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

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

This month we have the rare pleasure of welcoming five new members: Marilyn Rainford from Stratford, Adrian Bedford from Stratford, Graham Shand from Wilmcote, Ian Lewis from Wixford, and our first student member Martin Blyth from Alcester.  All five are currently attending our course at Stratford College so should get off to a flying start.  We wish you all full supers!
Peter Edwards

ANNUAL DINNER

There was a lower than usual turnout of 15 people for the Annual Dinner at the Arrow Mill on 25th January.  We would welcome members' suggestions to encourage more members to attend this event.  Is it a question of cost, day of the week or venue? Those that did come had a most enjoyable evening, with the usual excellent food and company.  Get-togethers such as this provide a great opportunity to compare notes.  Our President Denis Keyte presented John Beaumont with his certificate for passing the BBKA Basic Examination, and also David Titcomb with his certificate for '50 years of Beekeeping'.  Commenting on David's justly deserved award, Chairman Terry Hitchman spoke of David's early beekeeping experiences with his father, including the strapping of hives to the car roof when they moved house.  It is good to know that David's beekeeping skills are being passed on to his Grandson, Adam.  Perhaps more of us should be encouraging the younger generation to take an active interest in beekeeping.
Mike Osborne

MEETING 22 FEBRUARY WITH DAVE SUTTON

It is some time now since our Association had any contact with the National Bee Unit (NBU), so we were delighted when our Regional Bee Inspector (RBI), Dave Sutton, agreed to come and talk to us.  He began with a quick presentation of the work of the NBU and its location within the Central Science Laboratory at Sand Hutton near York.  Dave is one of seven RBIs and he is responsible for co-ordinating the work of his team of Seasonal Bee Inspectors (SBIs) who carry out inspections in this area.  Of course, as with all government departments, they are strapped for cash and are running under strength as it is very difficult to find experienced beekeepers willing and able to work as an SBI due to its seasonal nature.  As a result of this, the target of visiting all beekeepers once every three years is unattainable and they do need beekeepers to be able to identify where problems exist - and then call in the NBU if necessary.  Dave stressed that they are always willing to come out to beekeepers and will not be annoyed if that suspected EFB turns out to be mouldy pollen!

Dave’s main subject was the small hive beetle (SHB), which for some ten years has been a major problem for beekeepers in the southern United States.  More recently, it has caused similar problems in Australia.  As with the varroa mite, the gradual spread of the SHB across many parts of the world is due mainly to the movement of bee colonies and swarms.  The life cycle of the beetle is such that its population in a beehive can build up very rapidly, and their larvae, which burrow through the bees' brood nest, can eventually cause the bee colony to collapse.  No evidence that the SHB has entered Britain has yet been found, but Dave described the preparations that he and his colleagues at the NBU are making to deal with any discoveries.  As individual beetles can stow away on fruit being imported, apiaries near ports of entry and freight depots are being monitored.  Contingency plans are in place, the hope being that any outbreak can be dealt with before it spreads.  As with varroa, once it becomes established, the SHB cannot be eradicated.  The message to beekeepers was to avoid importing bees and to look carefully for signs of the SHB when examining colonies.  Dave brought along a supply of booklets (Mike Osborne has some to spare) and we were provided with sheets of a black corrugated plastic (4mm Correx board) to place in hives as beetle traps.  We then had a very brief discussion on Nosema ceranae, but had to leave as we were way past our finishing time - a measure of the quality of the evening.
Peter Edwards

LIBRARY BOOKS

A number of members have had library books out for some time.  Mary Mills, our Librarian would like all books returned to her so that she can carry out a proper audit before we issue a new list.  These can be given to her at her address as below, or brought to our next talk on April 4th.  Her address is: 39, Evesham Road, Stratford-upon-Avon. CV37 9AT.  Please ring first to make sure that she is in on 01789 204235.
Mike Osborne

MOLLINGTON MUSINGS - TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE

Since the advent of varroa I regularly read that beekeepers should collect or destroy all swarms.  There has always been a responsibility for beekeepers to ensure that their bees did not cause annoyance to their neighbours.  When I lived in London this was particularly important.  I cannot recall any cases regarding responsibility for swarms as distinct from ownership.  The recent articles often refer to the 'escaped' bees as 'feral'.  My understanding of the meaning of feral is a domestic animal living wild.  Can bees be described as domestic? I think not.  Bees are wild.  We have achieved very little change in bees despite our best efforts.  That is what makes them so fascinating.  The argument for the prevention of feral bees is that they would be a source of infection for our bees.  In simple terms we are being told there should be no wild bees.  Over my dead body.  What would we say if the government decided to exterminate all badgers to prevent bovine TB in cattle? The destruction of all wild bees however would be pointless.  Varroa is now endemic in our bees and we (and our bees?) are learning to live with Varroa.  Speaking to elderly residents of my village it seems that bees have lived in the wall of our Norman Church for some 100 years.  In my more romantic moments I like to think that they have been there for a 1000 years.  They have certainly been there continuously for the last 10 years as I have been monitoring them.  One recent sunny January morning there were more bees flying there than from my hives.  Long may they and all other wild bees continue to thrive.
Geoffrey Bywaters

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NEW BEE DISEASES - LEGISLATION WANTED

In the days of our grandfathers, who ever heard of Black Brood, and all sorts of brood excepting healthy brood? Yet now we are almost afraid to open our journals, lest we should read of some new horror in the shape of bee disease, striking terror into our hearts.  More terrible than all other ills put together is the latest visitation, which has come to the Isle of Wight.  During the short time it has been here it has wiped out over 90 per cent of bees.  I have known only one stock ever recover after once contracting the scourge.  In a few days, or weeks, after the first symptoms, your strongest and best lot will be no more.  Where it came from, or what caused it, we do not know.  Let us hope there is a local cause.  If not, and it should once get outside the island, woe betide the bees and their owners....What is wanted is legislation.  Not only would I like to see the destruction of foul brood made compulsory, but every contagious disease of bees as well should come under the Act.  No doubt at first it would seem obnoxious to beekeepers, but not more so than were some of the cattle disease Acts to the farmers, and these soon proved to be for benefit.  Once the country became immune, some of the restrictions might be removed.  If... the diseases are introduced by foreign blood..., it would be an easy matter to stop the importation of bees, and I believe that none of us would be the loser.
H. M. Cooper, Hon. Sec. B.K.A., Isle of Wight The Irish Bee Journal, December, 1907
Courtesy Galtee Bee Breeding Group via B.E.E.S.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD

There is so much new information coming from the Internet and beekeeping magazines that I must confess that I am finding it difficult to read it all, let alone digest it!  Fortunately, this is an indication that problems are now being taken much more seriously than in the past.
Peter Edwards