Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association

Association Apiary

PBKA Virtual Pub Meeting 3rd June 7.30pm

We’ll be meeting up again this month by Zoom video conferencing at our usual date and time – the first Wednesday of the month – 6th May at 7.30pm.

The format will be the usual mix of association business, news from the association apiary, beekeeping advice (given and received), gossip and general chit chat.

Beginners, regulars and anyone else are very welcome.

A meeting invitation will be sent by email. Please contact Peter if you need the details.

PBKA Virtual “Pub” Meeting 6th May 2020 7.30pm

After our foray into the world of Zoom video meetings in place of the monthly pub meeting last month, and our successful Beginning Beekeeping weekly sessions, we’ll be meeting up again this month by video at our usual date and time – the first Wednesday of the month – 6th May at 7.30pm.

The format will be the usual mix of association business, news from the association apiary, beekeeping advice (given and received), gossip and general chit chat.

Beginners, regulars and anyone else are very welcome.

A meeting invitation will be sent by email. Please contact Peter if you need the details.

Hope to see you there.

Pub Meeting Wed 5th Feb

The local beekeepers will be meeting in the back bar of the Neidpath Inn Peebles on Wednesday 5th February at 7.30pm.

The new season will be underway soon with the first flowering bulbs showing already.

There will be association news, advice, tips and chit-chat on offer.

All welcome especially beginners who are thinking of taking up the hobby this year.



Pub Meeting Wed 8th Jan

The local beekeepers will be meeting in the back bar of the Neidpath Inn Peebles on Wednesday 8th January at 7.30pm.

We will be making plans for the new year at the association apiary.

If you are thinking of starting beekeeping in 2020 then this is a great way to meet experienced beekeepers and get advice.

The meeting is an informal get together and open to anyone.

Apiary Report 18th Sept

Elaine, Wilma and Peter visited the association apiary on Wednesday 18th.

The main job was to put Apivar strips in for varroa treatment.

For the records we used 500mg strips – Lot: 190344, Expiry: 02/2021

Minimum date for removal will be 30th October, Max date 27th November.

Report

Hive 2

Varroa count 4 (in 4 days) = rate 1 per day

Super was about half filled with stores – some uncapped. This was moved to below the brood box. Queen excluder was removed. 2 x apivar strips in brood box. Crown board and large feeder on top with syrup.

Hive 3

Varroa count approx 60 (in 4 days) = rate 15 per day

2 x apivar strips in brood box. Feeder refilled.

Hive 4

Varroa count 4 (in 4 days) = rate 1 per day

2 x apivar strips in brood box. Feeder refilled.

Hive 5

Varroa count 1 (in 4 days) = rate 0.25 per day

2 x apivar strips in brood box. Feeder refilled.

Nuc 3

1 x apivar strip applied. Feeder refilled

Black Queen Nuc

1 x apivar strip applied. Feeder refilled

Association Apiary Visit

Wed 18th Sept 2019 1.30pm

(Confirmed)

Leader: Peter

Exact date and time will be confirmed by email.

Please contact Mandy Tel: 01721 720563 Mob: 07563 185993 beforehand for details so you can be notified of any changes to the schedule due to weather or other circumstances.

Our regular visit to inspect the association colonies.

All welcome, particularly beginners.

Clean beesuits, gloves and footwear are required. Suits are available to borrow on request.



Apiary Visit Report

Sat 7th September

We had a good visit to the association apiary. A few regulars and some welcome guests turned up including some junior bee enthusiasts. Scroll down for the photos.

Thanks to Janet for the notes.

Inspection Notes from Apiary visit 7th September 2019

Hive 4

  • Queen not seen.
  • Brood box – three frames with small amount of sealed brood.
  • Lots of bees.
  • One super with lots of sealed honey, another super with a smaller amount of sealed and unsealed honey.

Action taken:

  • Super with smaller amount of honey moved to below the brood box.
  • Clearing board put in between brood box and super with sealed honey (super above brood box).
  • Queen excluder removed.

Next visit:

  • Take top super off.
  • Feed with syrup.

Hive 2

Queen, eggs and brood seen.

Actions taken:

  • Frames with sealed honey moved to the sides, and unsealed frames moved towards middle.

Hive 3

Two supers, both partially filled. Third, empty super on top to accommodate fondant feed.

Actions taken:

  • Fondant feed (almost all gone) removed.
  • Best frames from both supers transferred to one super. This was left above brood box with excluder removed and replaced with a clearing board.
  • Less filled frames put in the other super which was then placed under the brood box.
  • The empty spare super (from the fondant feed) left on top of the clearing board).

Hive 5

No super. Queen seen. Some sealed brood – no eggs or unsealed brood. Frames very full of stores.

Nuc 3

Queen seen – still laying.

Actions taken:

  • Syrup added.

Black Queen Nuc

Lots of sealed brood, larvae and eggs. Queen seen.

Action taken:

  • Reservoir at the side of the nuc filled with syrup and stick added for bees to climb on.

Update Sun 8th

Richard and Peter removed the cleared supers from Hives 3 and 4 and replaced with feeders in an empty super as eke. Feeders were filled with syrup.

A swarm has taken up residence rather near the storage sheds
Tabitha and Daisy enjoyed their visit to the bees.
These are building up from a native bee mating nuc.
A native dark bee queen courtesy of Kate Atchley laying well in the nuc.
Feeding syrup.

Association Apiary Visit

7th Sept 2019 1.30pm

(Confirmed)

Leader: Wilma and Peter

Exact date and time will be confirmed by email.

Please contact Mandy Tel: 01721 720563 Mob: 07563 185993 beforehand for details so you can be notified of any changes to the schedule due to weather or other circumstances.

Our regular visit to inspect the association colonies.

All welcome, particularly beginners.

Clean beesuits, gloves and footwear are required. Suits are available to borrow on request.

Dark Bee Queen Rearing

Here are some photos from Wilma showing some the action from this seasons attempts at raising native dark queens from the associations native bee stock. The hard work here has mainly been done by Wilma, Linda and David.

These were taken when they were moving the black amm queen that was mated at Kate Atchleys apiary from an apidea into a  nuc box.

Kate delivering the Apideas with the mated queens
Making up the nuc
Ready for the new queen
The queen was mated in the Apidea box.
Dark bees on the comb
The native amm queen
The queen being attended to
Building up the stocks in nuc boxes