Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association

PBKA Pub Meeting 7th December

An informal chat about what’s happening at the association apiary, and beekeeping in general.

If you have any ideas for the association or questions about bees and beekeeping this is a great way to get information from other beekeepers.

The meetings are at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the back bar of the Neidpath Inn in Peebles.

Honey Show Results

Very many thanks to all those who brought in an entry for the Honey Show – an excellent turn out, despite it being such a poor summer.

Congratulations to all for such high standards – and we look forward to an even better turn out next year.

Several classes had no entries – mead, novice classes and sections – so we’ll be encouraging members to learn how to obtain quality hive products to boost the overall number of entries.

And of course especial thanks to our Honey Judge, Alan Riach: his comments are always helpful and instructive, he keeps us on our toes, and ensures the high quality of local produce is kept up.

Results: – 2016honeyshow-results

20161129_19292520161129_19295820161129_19291420161129_192943




 

PBKA Pub Meeting 2nd November

An informal chat about what’s happening at the association apiary, and beekeeping in general.

If you have any ideas for the association or questions about bees and beekeeping this is a great way to get information from other beekeepers.

The meetings are at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the back bar of the Neidpath Inn in Peebles.

PBKA Pub Meeting 5th October

An informal chat about what’s happening at the association apiary, and beekeeping in general.

If you have any ideas for the association or questions about bees and beekeeping this is a great way to get information from other beekeepers.

The meetings are at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the back bar of the Neidpath Inn in Peebles.

Winter Programme Notice

Programme

October  25 Charlie Irwin: Use of nuclei and queen introduction

November 29 Honey Show

January 31st Fiona Highet from SASA: the role of the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture in Beekeeping.

February 28 (To be confirmed) Phil MacAnespie: A-Z of swarming

February: to be confirmed – joint meeting with Caddonfoot BKA on hive products.

March 28  AGM

We also hope to arrange a couple of training sessions on (eg) queen rearing/increase/intermediate beekeeping.

The Association has some honey jars with white plastic lids for sale: £29.40 per pack 72, or £5.00 per dozen. Please contact Secretary.

PBKA Pub Meeting 7th September

An informal chat about what’s happening at the association apiary, and beekeeping in general.

If you have any ideas for the association or questions about bees and beekeeping this is a great way to get information from other beekeepers.

The meetings are at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the back bar of the Neidpath Inn in Peebles.

Apiary Visit Posso Sunday 28th August 2pm

The last visit of the summer is traditionally the heather honey picnic at Posso, by kind permission of Jock Thomson and Wilma MacLean, where we’ll try some of this season’s honey. Please bring a cup, and something to share at the picnic afterwards.
Clean gloves, boots and beesuits please, to prevent contamination.
Beesuits can be borrowed if necessary – just let me know, we have several available; and as parking is limited, please car share – so let me know if you need or can offer a lift.
If you’re not sure where either site is, then just say – I’ll give you directions or team you up with someone else who does know.
Please let me know if you’re coming, and how I can contact you – then if we have to cancel at short notice, due to the weather, we can get in touch.
Hope to see you soon,

Association Apiary Update 21st August 2016

A good turn out of beekeepers and interested observers, young and not so quite so young, was had at the latest apiary visit on Sunday.

After a glorious week of sunshine followed by a soaking, the rain just about held off. The bees were flying but it wasn’t very good conditions for inspections so we concentrated on assessing the food stores in all the hives.

Hive 7 had a feeder on but was now overcrowded with bees spilling into the feeder area. A super was added to these.

In Hive 6 the bees were doing a good job in drawing out the super frames and making stores. Similarly in Hive 8 where the bees had starting capping some of the honey.

Hives 6, 7 and 8 are ready to move to their new home in Broughton shortly so these were made ready with hive straps and travelling screens ready to hand.

A quick whizz through the supers in Hives 1 to 5 next.

Hive 1 had stores on about 5 frames in the lower super, the 2nd super wasn’t being used. A clearer board was put under the top super ready to remove.

Hive 2 was similar to hive 1 with the stores just starting to be capped in the lower super. Again a clearer board was put under the top super.

Hive 3 is the smallest colony and there is still only brood on about 4 frames, 2 of which are super frames with natural comb built in the gap underneath. The plan for this one is to put it in a poly nuc to overwinter.

Hive 4 had most of the super frames drawn and a mix of sealed and unsealed honey, some pollen over the brood nest and some stores eaten and now refilled.

Hive 5 has always been the strongest hive and despite splits and swarms has the most honey. One super is pretty well full with a couple of lovely sealed frames. The second super also has a few good frames of honey. An optimistic 3rd super was empty so again a clearer board was put under this one. This hive should get us some honey to pay the apiary rent this year.

This gives us a good idea of how the colonies are doing and we will make a plan for settling the hives down for the autumn, the feeding regime and varroa monitoring.

Plenty to discuss at our next meetings.