Hon. Newsletter Editor:
Peter Edwards
E-mail: beekeepers@stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk

All our members should now be entered on the BBKA Register of Members, along with over 9,000 other names, and as such you should have received your membership card for 2003 and the February issue of BBKA News. Contact me if you have not had either of these. We have now been informed that the distribution of BBKA news will 'for the present' revert to the previous system, i.e. posted in bulk to Associations. Remember if you go to the Spring Convention at Stoneleigh on April 26th to take your card with you to obtain a discount on the entrance fee and on other possible offers on the stands. Should you lose your membership card at any time contact the BBKA office on 024 7669 6679 (am. only).

Following the disease outbreak in Warwickshire last year, CSL are holding a one-day talk and practical session. The following agenda is a guide to the day but may change slightly:

9.45am Arrival

10.15am Welcome and introduction by Peter Spencer

10.30am Talk by Robin Hall on disease and other topics

11.30am Break for tea/coffee

12.00pm Session on tube sampling and other field trials

Update on inspection plan for the season

1.00pm Lunch - bring your own or make your own arrangements

2.00pm General Forum - questions and answers on foulbrood concerns

There will be a Regional Bee Inspector and the two Seasonal Bee Inspectors who will be covering Warwickshire on hand throughout the day to give advice. There will be tube sample kits as well as a supply of Ministry leaflets and useful handouts.

Please come along and support this important event.

No - not in Africa I am afraid! This is a beekeeping safari and it will be around the Stratford-upon-Avon area. The notes below from the National Bee Unit explain the idea, but I need volunteers who would like to have their apiaries inspected to contact me now so that I can plan the route. The safari will be on Saturday 17, 24 or 31 May, so if you are willing to volunteer, please let me have dates that you are available, together with the location of your apiary, by 21 April so that I can finalise the date.

Hilary Robson has still got some of her beekeeping equipment for sale, including 3 National supers, together with frames, some with new foundation and some with drawn. Also a smoker, bee suit, 2 hoods, gloves, a good quantity of honey jars, fondant and thymol. She also has 2 books: Ted Hooper, an essential for any beekeeper, and 'Beekeeping in the Swarming Season' by George Davis. Contact her on 01789 731324.

A lot of winter Oil-seed Rape (OSR) was sown last August, but because of the dry autumn some fields did not establish well. Many fields were sown with winter beans and these have grown well. Favourable sowing conditions this spring allowed many crops of spring beans to be planted. There is a predicted good demand for Rapeseed oil this year and favourable sowing conditions has seen a greater area of spring OSR being planted in 2003 than for many years, some either patching or replacing failed winter OSR and some of it in new fields.

The earliest winter OSR crops will soon start flowering and a succession of blossom will then follow from the later spring OSR.

All crops will benefit from a nice steady rain - it was last recorded at Preston on Stour on March 7th.

An ideal opportunity to get some bargains or sell unwanted items. On Saturday, 19th April at Blakedown Parish Rooms, situated on the A456 between Kidderminster and Hagley. Organised by the Hagley & Stourbridge Branch of the Worcestershire Beekeepers Association, information can be obtained at www.busy.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk or ring Nick Templar on 01562 882145. Items for auction will include nuclei or stocks of bees, beekeeping and related equipment, gardening tools and apiary maintenance equipment. Viewing from 9.00 am. on the day, with the auction starting at mid-day. Light refreshments will be available.

[But do beware of disease - although I have no reason to doubt any items here, auctions can easily be used to get rid of dodgy bees and equipment! There is a great deal of EFB around and it may not be apparent in colonies so early in the season. Any empty equipment should, of course, be thoroughly sterilised before use. Empty combs are best burnt - ask yourself - what happened to the bees? Ring me if you need advice. Peter Edwards]

Your receipt is enclosed in this month's mailing. Please check it carefully to ensure that you have the correct BDI cover - it should be for the maximum number of colonies that you intend to work this season.

Lack of space means that I have been unable to include the promised articles on Repairs, Bees at the Taj Mahal and reports on recent meetings. These will follow next month, I hope! I will also try to have a 'disease free' edition, except for details of the safari!