of Newcastle and District Beekeepers’ Association for the year ended December
2011 will take place at the John Marley Centre, Muscott Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 6TT on Tuesday 10
January 2012 at 7.00pm.
All members of Newcastle and District BKA are welcome to attend the AGM. Come to the AGM and:
1. Meet and talk to the people who run the Association on your behalf
2. Bring to the notice of the Association any good ideas that you think might benefit our Association
PLEASE NOTE: constructive criticism is in the best interests of our Association
AGENDA
1. List of attendees and apologies for absence
2. Confirmation of the minutes of the previous AGM
3. Chairman’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Subscriptions
7. Election of Executive Committee
Position
Current
Proposed
President
Vacant
???
Chairman
Tony Hellen
Tony Hellen
Vice Chaiman
Vacant
???
Secretary
Suzanne Taylor
Suzanne Taylor
Treasurer
Stephen Langley
Stephen Langley
Auditor
Vacant
???
Membership Secretary
Stephen Langley
Albert Reid
Apiary Manager/s
Dave Varty & Kyle Miller
Dave Varty & Kyle Miller
Events Secretary
Vacant
???
Librarian
Frank Hopper
Barbara Keating
Pheromone Editor
Armele Philpotts
Armele Philpotts
Website Editor
Armele Philpotts
Armele Philpotts
Committee Members:
Bill Scott, Helen Simmons, John Telford, Ian Campbell
All the above members are willing to stand for re/election. Nominations for the Vacant positions are welcome
and should be sent to the Secretary by 1 January 2012.
THE PHEROMONE – AUTUMN 2011