SBKA in the News

SBKA at National Amateur Gardening Show

The Somerset Beekeepers' Association were once again in the news when the Somerton Division put on a display at the popular National Amateur Gardening Show, which is held each year at the Royal Bath & West Showground. Over 40,000 people visited the show, and the SBKA stand was kept very busy answering questions posed by a very interested general public. Gardening and beekeeping are somewhat affiliated, and this was very much in evidence throughout the three days of the show.

Visitors were treated to regular live demonstrations in the Bee Garden, and there was a constant crowd around the observation hive, which appears to fascinate people of all ages. At one point, we thought we would run out of honey for sale, such was the demand, but last minute reinforcements saved the day. The show is principally a promotional medium for us, providing us with a means of reaching out to people who might have more than a passing interest in the craft. Invariably we are able to direct people to Introductory Courses, or to contacts in their area.

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Press Release 9th March 2008

There was a disappointing attendance this year at the Somerset Beekeepers Association (S.B.K.A.) Annual General Meeting held at Over Stratton on Saturday 8th March. The S.B.K.A. President, Gerald Fisher in his opening address, commented on the success of the Introductory Courses that had been held in various parts of the county during the autumn and winter months. He estimated that there were over 300 participants in total, a good omen for the future of beekeeping in Somerset. He then went on to introduce the guest speaker, Dr. Stephen Palmer from the Isle of Wight.

Stephen's talk was entitled 'How a Bee Works'. He started by reminding the audience that we must always remember that the bee is a highly efficient and complex creature and that our honey bee is just one of 25,000 different varieties of bees that exist world-wide. His photos, many of which he had taken himself using a basic camera and microscope, took the audience close to various aspects of the bee's make-up. A clearer understanding of the workings of the various glands, the eyes, the legs and the tongue were described, in some cases, with a simple bicycle pump as the teaching aid! Particularly fascinating were the pictures showing the inner workings of the bee such as the breathing tubes and the intestines. The vote of thanks was given by the retiring Chairman, Alex Morrice.

During the business meeting, all the reports submitted by the Officers revealed the Association to be in a strong position financially and giving the members an excellent service via the 12 Divisions. The British Beekeepers Association delegate, Judith Hall, in her report, brought to our attention the campaign that will be mounted to seek an increase in the research funding that is desperately needed to save our bees and beekeeping from declining as a result of the effects of the varroa mite in particular.

A number of new officers were appointed, amongst them Ken Tredgett from Frome as the new Chairman and Gail Johnson from Dulverton as the new Treasurer who is taking over from Sharon Blake.

The West Country Honey Farms Award given to the member considered to have given outstanding service to the SBKA, this year went to Caroline Butter of the Wedmore and Cheddar Division. In his citation, David Charles reminded us of the work she has done in promoting beekeeping, the considerable undertaking in securing and assisting in the administration of the funding from various quarters and in organising the successful Lecture Days for the members of the SBKA over a number of years.

Finally, a vote of thanks was given by the new Chairman to those officers retiring and hoped that he could help Somerset BKA retain it's present high esteem in beekeeping quarters.

S.B.K.A.. Publicity Officer: David Morris, ‘Cranford’, Halse, Taunton, Somerset. TA4 3AB Telephone 01823 432686 E Mail: dgmorris@cooptel.net

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Eminent Beekeeping Lecturer to Visit Somerset

Somerset Beekeepers’ Association has arranged another Special Lecture for 2008. Murray Reid from New Zealand has been invited to give an evening lecture.

Date: Wednesday 23 April 2008 at 7.30pm

Venue: The Theatre at Hazlegrove School, Sparkford (off the A303)

Speaker: Murray Reid, AsureQuality Ltd, which is a New Zealand State Owned Enterprise

Lecture Title: Re-queening, an Alterntive Approach'

Re-queening honey bee colonies without de-queeening using protected queen cells.

There will be no charge for this evening lecture; hence there is no need to book tickets for this event, but SBKA would welcome your support of the raffle.

With no tickets we will not know who is coming to the lecture, so if there is a cancellation, it is difficult to inform everyone. You may like to check with Sharon Blake on 01460 242124 or Caroline Butter on 01934 742075, prior to the event, that there have been no changes.

Please park in the first car park you come to when you arrive at the school, where you will find someone waiting to direct you to the theatre.