Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association

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PBKA Centenary Celebration Dinner

Friday 15th November

Venue: 1745 Restaurant, Traquair House

Time: 7pm

Three course meal £25 per person; licensed restaurant.

To book your place, please contact ">Secretary: Mandy Clydesdale

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Starters

Parsnip, cumin and honey soup with crusty bread

Sautéed Chestnut mushrooms and spinach on Fat Batard sourdough

Chicken liver pate with Traquair chutney and oatcakes

Mains

Crispy chicken with a honey mustard sauce and creamy mash

Slow roast pork belly with dauphinois potatoes

Rich ratatouille on ciabatta

Puddings

Honey gingerbread with honeycomb ice cream

Honey orange poached pears with meringue

Sticky toffee apple pudding and cream

Tea and coffee

Honey Market Stall 1st December

Honey Market Stall 1st December

 

Peeblesshire Beekeepers will be at the Peebles Eastgate Market on Saturday 1st December.

We will be selling a selection of honey from the association hives and from other local beekeepers.

All honey on sale is produced from the hills and meadows of Peeblesshire,  cold filtered to retain maximum flavour – a 100% local food product. There will tasting samples available.

The beekeepers themselves will be on hand if you want to know more about how honey is produced and the amazing creatures that create it.

Mating Bumblebees

Just on my way into town the other day I noticed this pair of bumbleebees at the side of the road.

Mating Bumblebees

I’m pretty sure they are white tailed bumblebees. The male is at the back and he should have some yellow on his face that I think I can just about make out. I didn’t have my good camera with me so these are just snapped by the phone.

They looked locked together and weren’t really moving. My book says that “A pair of bumblebees may remain united for anything up to an hour or more ” (!). So I’m glad I didn’t stay to watch, although I did move them to the edge of the pavement so they didn’t get squished in the act.

A bit different to honeybee mating where it is over in an instant for the male…

Peter.

Royal Highland Show 2017

There was success for PBKA beekeepers in the honey show classes at this years Royal Highland Show.

 

Jim Bell and Peter Stevenson both won prizes in this years competition.

(Peter selfishly only took photos of his own entries – sorry Jim!)

1st prize
Ling Heather Blend

2nd Prize
Honey Jar Label
(Must conform to sales regulations)

3rd Prize
Honey Lemon Curd

No Prize – but very tasty!
Honey date and walnut cake

Solitary Bees

PBKA was contacted about a “swarm” of bees in Rosetta Road Peebles last week.

Several members went to investigate and it was quickly obvious to experienced beekeepers that the bees were not honeybees – but what were they?

David Ferguson described the scene:-

There are probably about 50 to 100 of them hovering about over a section of garden wall 10 to 15 ft long, which is about 5 ft high to the pavement. I saw a couple going in and out of small holes but most were just generally buzzing about. Nearly all were carrying pollen. 

David also took some excellent photos which were forwarded to Buglife.
Jamie from Buglife gave this response:-

Masonry bees are very, very calm and safe to leave around so there is no risk to local residents or children if they’re let be. I’ve not known many people at all to ever be stung by them and those that have are entomologists who are handling them for identification purposes. They’re calm nature is why so many people put up solitary bee homes in gardens to attract them in. If you were unfortunate enough to be stung, it is meant to be far, far less painful or dangerous than that of honeybees.

I’d never say that they definitely won’t sting, but they’re very unlikely to do anything to any passers by at all and they don’t get defensive around their nest areas at all. I would always recommend them being left as they are. They’re window of activity is actually very narrow so it is quite likely that in another few weeks you won’t see them again until either a second brood later in the summer or until 2018, as all they’re doing is filling holes with individual eggs and furnishing them with pollen for food, then sealing them up and leaving them alone.

Buglife also identified the species

Andrena nigroaenea (Buffish mining bee)

Andrena nigroaenea (Buffish mining bee)

Andrena scotica (Chocolate mining bee)

Andrena scotica (Chocolate mining bee)

April Jobs

Remove mouseguards – it’s still cold but the bees are active. However colonies will still be under strength, so reduce the size of the entrance so it’s easy to defend.

If it’s too cold for them to fly, check have enough stores, or out fondant on, then syrup as the weather warms up.