Chairman letter – Feb 2018

Dear Kennet Beekeeper,

Our next talk is by the very popular Brigit Strawbridge who gave us ‘The life of Bumblebees’ last year. This Friday 2 February, at Bishops Cannings Village Hall SN10 2LA at 7.30, she is talking on ‘Bees and other pollinators‘. You are welcome to bring family and friends to this talk which I believe will be of special interest to many people outside KBKA.

Just back from the printer is the KBKA programme for 2018. Please collect and sign for it at the meeting on 2 February. We will of course post copies out to those who are unable to collect it themselves. The programme is full of interesting events for Association members and I urge you to pin your copy up somewhere prominently in your home – so you don’t miss any of the events! I have just taken 10 minutes and written it all in my 2018 diary.

Talking of events, I have promised to do a short Queen rearing course this year. I will need a very strong colony on double brood and will be taking it mainly in my apiary at Honeystreet using the Cloake Board method – but we may use a KBKA club Queen to breed from – it depends who has the best Queen in late April and the strongest colony. With Queen rearing the dates are vital and critical and cannot be changed whatever the weather. If you are interested the cost is £20.00 each, and you may get a Queen cell to put in a nuc of your own! Let me know if you are interested. The course is limited to six people and provided I have a strong colony to breed from the provisional dates are:-

1.Tuesday 24 April at 6.30, 2. Saturday 28 April at 11.00 3, Sunday 29 April at 11.00 4. Sunday 6 May at 11.00
5. Sunday 13 May at 11.00 6. Sunday 27 at 11.00

The Association will once again be running an ‘Introduction to beekeeping’ course, starting in February. There are still spaces on the course. If you know anyone who is interested, please ask them to contact Dick Church on email:- church175@btinternet.com.

On the subject of training, those of you who have two or three years of beekeeping experience should consider doing the ‘Basic beekeeping’ assessment. For more information, please contact Dick Church on email:- church175@btinternet.com.

Totally unrelated to bees but I am setting up Alton Arts in my village when we hope to have films, talks and other interesting things. If you would like to be on the mailing list please contact me on altonarts@altonsandhoneystreet.org.uk.

I know that ‘Bees and other pollinators‘, this Friday, will of interest to many people, so I hope to see our new members and many of you there.

All best wishes to all members.

Robert Carpenter Turner

Chairman Kennet Beekeepers

Tel: – 01672 852265    email:-  chairman@kennet-beekeepers.co.uk