Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association

Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association

Monthly Archive: February 2018

Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association > News > 2018 > February

Professor David Evans Virus diseases of Honeybees: recent research – February 27

Professor David Evans, St Andrews University

Virus diseases of Honeybees: recent research

Professor Evans is known to many beekeepers through his blog (theapiarist), and in the academic world for (among other topics) research into the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) in honeybees. His talk will explore the problems, and the latest thinking on combating this.

All meetings start at 7.30pm, in the Community Centre (Drill Hall), Walkershaugh, Peebles, followed by a question and answer session. Then there’s time to chat and catch up afterwards, over refreshments.

Everyone’s welcome at our meetings – you don’t need to be a member. Further details on the website (https://www.peeblesbeekeepers.org.uk/) or contact the Secretary: 01721 720 563 / 07563 185 993.

Apiary Visit 11th Feb

Richard, David and Peter went out to the association apiary on Sunday.

The main job was to move the storage sheds back to near the wall.

Richard donated some pallets and we put the sheds on those with a layer of weed suppressant fabric underneath to help with damp.

Mice had been nesting under the sheds and had got into one of them. There was a dead mouse in the shed and a live evicted mouse outside looking for a new home.

Apart from a few chewed smoker bellows, and a lot of mouse droppings, there wasn’t too much damage done. We gave the sheds a bit of a clean and airing before repacking them.

We checked the 3 colonies on site and they are all still alive with plenty of fondant left. The hive by the wall still looks the strongest and the other two are quite small but hopefully will pick up in the next wee while.

The walled garden has had the giant evergreen trees removed at the expense of turning the ground into a quagmire.

We are still waiting to hear from the estate about the plans for the garden and future siting for the bees.

Peter.

PBKA Pub Meeting February 7th

Its a new year and spring is approaching. Time to think about plans for this years beekeeping.

If you are an old hand, a beginner or just thinking about starting you can swap plans or get advice from the local beekeepers in the comfort of the local pub. All welcome.

This years first meeting will be on Wednesday 7th Feb at 7.30pm in the back bar of the Neidpath Inn in Peebles. Sadly the Neidpath Inn seems to have closed down.

This month we will try the Cross Keys, Northgate, Peebles as our venue – still 7.30pm.

It’s quite a big pub with a few nooks and crannies so I’ll bring some bee paraphernalia and put it on a table so folk can find where we are.

See you there,

Peter.