Club Officers    

President:                  

Chairman:                 

Vice Chairman:         

Secretary:                  

Treasurer:                  

Apiary Manager:

Master Beekeeper        

Honey Show:             

Education Officer:    

Website:

Click on an underlined  name above to email

CONSTITUTION

The Roe Valley Beekeepers Association constitution is available on this link:

Club Constitution

The stained glass image used as our logo is from a Canadian Stained glass company called Light Romance, onto which has been laid the RVBKA title.  Visit the Light Romance website ( click on their link below) to see the beautiful range of designs they have created.

In March '08 their Director wrote: Hi Alan. We will be honoured if you use our stained glass honeybee on your website.  Cheers, Larry @ Light Romance

www.light-romance.on.ca

Practical beekeeping

Early spring

In early spring an observant beekeeper will be able to detect the signs of increasing activity in his hive, whilst it remains too cold to open it for visual inspection. Hefting of the hive will provide an estimate of residual food supply. Bees will be beginning to fly on warmer days, to provide a source of water, and to recover pollen from spring flowers. Cleansing flights will also be apparent. The flight pattern and bees posture should be observed to ensure that these are not robber bees emptying a dead colony. The collection of pollen signals the bees attempts to provide a protein supply to the hive and indicates that the queen has survived, is laying and that there is fresh larval brood. If hive weight appears light, a fondant emergency feed may be necessary. This will involve lifting the crownboard so as to place the fondant directly onto the top bars of frames, and this should be done quickly to minimise cooling, but will afford the first opportunity to see the brood.

As weather improves there should be increasing signs of hive activity, which may also be apparent by listening/feeling for the sound of contented bees. At this time of year overwintered bees will have reached the end of their lives, and their numbers may not be sufficient to provide for foraging needs of the hive if the early spring build up is to occur. It is important not to overstimulate the queen at this stage otherwise chilled brood will occur, but it is essential that the colony has sufficient protein and carbohydrate stocks. Feeding of pollen is not usual in this area, but some feeding of the colony with sugar solution will be required. This should be with light syrup (1 kg sugar to 2 litres water giving a 30% solution). Although an external feeder would avoid the need to open the hive, it is likely to encourage robbing, and a contact feeder is therefore best. Liquid feed will stimulate the queen to lay and in the early season this may be unsustainable in the absence of a protein source to support the larvae. Do NOT feed liquid feed until the end of February.

If on inspection there is evidence of starvation, a 50% solution warm would prevent loss.

There are more quick guides in the Beekeeping section. Click on the icon

Click on the RHS logo to visit the Royal Horticultural Society website for details of their new campaign to encourage the purchase of pollinator plants in support of bees and other pollinator insects.

Preliminary

Beekeeping Course

If you are interested in joining the FIBKA preliminary beekeepers course which will be starting on 24th January, contact course Tutor Dave Atherton.

FIBKA Annual Summer Beekeeping Course.

click on the brochure to

download full details

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