Good evening
You would have received emails today on a couple of issues.
I am trying to make sure all infor is up to date and we are ready for the season ahead.

If you are down as a mentor and you don't want to be - let me know
If you are not down as a mentor and want to be - let me know
If you are a member waiting for a swarm then a new page has been set up so you can see your position on the list - click HERE
If you don't have equipment or you are not ready - let me know!
If you are not on the list and you want to be - let me know!
If it is your go and someone attempts to contact you and you don't answer - you will be put to the bottom of the list. If you miss two separate calls, you won't be on the list anymore!

Honestly, a lot of time is being wasted by a lot of people (all of which are volunteers) with people not keeping me up to date.
Swarm collectors don't have lots of time to be ringing half of the Midlands to see if they want a swarm of bees. They are trying to help you!
Sorry for the negative tone, but a lovely swarm was available yesterday and we couldn't get hold of people who said they wanted bees!!

Good evening, hope you are all well in lockdown.
Margaret has put together an excellent newsletter which is available here...

Remeber - please submit any news, for sale, ideas or articles in to Margaret at newsletter@honeybee.org for consideration!

Hi everybody
I sincerely hope that you are all well and staying well away from this terrible virus that is amongst us all at the moment .

I am pleased to say I have not had word that any of our members have contacted  Covid 19 ,let us all hope that it stays that way . 
As you well know we should have been meeting tonight for our monthly meeting and the speaker was Clive Stuart who was going to talk to us about collecting swarms from unusual places. I have spoken to him and rearranged it for Monday September 21st , hopefully by then we will be out of lockdown . 
I hope you are all managing to look after your bees , they are classed as livestock so you are not breaking any laws by travelling to inspect them but please remember to maintain social distancing where necessary .
Unfortunately our teaching apiary has suffered a set back again, first it was the rain and wet ground, now Covid 19 . Everything is in place so as soon as our government gives us the all clear we will be off and running . 

If any of you are having difficulty with your bees or beekeeping you can contact us via email , telephone or website, although a site visit will not be possible we can probably give advice . 

Our shop is open and with careful social distancing you can pick up any equipment you may need from our home at Walton, 
 we are well stocked with most of the day to day items you may need so drop me an email or phone . 

We also have sugar available if you require it ,contact as for the shop . 

On a personal front as most of you know I had my right hip replaced on Feb 14 th , All has gone well and progressing nicely until last Tuesday when doing a bit of gardening on our allotment at Ticknall I stepped back and to the right and immediately felt my hip pop out .
I found myself lying on my back amongst the weeds looking up at a blue sky . However fear not, it either went back in on its own or got pushed back in when I hit the floor , not sure which ? Feeling rather bruised and now sporting a limp I think I got away with it lightly. 
However made me think and being a lot more careful now. 

Wishing you all a very safe and secure time during this period of uncertainty for us all and looking forward to seeing you all once we are through this . 

Stay safe .

Dave Coates , Chairman Burton  and District Beekeepers Association.

As I am sure you are aware by now, legally you are allowed to check your bees as they are livestock. You should still take basic precautions and keep social distancing in mind.
I would advise as some local police forces have been quite strict in their interpretation that you carry your BBKA membership card with you when out.
Failing this you can print your receipt you would have got from me when you renewed this year or if you are still not happy I have created a Burton Beekeepers membership card which if you email me a passport photo of yourself, I can create and send it back for you to print.

If there are any issues with the police and they want proof then please ask them to contact me and I will confirm your membership status and location of your hives.

Many thanks
Francis
Secretary and membership officer

Good afternoon all, I hope this finds you well and I am pleased to attach the latest club newsletter which is an excellent read. I am sure that you will all join me in thanking Margaret for stepping up into the role of editor!

Please see below the email from support Staffordshire which might be interesting for some during these troubled times:

Dear Members and the wider VCSE sector
 
It’s been quite a fortnight for the nation, personally and professionally we have all had to adapt.
 
Yes there has been panic buying and other negative press, but locally I have been overwhelmed by the support, altruism and spirit of community that has broken out. At Support Staffordshire we have had approximately 1,000 new volunteer enquiries in the last two weeks; so like never before we have a huge over supply of volunteers – but this will be tested to the limits in the coming weeks as demand grows from many sources – thank you if you have signed up and sit tight, we will call on you.
 
We have also been busy contacting members and responding to your requests for help, with a whole new shape to our website and lots of new factsheets and training and support materials directly responding to what you need right now. Many, having steadied the ship, will now be turning your thoughts to sustaining your organisations and their services; so we have included a raft of the new funding streams coming on line in this mailing. We have also been feeding into national efforts for a VCSE sector stability fund from government…. Still waiting as I write, but remaining hopeful. There are also local responses coming on line daily, so keep checking our website.
 
Thirdly we have been working with the county and district councils to align our efforts, to reduce pressure on both the NHS and critically Social Care. A number of district leads are working with us and will be calling on you to keep calm and adapt, continuing to serve your communities wherever you are able to do so safely.
 
If you need any help in this crazy time, please call us and we will do our best to help you in whatever way we can.  In the meantime please see below information which hopefully you’ll find useful
 
#WeAreInThisTogether
 
Garry Jones
Chief Executive Support Staffordshire
 
 
Our Website is a valuable source of information for anyone looking for advice and guidance.  Please use the links below to find what you are looking for:
 
COVID 19 – Support - Useful Links for Advice and Guidance
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/covid-19-support/useful-links-advice-and-guidance
 
Funding Opportunities
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/whats-happening/funding
 
 
FAQ’s and Factsheets for Groups and Organisations
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/covid-19-support/faqs-and-factsheets-groups-and-organisations
 
 
Video Resources
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/covid-19-support/video-resources
 
 
VCSE Directory of Organisations (in Staffordshire)
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/membership/organisation-directory
 
 
Coronavirus Community News and Announcements
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/covid-19-support/updates
 
Residents in Need of Support
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/covid-19-support/residents-need-support
 
 
Local Contact details for Support Staffordshire Team
 
https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/contact

Hi all, hope you are all keeping well, please find the latest update for the training apiary

Morning All
Just to confirm that Martin Taberner- our groundworks contractor- has decided to follow Government guidelines and has therefore ceased work for the time being.
It really is sod’s law that after all the hard work, frustration and fund raising of the past year, we have been defeated first by the weather and now this damned virus, and just as we have some dry weather!
Also, just to let you all know what I have done:-
Asked Martin if he can put us at the front of the queue when things start up again
Spoken to Pam at the RSPCA to let her know the situation
Spoken to Roland who mows the field for the RSPCA and agreed that we meet him on site when we start so that he knows our plan for spreading the topsoil under the hedge.
Informed Charnwood Fencing of the situation.
 
Can you please let the rest of the Committee what is happening, and should we do a ‘round robin’ to the Membership as well,
 
Trust you are all well and keeping safe. At least we can still do some beekeeping,
Regards
Richard

You have all received an email about this but to repeat:

Francis Oldfield <noreply@membershipservices.org.uk> 14:52 (0 minutes ago)
to me Hi all


I have been made aware of the following email/text that has been received by a beekeeper.
It goes without saying that if you are not expecting anything, it is fake. If you are, don't click the link within the email - go to the website/supplier directly to enquire.
This address: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/beginners-guide-to-scams is from the Government money advice service and has good tips to avoid getting into trouble. I appreciate I just told you not to click anything in an email so please google "money advice service guide to scams".


Any help, or if you are worried about anything, feel free to get in touch and I can try and help you remotely.


Many thanks
Francis
Secretary & Membership Officer
----------------------------------------------
email received
------
Your E H THORNE (BEEHIVES) LTD parcel IJ4424963 will be delivered by Vikash from Parcelforce today and it should be with you between 11:48 and 12:48. Alternatively, reply 1, 2, 3 or 4 for one of these options:

1 Deliver to a neighbour
2 Deliver to local Post Office for me to collect
3 Deliver on the next working day*
4 Deliver two working days* from today
*Mon-Fri
Track your parcel at  www.parcelforce.com/track-trace?trackNumber=IJ4424963

There was no committee meeting this month owing the virus and social distancing so all news will be added here. Here is the latest from Richard on the training apiary:

Good morning All,
Just to keep you all up to date with the Training Apiary. I have spoken to Martin Taberner and asked him to keep an eye on the weather with a view to starting ASAP. Now that we have agreement with the RSPCA to spread and level the topsoil from the roadway at the side of the road, it should make things somewhat easier than carting across the field, and the weather forecast looks a bit better!
I have e mailed Charnwood Fencing and they are aware of the delay.
Also I have spoken to Pam at the RSPCA and their future plans mentioned by Nigel at the AGM are not in the foreseeable future. They have not got the funds.
Trust it will not be TOO long before we can all get together again,
Regards
Richard

Please see the below from the British BKA regarding exams:

Bee Exams CANCELLED!
March 17 2020
The BBKA Exam Board has decided today to cancel the Module Exams and the following statement has been sent to Exam Secretaries:

"Yesterday, there was a new statement that escalated the precautions we need to take to limit the spread of Coronavirus to a different level. Consequently, it is with great regret that the Examinations Board has decided they must act within the Government guidelines and cancel the Examinations on March 21st.
"We know how much work the candidates have put into the preparation for these exams, and the decision has not been made lightly, but we do now wish to put invigilators or candidates at risk for an activity which is not essential.
"The free transfer of fees and applications will extend to March 2021.