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

Last year we had a very successful and instructive beekeeping safari, visiting members' apiaries with our Seasonal Bee Inspector, Richard Lindsey, who demonstrated the correct techniques for disease inspection and the hygienic handling of colonies. See the newsletters for April 2003 and August 2003 for details.

This year we are planning a safari on 24 July and I now need members to volunteer their apiaries for a visit. The success of the event will depend upon being able to plan visits to perhaps half a dozen apiaries across the district - so don't be shy, ring me now and get a free inspection of your colonies by the experts! Large apiaries are not required, as we would aim to inspect no more than three colonies at each location.
Peter Edwards

When I was at Sherborne a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a considerable number of rather washed-out looking rape flowers - not exactly white, but certainly a rather pale cream colour. I had not seen this before and wondered about the cause - perhaps it was all that miserable weather! I was sure that I knew a man who would have the answer and, sure enough, a quick email to Will Spencer produced the information.

Apparently, the pale flowers indicate a sulphur deficiency in the soil - and this has occurred because of the reduction of pollution from power stations - they no longer emit vast amounts of sulphur dioxide. Will added that at first (10 years ago) it only showed up on light land, and this was routinely treated with a fertiliser containing sulphur. As years passed the heavy land has also become deficient and now all rape crops are given ammonium sulphate instead of ammonium nitrate as a first top dressing in February. Where pale patches of flowers still show, it indicates that the deficiency is becoming worse and so higher rates of sulphur will be required in future; however, by this stage of the crop it is too late to treat in the current year - the damage has been done and yield lost.
Peter Edwards

Email members will already know that I have had a 4-frame nuc stolen from one of my apiaries at Aston Cantlow. The nuc was made up on 2 May and had the number 7 painted roughly on the front; it disappeared between 9 & 15 May. It was amongst other hives, some of which are not noted for their good temper, so if it was removed during the day then it must have been taken by a beekeeper. Of course, it is possible it was taken at night by youths, but a search of surrounding fields and ditches has not found it and we have had no calls from members of the public.

I have reported the theft to the police and any information that may lead to its recovery would be gratefully received.
Peter Edwards

Members who attended this month's meeting were treated to an interesting and eventful afternoon's beekeeping, with colonies in all stages of development giving those new to the craft an opportunity to gain valuable experience.

I received a telephone call from Jim at about 12 o'clock to inform me that he had been called out to Hampton Wood to collect what turned out to be a small cast that had settled in the dead hedge which surrounds the apiary. When I arrived for the afternoon's meeting I was greeted by Kevin, with the news that he had witnessed a swarm departing from the apiary - and another settling in an oak tree on the edge of the apiary.

The swarm in the tree was about 25' off the ground. If a ladder had been available we could have collected it, however, in the interests of safety a decision was made to leave the swarm in the hope that it would take up residence in one of the bait hives.

David demonstrated his skill at handling and assessing the colonies. Colony 1 had swarmed and was left with one queen cell. Colonies 3 & 4 had not shown any inclination to swarm and were filling supers nicely; the queens were spotted by Geoff and, in absence of a queen press-on cage for marking, Terry volunteered to hold the first queen - and she was duly marked. The marking of queen 2 was more eventful! When an attempt was made to catch her she decided to take flight, landing on Kevin. After several attempts at catching her she was lost. She was eventually spotted crawling in the undergrowth heading towards her residence and after being caught again she was last seen being guided into her front door by Sarah!

Artificial swarms were carried out on the remaining colonies and David demonstrated a different method of creating an 'artificial swarm' using the cast caught by Jim; the method is:

• Move the parent colony brood box to one side.
• Replace the parent colony brood box with a new brood box containing frames of foundation plus one frame of brood from parent colony brood box with sealed brood eggs and larvae.
• Replace the queen excluder, supers and crown board.
• Put a split-board or floor on top and then the parent colony brood box, after removing the queen cells from it.
• Run the cast (or a swarm) into the bottom box.

So the new colony consists of, new brood box with foundation and one frame of brood minus queen cells on original floor, queen excluder, honey supers, sealed cover board, new floor on top of the supers, brood box containing the parent colony, cover board and roof. The theory is that you stop the urge to swarm, and use the surplus swarm. So the swarming colony is replaced with a swarm and honey production is not sacrificed.

[Perhaps next month Terry will tell us what happens next. I would add a caveat that, if a cast is used, there is a danger that the queen will not have mated properly and may lead out a large mating swarm; the hive is then often left resembling the Marie Celeste! PE]

After a hectic start the afternoon turned out to be an enjoyable occasion in a beautiful setting, I do hope everyone gained something from the meeting.
Terry Hitchman

Our chairman has taken me to task for my comments about the weather in my April Topical Tips - apparently February did not fill the dykes around Pillerton Priors and it is very dry! It was, perhaps, ironic that at the time we were paddling in mud at the apiary meeting.

Now, I must admit that although I record the maximum and minimum temperatures accurately each day (and have done so since starting to keep bees in 1981), my system for recording rainfall is rather more subjective than scientific, i.e. if it rains all day then it is wet, regardless of the total volume of water involved - a sort of bee's eye view of the weather! I simply record my perception of rainfall on a scale of 0 to 5 for each day and each night, with 0 = dry, 1 = some light rain, 2 = persistent rain, 3 = virtually non-stop rain, 4 = very heavy rain with some flooding of roads and 5 reserved for the Easter floods!

On that basis, February this year scored a total of 34 against a total last year of 12. There was also rain on 16 days this year, compared with only 10 last year. Official data from the Met Office (www.metoffice.com) shows 28.3mm of rain for the Midlands during February 2003, but 39.6mm for February 2004 - so it was considerably wetter than last year. The 1971-2000 average for February in Stratford-upon-Avon is 40.6mm with 9.4 'raindays', so on this basis we had an average February for rainfall this year, but with more 'raindays'.

Perhaps I should buy a rain gauge!
Peter Edwards

Just a reminder for those of you still receiving this newsletter by post that you could get it electronically if you have an email address. Even better - read it on our website where there are also photographs with some articles. Even if you do still want the paper version posted to you, it would be helpful if you could let me know if you have email - it can be so useful for contacting members quickly.
Peter Edwards

I will be ordering honey jars and fondant for winter feed later this year. Details to follow.
Peter Edwards

Hartpury College, which is just north of Gloucester, is running a number of one-day courses during the summer on various aspects of beekeeping. Costing £30 each, they include 'Disease control', 'Preparation for and going to the heather' and 'Preparation for winter'. For beginners there is a two-day 'Introduction to beekeeping' course in June, cost £75, and in July a five-day 'Beekeeping for all' course, cost £125, which is well worth attending if you have the time. Further details and application forms can be obtained from the Secretary, Mike Osborne, or by ringing the College on 01452 702132 ext. 251. If anyone has been on their courses in the past we would be pleased to hear how they got on. Whilst there it is possible to visit Maisemore Apiaries which are just down the road (01452 700289).
Mike Osborne