Somerset Beekeepers

Chairman Nick Wills, 108 Swang Farm Cottages, Currypool, Cannington. TA5 2NJ 01278 671781

Committee As above, plus Roy Francis, Fred Jones, Mary Rowe Mick Stenhouse, Derek Harrison, Steve Berry

There is a separate programme of afternoon, mid-week meetings for the school that fits into school term dates.

This year the bees have overwintered well, but the woodpeckers took an interest in some of the hives! Does chicken wire work on woodpeckers? Or is there such a thing as woodpecker wire?

We are a new group of beekeepers (within the Somerset Beekeepers Association) that have just finished our fourth year. Our aim is to share our enthusiasm in beekeeping within a friendly and supportive group. At the end of 2010 we had 75 members.

If you are not a member, but someone interested in bees, nature and the countryside you would be welcome to come and join us at one of our meetings, it will not cost you anything! Give our secretary a call on 01278 671544 or email ken@bush-cottage.freeserve.co.uk . We will then ensure that a bee suit is ready for you to borrow and explain any details that you may need to know.

Beekeeping can be expensive. For this reason we have a strong focus on helping new beekeepers to set up their first hive properly but also at a budget rate. To help new beekeepers we have a full range of Honey extraction equipment and Wax handling appliances that can be borrowed from the Equipment Officer (Peter Malim). You will see from the programme that we are continuing with the Beginners, Continuation and Practical programmes as we did last year. All members are welcome to any of our meetings.

We would like to help our members to further develop their ability to demonstrate and teach beekeeping. To do this we are going to broaden our group of demonstrators to begin a team teaching approach. Many of the skills of beekeeping (such as safety, hive types etc.) do not necessarily need to be taught by someone with a vast experience of beekeeping. There are quite a lot of teaching aids that have been developed and if you fancy joining the team or have already got teaching skills to offer please get in touch with the secretary.

Once again we have the luxury of being able to share the Brymore Apiary. This is at Brymore School in Cannington. We help with their bee club and in return we are allowed access to some of the Brymore facilities for our meetings.

Thanks to a very good honey crop in 2010 the Bee Club has given the Science Department a Dissection Microscope for teaching and a Propagator to the Horticultural Department. Books on Beekeeping (signed by the author Celia Davis) have been contributed by the BBKA to the Library in return for the use of the Biology Laboratory for the BBKA Microscopy Exams.

Thanks to the generosity of the Taunton and District Beekeepers Association and Milnes Priscott, and with permission from the Brymore Head (Malcolm Lloyd ) we have restored and erected one of the few surviving Spiller Bee Houses. It was dismantled and removed from the Taunton Apiary a few years ago and at one stage was at risk of being destroyed. Spiller wrote a book ‘The House Apiary' about bee houses and the house was one of those described in the book. It is now installed in the Apiary and we hope that Milnes will be able to formally open it at the Brymore Open Day.

A number of new beekeepers are invited to each take care of a nucleus of bees at our Learners Apiary, thanks to the generosity of Mary Rowe and her husband who have established an Apiary for this purpose at Wembdon. Over the year each nucleus will develop into a full size colony. This is an easier way to start beekeeping. As your colony develops and grows so too does your confidence and experience with bees. At the end of the year the bees can be purchased and the bees relocated. Places will be limited and special conditions apply which will be explained clearly in the early sessions. This is only available to Full Members.

A complete set of new honey handling equipment is available for members to borrow usually free of charge.

We ran a microscopy course in 2010 which was well attended and some Somerset members have gained the Microscopy Certificate. There will not be a course this year but coaching is available for the BBKA Microscopy Exam.

The Continuation Course (at Brymore) started on 11 January and is for six sessions it helps to further the knowledge of members in their beekeeping.

The Hive making day at Spaxton Village Hall (Sat 5 March) is being repeated at the request of a number of our members.

We have purchased a number of flat pack National hives which will be on offer and we can help you to put them together. Help will also be given to assemble frames.

Beginners have asked for the opportunity to have a try at extracting honey. We will have some of our equipment and a number of frames of honey so that our members can have a go.

Demonstration of repairing and sterilising hives will prepare members for the Auction at Ruishton (Sunday 27 March ).

Last year's Teddy Bears Picnic in July was very successful, but we have agreed with the National Trust that it should be offered every other year, so get your Teddy prepared for 2012!

Thanks to support from the QAONB we have a very high quality observation enclosure for events such as the Teddy Bears Picnic.

The Practical Course will be similar to previous years and will be at Brymore.

BBKA Basic Exam There will be practice and preparation for this exam. Get in touch with Roy on 01643 821085

Brymore Open Day (25 June ) is very much like a Country Fair where the school students demonstrate their knowledge of agriculture and the Countryside. The Brymore Bee Club Members (boys from the school) also give demonstrations of beekeeping. This is a very interesting day with Classic Cars, a Steam Lorry, Trips, Country activities and Crafts.

Two social events are scheduled with skittles matches against other beekeepers in Somerset and we are planning in Quiz Night for the autumn.

In 2008 Brymore School won the best Secondary School Garden award in Somerset with their Bee Garden

Bridgwater Flower Show 26 / 27 August – Open classes of honey related entries. The three silver cups that were inherited (from the Bridgwater Beekeepers that closed in 1992) are awarded.

Shirley Stenhouse has designed our logo incorporating the Quantock Buzzard symbol and Beekeeping. It is available as a separate ‘sew-on' patch or can be put directly on to Bee suits, Fleeces, T Shirts etc. It can be bought directly from Jual, The Granary, Units 1 & 2, King Alfred Business Centre, North Newton, Somerset TA70BE tel 01278 664091 or at sue@jual.co.uk

If you want bees this year please give Ken a ring on 01278 671544 and get yourself on the list. Swarms will often be available but we are trying to breed a number of nuclei of bees to help the beginners to start and for our members to replace losses from last year. To this end we are also hoping to breed Queens from the Buckfast stocks - they are gentle. When you do get your good honey crop the (divisional) extracting equipment will be ready for you to use.

The Beginners, Continuation and Practical courses will be at Brymore School. Evening meetings will be at 7.30pm and afternoon meetings at 2.30pm.

Please note that some of the programme is likely to change due to weather and bee conditions. Revisions will be posted on the ‘somersetbeekeepers – Quantock' website and in the Newsletter. If in doubt phone the secretary ! 01278 671544.

Saturday 26 February Skittles with Exmoor Division (contact Social secretaries)

Our divisional apiary is shared with Brymore School. We help with their bee club and in return we are allowed access to some of the Brymore facilities for our meetings.

There is a separate programme of afternoon, mid-week meetings for the school that fits into school term dates.

Quantock Beekeepers Divisional Library

All of the following titles are available to members of the QBKA. There are too many to take to our meetings but you can book them and then arrange some method of collection.

Most of the good books that are needed for the BBKA assessments and exams are available.

Get in touch with the Acting Librarian on 01278 671544 or email ken@bush- cottage.freeserve.co.uk

A Manual of Bee-keeping for English-speaking Bee-keepers, 1945, E. B. Wedmore

A Manual of Bee-keeping for English-speaking Bee-keepers, ( 2 nd ed), 1975, E. B. Wedmore

ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture, 1923, A.I. and E.R. Root. (A Cyclopedia of Everything Pertaining to the Care of the Honeybee: Bees, Hives, Honey, Implements, Honey Plants etc. Facts gleaned from the Experience of Thousands of Beekeepers and Afterward Verified by the Authors).

ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture, 1962, 32 nd edition A.I. Root. (An encyclopedia pertaining to the scientific and practical culture of bees).

About Honey , 1959, P.E. Norris. (Nature's Elixir for Health and Energy),

Anatomy and Dissection of the Honeybee ,1962, H.A. Dade. (The Bee Research Association).

Background to Beekeeping , 1955, Allan G. Waine

Bee Craft, 1964, British Bee Keepers Association Yearbook.

Bee World, 1982, International Bee Research Association Vol. 63

Beekeepers Folly, 1949, John R. Ratcliff

Beekeeping, 1960, John E. Eckert and Frank R. Shaw

Beekeeping , 1951, Kenneth K, Clark. (How bees live, how to look after them, Honey and wax production, Bee diseases).

Beekeeping Study Notes, 1999, J.D. Yates & B.D. Yates (BBKA Basic Certificate, SBKA Basic Beemaster Certificate, FIBKA Preliminary Certificate)

Beekeeping Study Notes, 2002, J.D. Yates & B.D. Yates (BBKA Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry)

Beekeeping Study Notes, 1996, J.D. Yates & B.D. Yates (Modules 1, 2, 3, 4)

Beekeeping Study Notes, 1997, J.D. Yates & B.D. Yates (Modules 5, 6, 7, 8)

Beekeeping Study Notes, 1995, J.D. Yates & B.D. Yates ( Microscopy Certificate)

Beekeeping Techniques, 1963 , Alexander S. C. Deans

Bee-keeping at Buckfast Abbey, 1974, Brother Adam. (With a section on mead making).

Bee-keeping for Beginners, I. H. Jackson

Bee-keeping for Beginners and Others, 1949, E. L. B. James

Bee-keeping for Recreation and Profit , 1952, J. Harold Armitt. (Relating craftsmanship to the colony's natural development and instinctive behaviour).

Bee-keeping in Britain, 1948, R. O. B. Manley

Bee-keeping New and Old,(Volume 1) 1930, William Herrod-Hempsall. - Described with pen and camera. (Please note Volume 2 was in the original Library but we have not been able to find it yet)

Bee-keeping Practice, 1947, F.S. Stuart. Bees and Beekeeping, 1975, A.V. Pavord. (Will appeal to both beginner and professional),

Bees and Honey, 1948, George A. Carter. (A guide to the better understanding of bees, their diseases, and the Chemistry of Bee-Keeping),

Bees and Wasps, 1991, Jiri Zahradnik

Bees, Flowers and Fruit, 1949, Herbert Mace. (The Story of Insect-Plant Relations).

Bees: Habits, Management, and Treatment, 1853, Rev. J. G. Wood.

Beeswax, 1981, R. Brown.

City of the Bees, 1947, Frank S. Stuart

Flowers, Janet Harvey Kelman.

Flowers for Bees, the Bee Research Association. (Month by month). Pamphlet.

Form and Function in the Honey Bee , 2003, Lesley Goodman (Probably the best book there is on bee anatomy)

Guide to Bees and Honey, 1076, Ted Hooper. (A complete handbook for the beginner and experienced beekeeper).

Home Made Wines, Syrups and Cordials , 1954, (ed) F.W. Beech. (Recipes of Women's Institute Members).

Honey Bee – Brood Diseases, Henrik Hansen

Honey Bees and Their Management, 1945, Stanley B. Whitehead

Honey Farming, 1949, R. O. B. Manley

Honey from Hive to Market, 1963, Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food, Bulletin No. 134.

Honey from Your Garden , 1940, (ed) Walter Brett. (A Handy Guide to Beekeeping).

Honey Marketing, 1951, the Bee World. (Around the world). Article.

Honey Production in the British Isles, 1948, R. O. B.Manley

Infectious Diseases of the Honey-Bee , 1965, L. Bailey

Insect Communities, 1956, Harold Bastin

Plants and Beekeeping, 1945, F. N. Howes (an account of those plants, wild and cultivated, of value to the hive bee, and for production in the British Isles).

Practical Bee-Breeding , 1928, A. Gilman.

Queen Rearing, 1962, Harry H. Laidlaw, Jr., and J. E. Eckert

Queen Rearing, 1949, L. E. Snelgrove

Shining Hours, 1946, C. N. Buzzard

Swarming – It's Control and Prevention, 1956, L. E. Snelgrove

Swarming of Bees, 1970, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Teach Yourself Bee-keeping, 1948, A. Norman Schofield

The Art of Bee-Keeping , 1951, William Hamilton.

The Art of Bee-Keeping , (3 rd ed) 1971, William Hamilton.

The Behaviour and Social Life of Honeybees , 1964, C. R. Ribbands.

The Bee Craftsman , 1949, H. J. Wadey. (A Short Guide to the Life Story and Management of the Honey Bee).

The Bee-Keeper's Guide to the Management of Bees in Movable Comb, 1941, (4 th Ed), W.Herrod-Hempstall

The Bee-Keeper's Guide to the Management of Bees in Movable Comb, 1942, (5 th Ed), W. Herrod-Hempstall

The Dancing Bees , 1955. Karl Von Frisch. (An Account if the Life and Senses of the Honey Bee).

The Glow-Worm and the Other Beetles, 1919, J. Henri Fabre

The Golden Throng – A book about bees, 1946, Edwin Way Teale

The Honey Bee , 1890, T.W. Cowan. (Its Natural History, Anatomy, and Physiology).

The Honey Bee Around and About , 2007, Celia Davis

The Honey Bee Inside Out 2004, Celia Davis

The Introduction of Queen Bees, 1948, L. E. Snelgrove

The Key of the Hive, 1945, J. M. Dunning. (The Habits and Products of the Honey-Bee).

The Life of the Bee, 1942, Maurice Maeterlinck

The Mind of the Bees, 1939, Julien Francon

The Pollen Loads of the Honey Bee, 1952, Dorothy Hodges. (A Guide to their Identification by Colour and Form).

The Practical Bee Guide, 1949, J.G. Digges. (A Manual of Modern Beekeeping).

The Spell of the Honey Bee, 1947, W. Eric Kelsey

The Story Book of Birds and Beasts, J. H. Fabre

The World of Bees, 1959, Gilbert Nixon

The World of the Honeybee , 1962, Colin G. Butler