PLYMOUTH BEEKEEPERS APIARY PROGRAMME

Transcription

1 Bee Brief Plymouth Branch Newsletter December 2014 Apiary Programme & Branch Meetings 2014/15 PLYMOUTH BEEKEEPERS APIARY PROGRAMME 2014/15 DECEMBER / JANUARY / FEBRUARY DECEMBER O W Sunday 14 th JANUARY Branch Christmas Lunch Boringdon Golf Club & Country Park (12 for 12.30) Thursday 8 th Branch Honey Show: Judge: Alicia Norman /Asst. Margaret Talling (Elburton Village Hall, starting at 7.30 pm) Thursday 22 nd Winter Study Group (tbc) FEBRUARY Thursday 12 th Winter Meeting: Talk on Propolis by Cornwall Honey (Elburton Village Hall, starting at 7.30 pm) Thursday 26 th Winter Study Group (tbc) 1

2 Chairman s Blog I was delighted to see so many of you at the AGM and thank you all for making it such a nice occasion. Also, it is heartening to be part of such an active branch of DBKA, which is contrary to our two nearest neighbours, Tavistock and Totnes & Kingsbridge, who are without secretaries! The Novice programme is now full for next year, with a waiting list. Once again, my thanks to all those people who give of their time free to support PBKA. As I write this on 30 th November, it is gloriously sunny and warm outside, as it was on Saturday. Jean and I had the pleasure(?) of spending the whole of Saturday morning at the DBKA EC meeting in Okehampton. We left at just before one, but they were still at it! I managed to control myself and only banged my head in frustration once on the table at which we were sitting. The reason? We were discussing the BBKA accounts and I explained that the 245,000 legacy they received in the last financial year was restricted funds, which have been invested and BBKA could only spend any surplus income emanating from it. One of the delegates asked who had bequeathed it, to which I answered A dead person. Does it matter? Now you know why the meetings drag on for so long. As far as the new Constitution is concerned, the working party have made copious notes of the replies from branches and will report back to the next EC in January. There were numerous propositions for the Annual Delegates Meeting in January, all of which were discussed, in spite of the fact that a few were so straightforward that a yes / no answer was all that was required. We were not present to give guidance on the Special Delegates Meeting to discuss Ken Basterfield s grievance, but I passed on my comments to the Chairman, which in essence were that no discussion was needed, as our representative will have to listen to the case at the SDM in a couple of weeks time and make a decision then. After all, it is being chaired by a QC. I shall say no more for fear of being sued!! Anyway, I see the sun is shining still, the bees are busy foraging, pollen and propolis are being brought back by the bees in surprising quantities, so all is well I hope!. All that is left for me is to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Keep buzzing David 2

3 PLYMOUTH BRANCH CHRISTMAS LUNCH The Christmas lunch has been booked at the Boringdon Golf Club for Sunday 14th December for 12 noon for pm. Prices are: One course 8.95 Two courses Three Courses Under 12 s are half price Under 3 s eat free If you wish to come along, please advise me/steve asap or alternatively, contact Jean French by (JeanFrench1957@yahoo.co.uk) or phone (Plymouth ) so we may collate numbers wishing to attend. Look forward to seeing you on the day! Jean & Steve Russell Social Secretaries Different Hives Are any of you out there using hives other than the National? If so, would you be prepared to let any other members have a look especially beginners? Please contact Kathy Lovegrove on

4 Plymouth Branch Honey Show 2015 Honey Tasting At the Honey Show we would like members to bring along a jar of their own honey for everybody to have a taste (tasting sticks will be provided). The tasting will be done whilst the judging is being carried out and this is purely for fun. People can vote for their favourite honey and we will then announce whose honey is the most popular. Honey Mincemeat Makes 2 large jars of mincemeat and 12 large mince pies. 2 Bramley apples, grated 5 tbsps honey 4oz currants 4oz beef suet, grated 4oz raisins 1tsp ground cinnamon 4oz sultanas 1 tsp ground mixed spice Grated zest of 1 orange & 1 lemon 2 tbsps brandy Mix together all the mincemeat ingredients, then put into jars, seal and leave for a minimum of 2 weeks. The honey in this mincemeat gives it an interesting flavour, reminiscent of Middle Eastern pastries. From the Telegraph and submitted by Fred Poole. 4

5 We have received an invitation from Liz Westcott on behalf of the Torbay Branch: Torbay are holding a Winter Honey Show on Tuesday, 13th January, 2015 and we wondered if any of your members would be interested in entering any of their products of the hive? I have included a Schedule for information. We are hoping that Jack Mummery will judge and whilst he is judging we shall be holding a Question and Answer session with a panel of experienced beekeepers. If any of your members would like to come along and join us they would be very welcome to bring their questions. The panel will initially answer questions but we would welcome comments from the floor as all points of view are valid and there is seldom a 'right' answer. Kind regards, Liz Westcott The Torbay Branch, DBKA Honey Show will be held at the Gerston Christian Centre, Gerston Place, Torquay Road, Paignton, TQ3 3DX on Tuesday evening, 13 th January, The Centre will be open from 2 pm for the acceptance and placing of class entries. A Novice is anyone who has not won a prize at any honey show. The Honey Cup will be awarded for the person with most points in Classes 1 7. The Wax Cup will be awarded for the person with most points in Classes The Novice Cup will be awarded for the person with most points in Classes Entry fee: 50p per class payable on the day. Prize money: 1 st - 3, 2 nd - 2, 3 rd - 1 Please send entries to: Honey Show Secretary: Liz Westcott, Farnaby, Rydons, Brixham, TQ5 8QF lizwestcott@me.com Tel: Entries taken on the day. Devon Beekeepers Association, Registered Charity No. 27 Class No. Class Details 1 Two 454g/1 lb jars of clear, light honey. 2 Two 454g/1 lb jars of clear medium honey. 3 Two 454g/1 lb jars of clear, dark honey. 4 Two 454g/1 lb jars of set honey. 5 Two 454g/1 lb jars of chunk honey. 6 One comb honey, cut comb, section, cabana. May contain heather honey. Prepared for sale. 7 One frame of honeycomb suitable for extraction. 8 Six 454g/1 lb matching jars of honey. Labelled as for sale, to comply with current regulations. 9 One cake of beeswax. Not less than 454g/1 lb in weight and 2.5cms thick. 10 Five blocks of beeswax, each 28g/1 oz in weight. 11 A pair of matched candles made by any method. 12 An artistic ornament made of pure beeswax. Colouring may be used. 13 One 75cl bottle of mead, sweet or dry, with flanged stopper. 14 One honey sponge made to recipe supplied. 15 One 227g/ ½ lb jar of Honey Lemon Curd made to recipe supplied 16 Composite Class any 3 of the following 6 items: One jar of 454g/1 lb clear honey. One jar of 454g/1 lb set honey. One cut comb, section or cabana. One cake of beeswax. Not less than 227g/ ½ lb in weight. A pair of beeswax candles made by any method. One 75cl clear glass bottle of mead with flanged stopper. 17 One photograph not less than 150mm x 100 mm (6 x 4 ) of a subject of beekeeping interest. 18 Novice Class one 454g/1 lb jar of honey. 19 Novice Class three blocks of beeswax, each 28g/1 oz in weight. 20 Novice Class any item of artistic interest connected to bees or beekeeping. For example, a painting, poem, embroidery, carving or sculpture. 5

6 IMPORTANT NOTICES A REMINDER MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Your membership subscription for 2015 is now due and should be renewed by end of December (Membership runs from January to December). If you have mislaid the copy of your membership form, I can you another one. Jean French Branch Secretary Tel: Plymouth (01752) / JeanFrench1957@yahoo.co.uk The Buzz Bees in the news Christmas Edition For the Discerning Beekeeper s Christmas List this year 6

7 Member Adverts I have twelve colonies of bees in brood boxes for sale. 100 each Patrick Mansfield Apiary Manager FOR SALE Top Bar Hive 10 Contact: Bill Finnemore Tel: (01752) I have 2 colonies for sale on national frame. Need to downsize as have to move. Cost at 80 each My bees are in Wembury, Plymouth but I can transport them for you. Contact: Sarah Rochester Contact Details Chairman David Milford m14drm@aol.com Secretary Jean French Jean French1957@yahoo.co.uk Treasurer Bernie Talling Bernie868@hotmail.com Editor Dawn Clarke oakwoman@gmail.com 7

8 HEMBURY BEE SUPPLIES Agents for the main manufacturers We can supply all your Beekeeping needs Foundation Hives Frames Jars And many many more We can be found at John Harler 12 Hembury Park Buckfast Devon TQ11 0SE Tel/Fax \Mobile Please Phone before you make a visit 8