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

In the June newsletter I gave advance warning and I now require your orders for jars and fondant by 15 August. Although I am still negotiating final prices, I can guarantee that the fondant price will be no higher than last year, although the jars are likely to be just a little more. In both cases the prices will be well below what you might expect to pay elsewhere, so make sure that you do not miss out - this will be your only opportunity to order this year and I will definitely not be carrying any 'spare' stock!

Contact me now for a final price. I will then require cash with order by 15 August.
Peter Edwards

There has been an increase in the number of cases of pyrethroid-resistant varroa mites recently, so if you treat with Apistan and think that the treatment is not working properly, please contact me so that I can do a resistance test and advise on alternative treatment.
Peter Edwards

A typical day for this summer of cloud and average temperature tempted only a few members to Hampton Wood this month. Kevin and Chris pottered about on the early shift but there was little to be done and by the time 3.00pm came round Chris had had to leave without seeing the bees.

Keith, Terry & David arrived to look at the hives but there was again little to do following the previous months of removing all that rape honey. Some stocks were fine with little stores and some were on tighter rations. All bar one had brood and that other one still had young bees and is presumed to be hiding a young queen. Hive 5 is being artificially swarmed and the top brood box was taken down and put alongside the hive so it will be ready for uniting back to the parent colony next time.

No honey taken this time.
Kevin Roles

After the indifferent weather during the week, I was relieved that the sun shone on us for our walk. Twenty-two members met at the Milcote car park, walked along part of the Greenway towards Stratford and then to Weston-on-Avon where we stopped to look at the church. We completed the circle back to the car park and then drove to the vineyard at Welford Hill.

Here I should perhaps apologise - I advertised the evening as a buffet with a glass of wine, i.e. one glass. However, as we drove into the car-parking field we were met by the owner, David Stanley, who had laid out a table with glasses and ice buckets containing bottles of their own 'fizz' (appropriately named 'Bolinbrooke'). After a brief introduction and tasting (and a top-up!), we walked around the vineyard glasses in hand. David explained various aspects of viticulture, including the special method of pruning they use (Geneva double curtain) to ensure that the grapes ripen properly in our climate. After the tour we had a short introduction to wine tasting and sampled some of their prize-winning Festival and Phoenix wines. Glasses still in hand, we then relaxed in very comfortable chairs and watched a video presentation about the vineyard - from the planting of the vines through to the production of the wine. This was followed by a truly excellent buffet prepared by David's wife, Meryl, and even more wine - including their prize-winning red called Rondo. None of us could now doubt that English wines are able to compete with the very best in the world.
Peter Edwards

Our treasurer, Will Spencer, has won a number of prestigious awards in recent years, so it should perhaps come as no surprise to learn that he recently took top honours at the Royal Show by winning the prestigious Perpetual Challenge Cup. This trophy, rather like our own Challenge Trophy, requires the competitor to excel not just with extracted honey, but also with the range of beekeeping products such as mead, candles and comb. He also won the RASE Bronze Medal for the most points in show. Will tells me that he was particularly pleased to receive another award, the BBKA Dromore Taster, for his 'six jars of honey as for sale'; apparently, no other entries received a place and some entries from well-known figures (who shall be nameless) were disqualified!
Well done, Will!
Peter Edwards

On 26th March John Gower gave us a talk on bee stings, in which he confirmed the complex nature of bee venom, with mellittin being the main component. He then described the mechanism of the sting and the associated bee anatomy, with which we should already be familiar, such as the twin barbs and the continued pumping of the venom, both of which make the sting so efficient and mean that the sooner that it is removed the less effective it will be.

The problems of allergy were described, this being possible from bee dust and propolis, as well as the venom. Tests are available to asses the seriousness of one’s likely reaction, but, of course, those with a bad allergy to the venom can suffer anaphylactic shock, giving rise to acute breathing problems and occasionally death. Unfortunately, there is no easy remedy, it being necessary to undergo a course of de-sensitisation involving small injections of bee venom under strictly supervised medical conditions and lasting perhaps a year or longer. Such people should take all possible precautions against being stung by keeping insect sprays handy and using insect repellent creams. Mr. Gower suggested that they should wear a ‘Medi-alert’ bracelet, carry an up-to-date ‘Epi-pen’ for the self injection of adrenaline and have a mobile phone handy. If stung, an ambulance should be immediately called and in Mr Gower’s opinion the victim should lie down, unlike the BBKA’s suggestion of sitting up.

For those interested in further information we have two articles in the library given to us by Mr. Gower, who being a member of the medical profession impressed us greatly with his knowledge of the subject. There is also a web site: www.emjonline.com.
Mike Osborne

You may remember that I wrote about the Central Association's Leamington weekend in the January 2002 newsletter. At that time I said that I was disappointed to find that I was the only member from Stratford to attend such an excellent - and inexpensive - event.

Well, now you will all have even less excuses because, following the closure of the Manor House in Leamington, it has been decided that the new venue will be right here in Stratford at the Falcon Hotel from 19-21 November. There are lectures on the Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning. Full details to follow in September, but do try to make time to attend - you will not be disappointed.
Peter Edwards

The attendance for our Safari was disappointing to say the least. With no more than four members attending at any one stop, we were almost outnumbered by the Bee Inspectors - Richard Lindsey and Regional Bee Inspector, Ian Molyneux - who told me that 22 members from Evesham had attended their Safari the previous week. Fortunately, we found little to worry us greatly - apart from the lack of honey! There was rather more chalk brood than usual and what little drone brood we found contained a number of varroa mites, but there was little evidence of deformed wings - even in my colonies that have only been treated with thymol since 1998 and have had no treatment this year. There were a few dodgy queens - not surprising, given the poor weather for mating at times this year.

Our Association apiary was inspected for the first time ever and it was clear that the bees have not prospered since the spring crop was removed. There was also some evidence of varroa damage to larvae, so we will need to treat early in August.

Clearly, we will need to have greater commitment if we are to hold another Safari next year.
Peter Edwards