​. . and we bring you our latest newsletter, featuring a range of possibilities which can be pursued in the (enforced) comfort of your own home. of which the first is our talk on Pollen by Bob Smith NDB on Monday 11 January at 8pm.

He is an interesting speaker and we haven't had any talks on this subject, which is quite critical to bees,. You don't need to register, just make sure you have Zoom loaded on your PC/Laptop/iPad beforehand (You don't need to have a zoom account - just have it loaded - its free!) and click on the link  which follows:   Join Our First Zoom Meeting   

And here is our first Newsletter for 2021, providing an opportunity to support one student's early venture into research on beekeeping, which you may already have reached you. Last year's issues can be found in the Archive to the right.

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​I hope you all had as good a Christmas as possible - given the current circumstances, and that 2021 proves a much better year for you - and a good one for your bees too. To get us off to a good start, Dave Coates and Sam Hampton have arranged three talks for us on Zoom, which look fascinating - see below for details. If you want to take part you'll need to install zoom on your PC / mobile / ipad. The link to each will be distributed to Members, but I'll include it here once available. All talks will begin at 8pm .


Mon 11th Jan   Bob Smith NDB Fun with Pollen Traps

Bob will explain the nutritional importance of pollen, how it is collected, finding out what your bees have been foraging on. Before retiring Bob worked as an analytical Chemist and is now Chair of the Central Association of Beekeepers. Bob is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker who, because he lives in Kent, is only able to speak to us now because of the "Wonders of Zoom".  we haven't had any talks on this subject, which is quite critical to bees, in recent times.

You don't need to register, just make sure you have Zoom loaded on your PC/Laptop/iPad beforehand - you don't need to have a zoom account - just have it loaded - its free! and click on the link which follows:  Join Our First Zoom Meeting

Even if you're not enthusiastic about the subject - I'm sure it'll be an awful lot better than what's on the Telly

Mon 8th Feb Norman Carreck NDB Planting for Bee Forage

Norman was going to talk to us last year but got stuck in traffic and never made it to the meeting. Norman has worked at Rothamstead Research and more recently LASI Sussex University,

Mon 8th March Graham Royle NDB  The Mating Process - what happens and why

Graham Royle has been to Burton before. He was for a long while the seasonal bee inspector for Cheshire. He started beekeeping in 1968 and currently manages 20 colonies in three apiaries.

In March we also hope to hold our Annual General Meeting - details will be published once they've been finalised.

December's newsletter is now available below ​- and you've missed earlier months you can find them archived to the right

Latest newsletter from BBKA president can be seen by clicking here

Latest newsletter is now available and is available by clicking here!

As always, if you have an idea for a story, or some news, or you are new and want to say hi, or anything then please get in touch!

Please see below from National Bee Unit which you may find interesting:


Three excellent presentations have been released from our lab, a joint venture called Fera Science.
 
All topical subjects and I think you will find them interesting.
 
I’d be grateful if you would circulate the links throughout your Association and promote by way of your newsletters, and by any other means you have
 
June 2020 - New Presentations Online 
The National Bee Unit is pleased to share a range of presentations created by Fera Science Ltd. presented by Kirsty Stainton on;
Asian Hornet Biology
Asian Hornet Genetics
European foulbrood

The presentations can be found on BeeBases pages on Asian hornet and Foulbrood.
Please do contact us with your feedback.
 
 
Colin Pavey
Regional Bee Inspector, Western England
(covering Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire)
 
National Bee Unit
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)

Dear Fellow Members.
On behalf of the Training Apiary sub- committee- Dave, Sam. Bob, Hamish and myself-I cannot tell you how pleased we are, to be able report that work on the Training Apiary actually started today.
After successfully obtaining Planning Permission and raising sufficient funds to get started, we were then faced with the wettest winter in living memory when the site became a quagmire. Then, when the site dried out along came Covid 19 and our contractor went into lockdown.
Thankfully all that is behind us. The site has been mown, the hedge trimmed and Taberner Plant-our contractors- have made a an excellent start on constructing the access road to our compound.
I don’t want to tempt fate, but it should not be too long now before we have a functioning Training Apiary.

Richard Matkin

From Dave Coates

3Weeks today since my second opp and I am pleased say everything is going according to plan.

I now have this years price list for honey jars, which is as follows.


1lb round honey jars with gold screw top lids. Box of 72.     £23-50


1/2lb round honey jars with gold twist off lids. Box of 128.    £33-50


1lb. Gold lids only screw top   Box of. 144       £15-75 


These prices are good as long as we buy 35 mixed boxes which is a pallet ,other years we have had no problem reaching that figure.

If you would like to contact me either by email   dave.coates32@gmail.com      Or telephone 01283  713603 let me know what you would like to order and I can book you in .

The closing date is Tuesday 23 June . 

The orders are for full boxes only I cannot do splits ,that doesn't mean to say you can't split with another member. If any of you want a split let me know when you order and I can pass it on to other like minded members. 


Kind Regards, Dave 

PLEASE REPLY TO DAVE NOT FRANCIS!