Newent Branch of the Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association

Newsletter May 2001

So far a slightly difficult year as no doubt it has been for many bee keepers. We have no meeting in January and cancelled the February one as our speaker was ill and there was a wide spread desire to reduce unnecessary contact to a minimum in an attempt, sadly hopeless, to speedily contain the spread of FMD. This, unfortunately, led some members to suppose all events were cancelled for the duration of the FMD epidemic. However, we gathered for our March meeting, as usual on the evening of the second Thursday of the month, and heard an inspired talk from Jeff Bee on Bees Abroad. For many and diverse reasons the gathering was smaller than usual but Jeff took this in his stride. In May we were just as fascinated by Len Dixon talking on the History of Bee Keeping - a learned and illustrated talk we will certainly want to hear again when more members are free to attend.

Our meetings then became, as usual, more informal for the summer. Our brewery visit was hijacked by closures and the inevitable FMD effect so we had a home made wine and mead evening at Redmarley in June instead. Arthur and Mabel again showed their inimitable hospitality - we were showered with bee information (queen rearing on this occasion) and, later, delicious food and tea while watching an instructive video tape, again on queen rearing, leant us by the Cheltenham branch. We are now looking for a venue for a teaching apiary. One new member is already anticipated (contact made at a medieval banquet to which we naturally took a bottle of mead) and if we can get a site and a grant we shall advertise for more. At the September meeting we hope for the attendance of a wider representation of our membership although the treasurer and chairperson will, alas, be unable to attend - we are hoping to take a well earned break among the South African flowers after helping on the honey stall at the Newent Onion Fayre! Anyone have any useful SA bee keeper contacts?

As far as practical bee keeping is concerned, the year had a late start here with a few of us (some of those who could reach their bee hives without endangering farmers’ stock) feeding our bees lest the wet and windy weather starve them out. Then the fruit trees and oil seed rape combined to multiply bees in the hives and supers were swiftly dusted down and installed for a better honey crop than last year! At present there is the blossom on the sweet chestnut trees to sustain the colonies before what promises to be a bumper crop of blackberry buds come into bloom.

Christine Birkan

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