Newbattle Beekeepers Association

Record sightings of Asian hornets are raising fears of catastrophic consequences for the UK's bee populations for years to come.

The invasive hornets are wreaking havoc in mainland Europe and threaten to get a foothold in the UK, with nests found in East Sussex, Kent, Devon and Dorset.

The insects feed on native bees and wasps, damaging biodiversity.

The warning comes as leading scientists release a global report into the threats caused by invasive species.

Read More Here

Ticket Sales Closing

There's only a few weeks left to buy tickets for the SBA annual beekeeping convention at Baldragon Academy in Dundee on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th of September, co-hosted with Baldragon Beekeepers' Association. 

The theme this year is Healthy Bees and some wonderful speakers are lined up. Caishlan Sweeney, Dr Kirsty Stainton and Lynfa Davies, NDB. Kirsty will talk on 'Honeybee Diseases' and 'Honeybee Viruses'. Very apt topics given the rise this year in disease instances. Lynfa will not only be discussing the 'Mysteries of Mating' but also 'Honeybee Behaviour'. For more on the speakers please click here.

The convention weekend opens on the evening of Friday 29th September when Baldragon Beekeepers invites everyone to come along and listen to Caishlan Sweeney, as she talks about the Eden Project's plans for their new site in Dundee.

The usual trade area will be there with some great show deals and raffle, PLUS the annual Scottish National Honey Show is on at the same time and place. The SBA are looking forward to welcoming beekeepers from all across Scotland, so please click on the link below

www.sbaconvention.org.uk

Tickets are £30 for adults and £15 for students/juniors and sales close on 24th September.

Make sure that you order your winter bee feed before stocks are depleted. Go to the online shop now and secure your supplies.

Take Me to the Online Shop 

Apiguard activity is temperature-dependent but the instructions are vague on the minimum temperatures needed for high efficacy. Is Apiguard appropriate for the bees in your area? How might you determine this?

Read what David has to say about it Here

Why was the summer 2023 honey crop so poor (at least here in Scotland) after a bumper Spring harvest, and what could or should I have done instead? Where did it all go wrong for David?

Find Out Here

Thorne have put out a recall notice for Budget Stainless Steel Smokers as it has come to their attention that the bellows in this smoker may contain a small amount of chrysotile asbestos.   The bellows are light grey in colour and made with reconstituted leather.  They have a rough finish. 

Find Out More About the Recall Here 

These smokers have been available for sale in the UK from most beekeeping suppliers and in many cases are still on sale. 

Smokers ordered between April 2019 and May 2023 could be affected.

If you have purchased one of these smokers from Thorne during this period, please contact sales@thorne.co.uk with proof of purchase, to receive replacement bellows.

A useful website showing how to dispose of asbestos is:  www.gov.uk/asbestos-in-home.

Read the Ministerial Letter Here

Kiva is an easy way to make a real difference in someone's life. Will you join me in helping El Pedernal Community Bank in Santa Ana to pursue their dream? 

Support the Santa Ana Beekeepers 

Working together for the past five years, this community bank has found balance with nature and profitability by adding value to their coffee farms. They have learned that working alongside bees, has made each coffee harvest bountiful and so has been the honey harvest. With beautiful orange trees surrounding the coffee plants, they provide a much needed and beneficial shade, this allows the coffee plants to grow with the upside that the honey produced and harvested by El Pedernal Community Bank has a delicious orange zest smell and taste; a much liked characteristic by many who purchase it. 

It is through both activities that each family is able to provide for their own and continue with their labor. Because demand has grown in the past year, they need to increase their productivity and this is why they are looking for their first KIVA loan. They community bank will use the funds to buy bigger and better beehives and honey collecting equipment so as to keep up with the demand. Pictured here are some of El Pedernal Community Bank members.

Click on the link below to read the post

Too Many Honey Bees in Town?

another-beast-from-the-east 

Would you recognise a tropilaelaps mite if you found one in a hive? Click on the link above for more information.