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Wealden
Apiarist
Newsletter of the High Weald Division of the Sussex Beekeeping Association
Secretary: Peter Halford E: [email protected] Editor: Deborah Park E: [email protected]
January-February 2017
High Weald Beekeepers Events Diary 2017
Date Event Address
Saturday
18 February
EBKA Food Hygiene Course* Arlington Village Hall
Tuesday
28 February
Bee Banter Rose & Crown
Mayfield
Tuesday
28 March
Bee Banter Crow & Gate
Crowborough
Tuesday
25 April
Bee Banter Rose & Crown
Mayfield
* See full details below.
EDITOR’S BUZZ.... After a longish absence – for which I apologise – the Apiarist flies again……
This month we look ahead to what you could or should be doing to strengthen your colonies in this unpredictable late winter/early spring and reflect on
beekeeping “Down Under” as this is the height of summer in Australia and New Zealand.
Other items covered in this edition:
o Keeping your colonies healthy in January and February o 2016 HWBKA AGM and Honey Show Report & Results o BBKA BASIC ASSESSMENT
o Beekeeping in Tasmania o Gift of the Gods
o Hive inspection Videos o The Sugarbag Bee, Tetragonula carbonaria o Cookery Corner
o Book Corner o *EBKA Food Hygiene Course flyer
Keeping your colonies healthy in January and February
The weather is so unpredictable in the two first months; snow and ice one minute, then spring breezes and clear blue skies the next. You will probably have seen your bees out and about –and even foraging, but the temperatures in
general are too chilly for much to happen. By and large the bees will be clustering for warmth.
Key tasks for the current period are about trying to get the bees safely through
the winter.
Check hives are intact especially after windy or stormy weather.
Make sure that hives are free of predators, especially mice and woodpeckers
Check the hive entrance and clear away any snow or leaves that may have collected. The bees will have been doing their housekeeping and from time to time you may see dead bees littered on the landing board, so
clear those away as well. Check food stores – heft the hives, by lifting the sides and back, to guage
the weight. If you took a weight reading in autumn you could check current weight against this to give an accurate reading. If the hive is light, feed fondant.
Feeding with Pollen Patties. As spring approaches the bees will begin to raise
brood. Nectar gives the bees energy (it is their carbohydrate) but pollen is needed for protein to build up the young. Pollen supplies will vary considerably at this time of year depending on where you are and the vegetation around you
(tree pollen is often first to become available). It is therefore worth considering feeding pollen pattie to your bees. This is commercially available as Neopoll or
Candipolline (from all good beekeeping suppliers) or if you are long on time and short of things to do you could have a go at making your own..see this youtube video for further instruction…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjiWleTwYrg.
Whichever route you take, roll the patty out (like pastry) to a thin layer and place directly on top of the brood frames.
Make up frames and boxes – so that you are well ahead as the Spring
takes off and you need resources on hand
Change solid floors with minimum disturbance if you use these as they tend to accumulate wet rubbish
Open mesh floors if you find they have been heavily propolised. Where you have mesh floors you can check to see where the bees are clustered by looking at the debris (wax flakes etc.) on the monitoring board. If the
bees are right over at one side you may need to consider moving stores close to the cluster so the bees can access them rather than risk
starvation through isolation. Read – refresh your knowledge of what to expect and look out for as the
season progresses. Get along to Bee Banter and talk to experienced beekeepers
2016 HWBKA AGM and Honey Show Report
words and pictures by Samantha Bowles
This years’ AGM and Honey Show was the best attended for quite some years. Lots of fantastic entries into the show; all types of honey, cakes together with
some very interesting homemade beekeeping equipment. Late arrivals had to sit on tables as there was not an extra chair to be found anywhere!
The outgoing President, David Murray-Brown, opened the meeting. David gave a lively introduction and finished by handing over to our new President, Brian
Hopper, who has been elected for the next 3 years. Helen, our chairperson, gave a short speech and this was followed by the election of officers. As all the
reports had been circulated in advance of the meeting there was no need to go over them in depth and the members had a chance to ask questions about each of the reports if required. Short discussions ensued; acceptance of reports and
the AGM was very swiftly brought to a close!
We then had a very informative talk by Jennifer Moore on “Moving Bumble Bee nests”, which was a fascinating subject, although sadly as I was busy dealing with the Honey Show I couldn’t really hear from the back of the room. I would
dearly have loved to have been able to listen in properly! A big thanks to Jennifer for her time.
Refreshments followed together with the attendees chance to taste the entries in the Novice Honey Class. There were lots of amazing entries, all different colours
and varying tastes and Maurice McGovern’s honey was the clear winner. There was also a good selection of homemade beekeeping equipment for everyone to
judge too. Some items looked very strange, but had really fantastic uses – it always seems to me that beekeepers are very inventive when faced with issues presented by our lovely bees!
We had a number of stands and stalls, together with a raffle with some really
lovely prizes. The raffle raised a fantastic £80 for Association funds. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets, but special thanks to all that donated prizes, including Steve & Clare Adams, Helen Hadley and Andrew Moore, who also
generously sponsored the ribbons for the Honey Show. We had a Flow Hive on display, thank you to Edward Hutt who brought it along
and showed it everyone.
The drawing of the raffle and prize giving finished off a very enjoyable afternoon.
Our Honey Show and AGM is a very social event. Long gone are the days of
long drawn out report reading! It’s primarily a chance to chat to fellow members, indulge in tea and cake (our members make some of the best cake
around and generously bring them along!) and taste some delicious honey. However, none of this would be possible without the fabulous volunteers who
gave up their time to make the event possible. Our judges, Jean Greer and her sister Lynne deliberated long and hard over the judging of 8 of the very well
attended classes. Sincere thanks to them both as it is not an easy job and it takes a lot of effort and deliberation in a very short space of time. They were also on hand to chat with people about their choices of winners.
Stuart Goddard and Amanda Savage did an amazing job of helping with the
paperwork and taking entries to the Honey Show. Stuart also helped Rose Marie with the teas, washing up and made a cake – a multi tasking volunteer! There are many others who helped with the set up and take down, making and
donating cakes – thank you to all of you, I am sorry I can’t name you all but you know who you are. It is much appreciated by all members and makes our
Honey Show the success it is. I look forward to seeing even more of you next year!
HWBKA HONEY SHOW 2016 RESULTS
Ribbons kindly sponsored by Andrew Moore
WINNER OF THE VERA BECVAR HONEY CUP : Helen Hadley CLASS ONE - Clear Honey - Open 1st - Helen Hadley
2nd – Barbara Tasker 3rd – Peter Halford
Highly Commended – Malcolm Wilkie
CLASS TWO - Set Honey - Open 1st – Colin Stocks
2nd – Richard Miller 3rd – Elizabeth Missen
Highly Commended – Samantha Bowles
CLASS THREE - Cut Comb - Open 1st – Helen Hadley
2nd – Amanda Savage 3rd – Norman Beresford
CLASS FOUR - Clear or Set Honey – Novice (Voted for by attendees of Honey Show)
1st – Maurice McGovern 2nd – Denise Beedell 3rd James Waldock Highly Commended – Andrew Moore, Sue Harding and Lesley Francis
CLASS FIVE - Cakes
1st – Malcolm Wilkie (Honey Cake) 2nd – Barbara Tasker (Honey & Almond Cake) 3rd – Maggie Whittaker (Honey Cake)
CLASS SIX – Biscuits/Confectionery & other honey edibles
1st – Colin Stocks (Honey & Lavender Ice Cream)
CLASS SEVEN - Preserves & Mead 1st – Peter Coxon 2nd – Maggie Whittaker
CLASS EIGHT - Dipped Candle 1st – Johannes Blummel 2nd – Robert Stovell 3rd – Helen Searle
CLASS NINE - Moulded Candle 1st – Nick Packham 2nd – Sue Harding 3rd – Barbara Tasker 4th – Maggie Whittaker
CLASS ELEVEN - Handmade Beekeeping Item (Voted by the Attendees of the Honey Show) 1st – Nick Packham 2nd – Steve Davies 3rd – John Preston
4th – Steve Davies
CLASS TEN - Any other Wax, Pollen or Propolis Product No entries
BBKA BASIC ASSESSMENT
The HWBKA wishes to make all members aware of the opportunity to train for
the BBKA Basic Assessment, the aim of which is to provide new beekeepers with a goal which will give them a measure of their achievement in the basic skills and knowledge of the craft. It is hoped that it will be a springboard from which
to launch into the more demanding assessments.
It is a practical exam and, subject to numbers, HWBKA will run a refresher course for candidates. Full details of the syllabus can be found at:
http://www.bbka.org.uk/files/library/basic_syllabus_2016_1446637555.pdf
together with the Entry form at:
http://www.bbka.org.uk/files/library/appform_13c_1381739800.pdf Send you completed form to Harold Cloutt, make payment to SBKA (Sussex Beekeeping Association) not to the BBKA. Harold will sort out exam location, date and time. Harold's email address is [email protected]
Beekeeping in Tasmania
Whilst “Down Under” in November and December I came across the story of
Ewan Stephens who is part of a four-generation family run bee farm. Ewan has been beekeeping for 57 years at Mole Creek in
Tasmania. The Stephens have 2,500 hives located in beautiful World Heritage listed rainforest that is home to the leatherwood
tree, giving the honey its distinctive flavour and properties.
Open blossom of the leatherwood tree.
How many supers??
Ewan drives some 35,000 kilometres in three months of the year moving hives around and
bringing in the honey harvest from which he packs 84,000 jars of honey a month.
He says, “My life revolves around our bees and they are fascinating creatures.”
“Gift of the Gods” – Beekeeping from Classical Times
This was a truly fascinating documentary released on 27th January on Radio 4; it
is still available on i-player or online. Famed bee-lover, Martha Kearney, explored beekeeping in the Classical era and
how much of what is still current beekeeping practice originates from the times of Homer, Virgil and the likes. Zeus himself is said to have been hidden by his
mother Rhea (lest his father Cronos should eat him) and he was raised by bees, nourished by their honey and protected by their stings.
There is a wealth of classical references mixed with observations from today’s beekeepers on the island of Crete. Two particular quotes made me smile….
The first, from Pliny the Elder (The Natural History, Book XI. The various kinds of insects.) “But among them all, the first rank, and our especial admiration, ought,
in justice, to be accorded to bees, which alone, of all the insects, have been created for the benefit of man. They extract honey and collect it, a juicy substance remarkable for its extreme sweetness, lightness, and wholesomeness.
They form their combs and collect wax, an article that is useful for a thousand purposes of life; they are patient of fatigue, toil at their labours, form
themselves into political communities, hold councils together in private, elect chiefs in common, and, a thing that is the most remarkable of all, have their own code of morals. In addition to this, being as they are, neither tame nor wild,
so all-powerful is Nature, that, from a creature so minute as to be nothing more hardly than the shadow of an animal, she has created a marvel beyond all
comparison.” The second, infinitely more amusing, are words of advice from Columella (the
most important writer on agriculture of the Roman empire), “The man who handles bees must wash, must not be drunk and must abstain from food with a
strong flavour and for a day before he must abstain from sexual relations.” No mention of women, so lady beekeepers indulge as you will!
Hive Inspection Videos
If you have a quiet moment and (most evenings at the moment) can’t find anything interesting on TV why not watch this video available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0aHrVJDRfk&feature=youtu.be
Beekeeper Michael Palmer walks us through how he inspects one of his Nuc hives. He gives an excellent overview of what he looks for in a hive as winter
approaches and what the hive may require. He makes some interesting observations and has one or two alternative techniques worth considering. Not a
glove in sight and some extremely calm bees. In a second Video Michael talks us through swarm conditions and what he does
to avert swarming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3QlLUcT2SQ
The Sugarbag Bee - Tetragonula carbonaria
If you ever get the chance to visit Sydney, Australia, I highly recommend a wander through the botanical gardens that sit between city and shoreline aside
the Sydney Opera House. Apart from the beauty of native flora you might also come across strange tree stumps….peer in closely for
within is a world in miniature, the home of Tetragonula carbonaria, a native Australian stingless bee whose common name is Sugarbag bee.
Hive entrance
Some 10,000 bees per nest, a few peeping out!
The bees are predominantly black bodied, covered in
microscopic hairs. The worker’s body length is 3.9-4.3 mm, and the wing length (including tegula) is
4.1-4.6 mm. I think I’d need a rather strong pair of spectacles if I had to inspect these bees!
The entrance and surrounding areas of the nest are coated with a smooth, thick layer of black, red, or yellow cerumen, a material formed by mixing beeswax
with propolis. The brood cells are arranged in combs or semicombs. The cells are a single layer of hexagonal combs that are built in a spiral. The brood chamber is centered in the hive, which makes T. carbonaria suitable for hive propagation.
Like honey bees, T. carbonaria forms honeycombs in their
nests. They produce an edible honey – which is collected from the hives in the botanical garden and sold in the shop.
Indigenous peoples in Australia have a tradition of honey
hunting. Because they rely on honey for medicine and food they protect bees’ habitats better than in other conservation and management techniques and
demonstrate a strong connection between pollinators and people.
COOKERY CORNER
Mulsum and Conditum– drinks fit for the Gods?
Before I listened to Radio 4’s Gift of the Gods documentary I had never heard of Mulsum….Martha Kearney and her guest made it sound delightful, so I though I’d find out more about it – and share it with you.
Falernian wine was produced from Aglianico grapes on the slopes of Mt. Falernus
near the border of Latium and Campania, where it became the most renowned wine produced in ancient Rome. Wines of the time were much more bitter than
we know them as vines were uncultured so sweetening was a way to make the drink more pleasurable – and what better way than to use nature’s natural sweetener, honey. Falernian was mixed with Attic honey to create a delicious
drink “suitable to be poured by Ganymede, cupbearer to Zeus”. It is served cold often as an aperitif and is very simple to make:
Warm 1/2 cup clear honey Add it to a bottle of medium-dry white wine. Chill before serving.
A watered down version was liberally dispensed at public events to solicit the
political support of the gathered crowds and such was its popularity that Rome had to import wine from areas now known as Spain and France.
If you like a more exotic, heady mix then Conditum may be your tipple. Conditum is essentially Mulsum brewed with herbs and spices but unlike a
mulled wine with which many of us will be more familiar, is sampled cold. Here is the recipe contained in Apicius, a 4th Century Roman recipe book: "Put six sextarii of honey into a bronze jar containing two sextarii of wine, so that the
wine will be boiled off as you cook the honey. Heat this over a slow fire of dry wood,
stirring with a wooden rod as it boils. If it boils over, add some cold wine. Take off the
heat and allow to cool. When it does cool, light another fire underneath it. Do this a
second and a third time and only then remove it from the brazier and skim it. Next, add
4 ounces of pepper, 3 scruples of mastic, a dragma of bay leaf and saffron, 5 date
stones and then the dates themselves. Finally, add 18 sextarii of light wine. Charcoal
will correct any bitter taste." - Apicius, 1.1
If like me you’re short on bronze jars, are unsure what a sextarii measure is and
only cook on fires during the BBQ season, then help is at hand…….
Ingredients Method 187ml White Wine 150g Honey
2 Bay Leaves 1/2 tsp Fennel Seeds
(instead of mastic) 1 tsp Black Pepper
Several Strands of Saffron 1 Small Handful of Raisins
or Dates
Add 75ml of wine and all of the honey to a saucepan – dissolve the honey completely then
remove the pan from the heat. Whilst the wine is still hot, add all of the other
ingredients - this will help the flavours to infuse. Place a lid on top of the pan to keep the
heat in to prolong the process.
When this is cool, add the rest of the wine. To
serve, pour through a fine sieve - it will probably still be quite cloudy. Taste for sweetness - if it is too sweet dilute with water
or with more wine.
Book Corner
The Bees – Laline Paull
This is a novel set within a colony of bees. It is imaginative and largely accurate in terms of understanding bee lifecycles and the
perils to which bees are subject – but it is much more than a novel about bees.
The heroine, Flora 717, is a low-ranked sanitation worker. But she is also blessed with acute senses and she is allowed, even
encouraged, to spread her wings in the midst of the totalitarian hive society, headed by a Queen who intoxicates her brood so that each bee is devoted to the cause of propagating their species at all costs. Comparisons with Margaret
Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale come to mind; as in that book, femaleness is inextricably linked to childbearing, and only the chosen may breed.
There is a somewhat amusing portrayal of male “drones” as egotistical layabouts who do “nothing for their keep but brag and eat” and must be flattered by the females in order to retain their reproductive power.
There is no shortage of violence both within and beyond the hive which oscillates between well-ordered society and dystopian nightmare as its painstaking
organisation is threatened by disease, the coming deprivations of winter and “the Myriad” – the lawless outside world of invaders such as enemy wasps, spiders and flies and man made “dank monoxide wind”.
An excellent read that will pull you in to Flora’s plight and make you look at your
hives just a little differently next time you un- There is no shortage of violence both within and beyond the hive roof them!
Publisher: Fourth Estate; 01 edition (1 Jan. 2015) ISBN-10: 0007557744
The Chain Bridge Honey Bible – Liz Ashworth This is a collection of delicious and easy to prepare recipes that
include Scottish honey, with its fragrances of heather, meadowsweet, clover and birch, as its main ingredient. Liz
Ashworth introduces us to its versatility from dishes as varied as Medieval sweet pickled salmon and honey-spiced beetroot, to the delectable cranachan and more contemporary chocolate honey
fudge cake. There’s the delightful sounding Tattie Drottle and Whisky Prawns to savour also.
Prepared in collaboration with one of the UK’s oldest and largest honey farms, Chain Bridge, this book draws on the experience and traditions of generations of
skilled beekeepers and Scottish cooks in the use of this quintessentially natural and organic food.
Liz Ashworth is a Scottish food writer and food product developer, with a particular interest in using local products.
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 9781780273440
IDEAS, PHOTOS & ARTICLES FOR THE NEWSLETTER ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS!
You do not have to be a budding writer. Just drop me a line and I’ll happily talk over the phone or catch up with you at Bee Banter
If you would like to let other members know of any bee-related activity you are
involved in just drop me a line and I’ll spread the word.
Contact the Editor at [email protected]
Next newsletter out March/April
Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Beekeepers
Eastbourne Beekeepers Association
www.beekeeper.org.uk
Eastbourne Beekeeping Association (EBKA) are running a Food Hygiene Course specifically for beekeepers on Saturday 18 February 2017 9.00 –16.00 at Arlington Village Hall, Arlington, near Hailsham BN26 6RX
Ideal for those preparing honey for sale and for those who are involved in helping with catering. Also for those working towards their BBKA General Husbandry Qualification.
The Course will be directed by accredited CIEH instructor Jean Piper.
The successful candidates will receive a ‘Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Manufacturing’.
Cost is only £40 per person, payable to EBKA on confirmation of a place; 20 places are available. (Plumpton College run a similar course for £95 so this represents great value for money).
Tea and coffee will be available during the day but participants are asked to bring their own food/other refreshments.
More information from [email protected]
