Date

Day of week

Place

Subject

17th March

Thursday7.30 pm

tba

Getting to know the hive parts and bee keepers' equipment including protective clothing; learn some useful jargon.

20th March

Sunday 2.00 pm

apiary

How the hive is cleaned after the bees have been semi-hibernating in it. Practical experience of using the hive tool to help look at the bees. How to keep the bees healthy and people from being stung.

3rd April

Sunday 2.00 pm

apiary

Choose a bee colony for your and a partner's special attention Learn to use smoke to quieten bees; Open a hive to look carefully at a comb. Find out what needs doing.

7th April

Thursday 7.30

Library

Society meeting: Subject: The Wax Moth & Integrated Pest Management

17th April

Sunday 2.00 pm

apiary

Examine 'your' bee colony. Any sign of a wax moth or other problem? Can you see the queen? Start a record book or card.

May 1st

Sunday 2.00 pm

apiary

Examine 'your' bee colony – do the bees have enough space for more honey? If not, ask the instructor for more equipment for them. Look at the different cell contents (honey, pollen, worker bee larvae and the larger drone larvae) is a very large one being prepared for a new queen bee? The instructor demonstrates how to start a new colony simply.

May7th

Thursday 7.30

Library

Society meeting: Subject: Swarm Control Methods

May 12^th

Thursday 6.55pm

apiary

Examine 'your' bee colony to see if there is adequate space for honey, for queen cells, wax moths and then learn to test for varroa.

May 15^th?

Saturday 11.00 am

Hartpury College

Annual Lecture & Auction (2^nd hand equipment) Speaker 11.00am, Auction at 1.00pm.

May 26th

Thursday 6.55pm

apiary

Examine 'your' bee colony and decide if any action is needed Hopefully there will be surplus honey stores and hot weather so that the instructor can demonstrate the preparation of the hive for taking off the honey – which would be extracted the following week end.

June 2nd

Thursday 7.30

Newent Library

Honey and Wounds

June 9th

Thursday 6.55

tba

There will be a display of honey extraction and cleaning equipment and putting honey into jars. Legislation on honey for sale will be discussed

June 23rd

Thursday 6.55

apiary

This is a dangerous time – check your hive carefully lest the bees decide to swarm and leave the hive with the honey – give them space and remove unwanted immature queens.

July 7th

Thursday 7.30

Kilcot

Apiary meeting and supper

July 28^th?

Thursday 6.55

apiary

If fine weather, take off the summer honey crop and help to separate the honey from the wax

August11th

Thursday 6.55

Examine 'your' bee colony; make sure the queen is still laying to ensure a strong hive for the coming winter. The instructor demonstrates treatment of varroa. Close most of the hive entrance to help the bees to defend it from wasps. Learn how to make syrup for the bees' winter food.

August 25th

Thursday 6.55

Feed your bees with syrup. If there are too few bees in your hive to keep it warm and dry they may need to be united with another colony. Help to sterilise and store surplus equipment .

Sept TBA

Sunday 2.00 pm

Check hive weight. Prepare 'your' hive for winter; fix wire mesh over the entrance to keep out mice.