Quantock Beekeepers Association was set up as a division within the Somerset Beekeepers Association in 2008. Our aim is to share our enthusiasm in beekeeping within a friendly and supportive group. Our numbers have increased to 120 full and associate 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 thebeesfly@outlook.com. We will then ensure that a bee suit is ready for you to borrow and explain any details that you may need to know.
Every second Wednesday of the month (from March to October) at 7pm there will be a Drop in at the Apiary when you can join us in a cup of tea and ‘talk bees’.
STOP PRESS
Rent-a-Hive Sessions Recommence
Our ever popular Rent-a-Hive scheme was suspended due to the outbreak of COVID19 and the nationwide Lock Down. Following the easing of restrictions, and after some sterling (socially distanced) work by our Mentors we are now in a position to start the Rent-a-Hive scheme, albeit with a very limited and strictly structured format.
Thanks to the efforts of the Mentors we now have enough colonies of bees at the apiary to supply everyone who signed up for the rent-a-hive programme. We would like to start to get people in to learn to look after their bees. Obviously this has to be done in a carefully managed way due to coronavirus. We are therefore proposing the following measures and restrictions. Only three beekeepers at a time to come for teaching at the apiary at an appointed time. Each beekeeper (or couple) will have an appointed mentor, who will help with the bees, so that social distancing can be maintained. You will have a one hour appointment slot on a Saturday afternoon and should change into your gear, by your car away from others. After your hour, you will be expected to leave the apiary, so that another person can have their appointment. It will be important to keep to time so that you do not miss your slot. ALSO, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE APIARY IF YOU ARE ILL IN ANY WAY, OR HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SELF ISOLATE. If you are self-isolating or shielding and cannot take part in the programme, please let us know, so that we can ensure that appointments are used efficiently. We propose to run sessions on the following dates,
Saturday 20th June
Saturday 4th July
Saturday 18th July
Saturday 1st August
After the August session, you will be expected to have a time slot to move your bees home. There will also be a teaching session at the apiary on 19th September, where you can learn about feeding your bees and getting them ready for winter. You are also be encouraged to come to additional sessions next year if you want to continue your learning or have a bit of a refresher session, especially as this teaching season has been short.
If for whatever reason you cannot make this time, please let me (Sue Anderson) know and I will attempt to accommodate you.
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 thebeesfly@outlook.com. We will then ensure that a bee suit is ready for you to borrow and explain any details that you may need to know.
Every second Wednesday of the month (from March to October) at 7pm there will be a Drop in at the Apiary when you can join us in a cup of tea and ‘talk bees’.
STOP PRESS
Rent-a-Hive Sessions Recommence
Our ever popular Rent-a-Hive scheme was suspended due to the outbreak of COVID19 and the nationwide Lock Down. Following the easing of restrictions, and after some sterling (socially distanced) work by our Mentors we are now in a position to start the Rent-a-Hive scheme, albeit with a very limited and strictly structured format.
Thanks to the efforts of the Mentors we now have enough colonies of bees at the apiary to supply everyone who signed up for the rent-a-hive programme. We would like to start to get people in to learn to look after their bees. Obviously this has to be done in a carefully managed way due to coronavirus. We are therefore proposing the following measures and restrictions. Only three beekeepers at a time to come for teaching at the apiary at an appointed time. Each beekeeper (or couple) will have an appointed mentor, who will help with the bees, so that social distancing can be maintained. You will have a one hour appointment slot on a Saturday afternoon and should change into your gear, by your car away from others. After your hour, you will be expected to leave the apiary, so that another person can have their appointment. It will be important to keep to time so that you do not miss your slot. ALSO, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE APIARY IF YOU ARE ILL IN ANY WAY, OR HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SELF ISOLATE. If you are self-isolating or shielding and cannot take part in the programme, please let us know, so that we can ensure that appointments are used efficiently. We propose to run sessions on the following dates,
Saturday 20th June
Saturday 4th July
Saturday 18th July
Saturday 1st August
After the August session, you will be expected to have a time slot to move your bees home. There will also be a teaching session at the apiary on 19th September, where you can learn about feeding your bees and getting them ready for winter. You are also be encouraged to come to additional sessions next year if you want to continue your learning or have a bit of a refresher session, especially as this teaching season has been short.
If for whatever reason you cannot make this time, please let me (Sue Anderson) know and I will attempt to accommodate you.
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Quantock Division PROGRAMME 2020 |
Learning and Teaching
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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. Wherever possible our learning programmes are free. In all of our training programmes we use conventional hives so that new beekeepers can learn to understand their bees using equipment that is easy to buy and look after. To help new beekeepers we have a full range of honey extraction equipment and wax handling appliances that can be borrowed.
We have negotiated a number of substantial grants to set up a new teaching (Sentinel) apiary on the outskirts of Bridgwater. It has many interesting features which include a wildlife pool, all weather demonstration hive, queen rearing equipment and state of the art microscopy equipment.
In 2017 we will (again) be running an afternoon session so that you can make your own skep (there is half a lorry load of straw ready for use),
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Since 2013 we have been hosts to the BBC for some of the (bee related) filming and recording for Farming Today, Springwatch, Points West and Inside the Animal Mind (with Chris Packham and Prof Adam Hart). This year, Kate Quinlan (of Food Unwrapped) came to learn how to use icing sugar as a method of Varroa control, and BBC One Spotlight came to film Asian Hornet traps.
The British Beekeepers Association has also used our resources for training and assessment events. Children from Williton Primary School came in the Summer to learn about keeping bees. The Devon Apicultural Research Group (DARG), Bridgwater Agricultural Society, Gardening Clubs, Women’s Institute groups and a Trade Union group have also visited. We also had our first Open Day.
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Contact Quantock Division
President Gordon Fraser |
Chairman Barry Hulatt |
Secretary Position currently vacant |
Treasurer / Membership Secretary Alison Monteith |
Newsletter Editor / Website Co-Ordinator Bill Monteith |
Examinations Co-Ordinator Elaine Falkingham |
Rent-a-Hive Coordinator Sue Anderson |
Librarian Sarah Allen |
Sentinel Hive Manager Barry Hulatt |
QBKA Committee All of the Elected Officers above, plus Margaret Cavill, Ken Edwards, Graham Gould, Fred Jones, Adrian Keirle, Bob Muckett, Mike Sealey, Mick Stenhouse, Paul Trolley, Nick Wills and Matthew Winwood |
Swarm Contacts Ken Edwards (01278 671544), Barry Hulatt (01458 210861), Nick Wills (01278 671781) |
Divisional Apiary Map
The map below shows the location of our divisional Spaxtan Rd Apiary near Bridgwater.
