Welsh Beekeepers - Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru | … · Welsh Beekeepers’ Association ... requiring no protective bee clothing; ... Some new beekeepers have told me that they plan

Welsh Beekeepers’ Association

Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru

Llywydd/President: Dinah Sweet Tel: 029 20869242 E-Mail: [email protected]

Cadeirydd/Chairperson: Valerie Forsyth, Bwlch y Rhyd, Nanternis New Quay, SA45 9RS Tel: 01545 561635

E-Mail: [email protected]

Is-gadeirydd/Vice Chair: Tom Pegg

Tel: 01437 563392 E-Mail: [email protected]

Ysgrifennydd /Secretary: John Page, The Old Tannery, Pontsian Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 4UD Tel: 01545 590515

E-mail: [email protected]

Trysorydd/Treasurer: Vincent Frostick Tel: 01766 831 288


Assistant Treasurer: Margaret Jones E-mail: [email protected] Golygyddion/Editors: Emmanuel and Rebecca Blaevoet E-mail: [email protected]

Is-olygydd/Sub-editor: Dewi Morris Jones, Llwynderw, Bronant, (Erthyglau Cymraeg) Aberystwyth, SY23 4TG. Tel: 01974 251264 Membership Secretary: Ian Hubbuck, White Cottage, Manafon Road, Individual Memberships Berriew, SY21 8BB.

And Subs Tel: 01686 640 205


Publicity Officer Barbara Chick, 11 Porthcawl Road Caerau, Ely, Cardiff, CF5 5HU Tel: 029 20597275 E-Mail: [email protected]

4 The Welsh Beekeeper #180 Spring 2013

Editorial

This issue of the Welsh Beekeeper features a diversity of articles,

some wonderful adverts and of course, a "plants for your bees"

section showcasing Phacelia, a plant native to North and South

America but which is ranked among the top twenty plants attractive

to bees and beneficial insects.

We bring you an entertaining article in Welsh, by Lillian Llewelyn

regarding her first year as a beekeeper, … if anyone could become

a beekeeper in 2012 and remain one, into 2013 with a smile, that’s

the best endorsement for our chosen hobby I’ve seen in quite some

time! She gives a vigorous thumbs-up to the West Glamorgan Bee-

keeping Association not only for their well-run courses for begin-

ners but also for their welcoming membership. The style is engag-

ing and light-hearted and is just the sort of article we rejoice at, in

either language, to draw would-be beekeepers in.

Pam Gregory discusses beekeeping in australia and how it differs

with that practised in the UK, stressing the gentleness of the bees,

requiring no protective bee clothing; and the migratory nature of

beekeeping in that vast country, to aid in crop pollination.

Tony Shaw contributes a provocative article on the honeybee col-

ony as a super-organism, which draws out the question: are hu-

mans a super-organism, too?

Frank Gellatly publishes the findings of the joint consultation by

BDI and the Welsh Government on managing bee disease and sug-

gests we all bookmark the link to the informative research paper,

which provides advice for beekeepers in Britain regarding this im-

portant subject.

There are two contributions from the Conwy beekeepers’ Associa-

tion: one by Barry Griffiths, a volunteer’s view of working in the

national Beekeeping Centre; and an enthusiastic review of last

year's updated and re-imagined honey show by Ruth Bethell, high-

lighting the attentiveness of the member-judges, the buzz of dis-

cussion when the results were declared and the degree of involve-

ment among all members, despite initial misgivings.

There is a call for financially-savvy policy-writers to help with a pro-

ject by the BDI and an update by Valerie regarding the new bee

disease cards thanks to a grant by the Eva Crane foundation.

Rebecca Blaevoet, February 2013


Chairperson’s Message

Valerie Forsyth

Dear fellow beekeepers,

2012 must have been one of the worst beekeeping years for a very long time for our bees and other insects. A major concern will now be how well the queens were mated and how well they do this year. It will be the wise beekeeper who checks to see how much stores the bees have and being ready to feed as necessary to get them going well as spring progresses. I have used Vita Gold in the past at this time and have had very good results

In February the 'Improvers Weekend Course' will have been held at Buith Wells and in-cluded both 'Feeding' and 'simple Queen Rearing to make Increase and for Re-queening' - two subjects that are essential to good beekeeping. This will have been the third of these weekend courses and those who have attended them have had a thoroughly good time, made new friends and gained a considerable amount of knowledge. Plans are also in hand for an Introduction to the 'General Husbandry Certificate' Course to be held later in the Summer. This is for those interested in working to a high standard of care but not necessarily wishing to take the exam. Please let John know if you are interested.

The Convention is another chance to catch up with friends, buy equipment and hear some excellent lectures. I look forward to seeing you there on the 23rd March.

I note that our membership has increased again during this last year. Very many thanks must go to the Associations who continue the good work of introducing new beekeepers to the art of beekeeping. Without their members dedication and time given so freely the aims of the WBKA 'Encourage community participation in observing and learning about bees in safety, and develop an appreciation of the value of bees in the environ-ment' could not be achieved.

With the Smallholders Show, or as it is now known the, 'Spring Festival' in April and the Royal Welsh in July with Anglesey as the 'Feature County', there will be two more oppor-tunities for you to have a free entrance ticket for spending a short time on the WBKA stand introducing even more people to the joys of beekeeping. Please don't hide your shining light under the proverbial bush and volunteer to see where your expertise can help to build and support the WBKA.

These will be my last notes to you after three years as chairman and I will be standing down at the AGM in March. It has been a very busy time and I am always surprised just how much time it takes to get any project off the ground. It has also been a fascinating time with so many topics relating to bees being taken so seriously by the various autho-rities - neonicotinoids, pollinating insects, food standards and honey labelling and bees in the biodiversity to name but a few. At last, with grateful thanks to the Eva Crane Trust and IBRA the 'Disease Cards' are on their way. I wish to say a huge thank you to John Page for his support and help during this time. Thank you too to all the members who have given unstintingly of their time and support of the WBKA. May it continue to flourish and nurture many more generations of bees and beekeepers. Valerie Forsyth


Our President’s Message

Dinah Sweet

Happy new year to everyone and I certainly hope we have healthy bees, good weather and loads more honey than 2012.

This week I have been checking out that the gale force winds and deep piles of snow have not damaged any of my colonies and also that the heavy rains have not caused any of them to float away. The yellow hazel and red alder catkins that I have seen in hedges recently, are a good early source of pollen for the bees now, as long as the weather allows them to fly. Snowdrops and winter heathers are also helpful pollen forage at this time of year. It is important that your bees are able to collect fresh pollen as this is much more nutritious than stored, so do look around your apiary site. There are some signs that Spring is on it's way with a few days of warmer temperatures at the end of January, but this may not last, so heft your hives and add candy/fondant if necessary.

Some new beekeepers have told me that they plan to order new queens from abroad this year! This should be discouraged as there are many good, gentle,

local bees available that are not only used to our rainy, cold climate but are unlikely to turn defensive after a few generations as the 'Buckfast' bees do. Also you are more likely to bring in disease from foreign lands and we definitely don't want to see small hive beetle in the UK! When buying bees or queens please consider using recommended sources and that is where your local asso-ciation experts should be able to guide you and give you good advice.

All beekeepers have a responsibility to look after their bees to the best of their ability so just leaving them to fend for themselves in a neglected corner of the garden will not benefit their welfare. DEFRA have just published a consultative document with recommendations to improve bee health such as a welfare code and also more guidance from the NBU on managing Varroa destructor . Every-one who is registered with an e-mail address on bee-base should have received

this document and I would urge you all to read it and then send your com-ments in. There is a page where you are invited to answer specific questions. The document contains policy changes and will impact on your beekeeping management, so they really do want to hear your views on their suggested proposals by early March 2013.

As in my previous report I would like to encourage many of you to enter your hive products at the Royal Welsh Show in July – entry forms have to be sent in by the beginning of June 2013. There have been many successful local associa-tion honey shows where the lack of honey didn't stop exhibits, so this year please, we need more enthusiastic beekeepers to stage their lovely honey, candles, wax, mead, honey cakes etc. and show the public the excellent stan-

dards that can be achieved. I have heard reports from the USA and South America, of beekeepers adding water or corn syrup to their honey. This is obvi-ously trying to defraud the public, so honey shows are important to inform eve-ryone of the high quality of our produce.

Dinah Sweet, February 2013


In February 2009 the WBKA received a legacy of £9578 from the estate of the late John Hall. John Hall was a long time member and enthusiastic worker for WBKA, being a member of Lampeter BKA. He travelled widely and represented the Association at many conferences and meetings both in the UK and abroad. He was notable in that he never claimed any ex-penses for his work. Having received the money the next problem was how to spend it. There was general agree-ment that it should not go into the general funds where it may just be used to reduce capita-tion fees for a while, but that it must be used for specific project/s. Four trustees were ap-pointed to manage the legacy – Dinah Sweet, Fred Ecton, Jim Pratt and Tom Rowlands. Members were asked for their suggestions and in June 2010 a wide range of ideas came for-ward, which were discussed at the Council meeting. These included:- 1. Beginners Packs 7. Links with Schools 2. A Perpetual Trophy 8. Acquire Yates revision Notes 3. Members Lecture Log Books 9. Purchase Model Hives 4. Digital Presentation Material 10. Bee Tent 5. John Hall Room at Bee centre 11. Distribute to Assoc on membership basis 6. Library of Bee Books 12. Set up Association Apiaries A lengthy discussion produced no agreement, some wanting it to be spent on a single major project (although no agreement on what the project should be), others that it should go to associations to spend for example on their apiaries. Looking at the suggested ideas it was clear that the associations had widely differing needs and a ‘one size fits all’ approach would not be acceptable. It was finally proposed that the money should be divided equally amongst the associations to be spent on a project or projects of their choice and this was accepted by a 16 to 5 majority. Associations were to submit a short proposal by at the latest March 2012. This has been completed and all associations have each now received a grant of £500 from the legacy. The remaining money (£115 after added interest) was transferred to the WBKA account to defer any expenses incurred. Summaries of the projects for each association are as follows: Aberystwyth BKA for the purchase of projector and portable screen to better deliver lectures for training and regular lectures to members and also to external groups such as WI schools etc.. In addition, the funding has been used to buy two all in one beesuits, one adult and one child, so that new and prospective members could participate in ABKA apiary inspections, prior to buying their own protective gear. Anglesey BKA are using the legacy to set up a new apiary. The current one is too small and does not fulfil the current needs of the association. They have already obtained a grant for twelve hives and by using the legacy for further match funding plan to add a shed and equip-ment store. The apiary is being used as a training facility for both beginner and improver beekeepers. Negotiations with the owner of the apiary site about the design of the store are on going. When complete the store will bear a plaque commemorating the contribution from the lega-cy.

John Hall Legacy

Review of the Associations Projects

11 Gwenynwyr Cymru #180 Gwanyn 2013

Bridgend & District BKA has set up a new Apiary last year due to theft and vandalism to a larger and more secure site. They wish now to increase the use of this apiary for training of both new and experienced beekeepers, in particular for more advanced training program-mes. The legacy has enabled them to purchase equipment for queen rearing including nu-cleus hives. Brecon & Radnor BKA - This association will purchase a number of microscopes and associated equipment so mem-bers can become confident in handling specimens and using such technology. This will hope-fully allow members to develop diagnostic skills and accordingly improve the health of their bees. - Purchase of additional bee suits for children and young people, which hopefully will encou-rage more families to be involved in visits to the association apiaries. - purchase of books for beginners and experienced beekeepers so there is an easy access to a good learning source. Cardiff Vale & Valleys BKA are planning to spend the legacy on four items:- - Upgrading the current association library. - Queen rearing boxes to raise queens and nuclei for new members. - A new hive to demonstrate to new beekeepers. Currently an old one is used. - Towards the design of a new website which was launched on 9th March 2012; the old one was six years old and needed upgrading. Carmarthenshire BKA are using the legacy for extending the facilities at their apiary . This includes purchasing hives, protective clothing, smokers and hive tools to accommodate the increasing number of beekeepers. Ceredigion BKA wish to put the legacy towards a number of items. - Purchase of child-sized bee suit for visiting children to the apiary. - Set up a small library for use by new and experienced beekeepers. - Purchase of a video camera to record summer events so they can be reviewed and discus-sed during the winter. - purchase of a small manual extractor for use by new beekeepers. Conwy BKA have provided support for the establishment of a National Beekeeping Centre for Wales at the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre in the Conwy Valley. They propose to use the lega-cy as part of a larger donation. A number of activities are being established including a visitor centre, beekeeping courses and education, applied research, queen rearing and breeding, beekeeping equipment demonstrations and retail sales of honey/hive products. East Carmarthen The Association apiary currently has only National hives. There is a move in beekeeping towards ‘natural’ and plastic hives. The Association wishes to respond to these changes and plan to purchase a top bar hive with inspection windows, a warre hive, also with inspection windows, and a plastic (polystyrene) hive. These will allow members to evaluate the performances in the Association apiary and explore how these hives best work comparing their relative merits and problems. Flint and District BKA are setting up a new apiary site at Northop College which is a much better place for both evening teaching and apiary visits. The legacy will help towards setting up the site and storage shed. Lampeter & District BKA have recently acquired a site for their new Apiary. They have used the legacy to purchase four different types of hive ,WBC, Langstroth, Commercial and Natio-nal, so members (in particular new members) can compare and assess the relative merits of the hives in which type they would prefer to keep their bees. They have also set up a four


person management team for the apiary. Lleyn & Eifionydd BKA divided the legacy on a number of items:- - to create a DVD library for both new and experienced beekeepers. - to engage an expert speaker. - the remainder to purchase beesuits so potential beekeepers can get a taste of beekeeping without financial commitment. Meirionnydd County BKA Part of the legacy will be used to set up and maintain a small library of good quality reference books and DVD on Beekeeping. The association is attending more shows and exhibition equipment is badly needed to promote the association and beekeeping in general. Montgomery BKA has a programme of getting young people, especially of primary school age, to handle bees at public events in their mobile bee cage. This gives the children confi-dence and a continued interest in bees. The programme is currently hampered by a shortage of protective gear of a size for young people. The grant therefore is to be used to purchase a stock of beekeeping suits and gloves for children. Pembrokeshire BKA are purchasing a trinocular stereoscopic microscope, USB camera and storage and transport box. These will be used for training and demonstrations for their mem-bers, in particular to preserve and improve the health of the bee population. South Clwyd BKA are using the legacy to support their ongoing education programme. They currently run courses on basic beekeeping and queen rearing and have set up a centre for honey processing, a laboratory for microscopy and queen rearing. This included supporting the recently set up ‘Beekeepers mentor system’. Future developments cover extending the education programme out-of-season courses and practical sessions. Swansea and District BK Society is currently setting up a teaching apiary to demonstrate a wide number of beekeeping activities – disease, swarm control, varroa treatment, honey extraction etc.. The legacy will be used to enable this including the purchase of quality WBC and National hives to highlight benefits and problems of these hive types. Tiefiside BKA has recently focused its education programme on new beekeepers with begin-ner and taster courses. There is now a demand to broaden the programme for the more advanced beekeepers. The legacy will be used to improve the presentational facilities – new projector and stands as well as the involvement of external speakers. The programme will also involve the purchase of mini nucs for queen rearing training. West Glamorgan BKA are proposing to run a queen rearing course for the dark European honeybee. The legacy will be used to purchase Jenter kits, and Warnholz mating hives to carry out this programme. Also to provide morphometry software and towards the cost of queen rearing course. Summary As can be seen the projects have covered a wide range of topics with the promotion of trai-ning for new beekeepers and the introduction of beekeeping to children being common. The trustees believe the legacy has been spent wisely and every association has benefited in its own and often widely different way. In many cases the legacy has enabled an association to kick start a worthwhile project or where combined with an ongoing one, carry it out more fully or quickly. The trustees sincerely hope and expect that each and every Association that has benefited from this Legacy will acknowledge this in one way or the other in / on their project. We look forward to receiving more detailed reports from associations as to their outcome and progress. The author thanks Tom Rowlands for his advice and help in preparing this article. Jim Pratt.


Trafferthion a threialon Gwenynwraig newydd

Lilian Llewelyn

Ges i’m magu yn ystod y 60au a’r 70au yng Ngogledd Bro Gŵyr ac, er i mi ddod o gefndir ffarmio, a thybiwn i fod pobl yn cadw gwenyn yn yr ardal, nid rhywbeth arferol oedd. Dau gof sy gen i: dyn nad oedden ni’n ei adna-bod a oedd yn cadw gwenyn ar bwys tŷ ewythr ger Burry Green a’r ar-

ddangosfa gwenyn-ar-ffram blynyddol yn y Gower Show. Rhywbeth ar gyfer annwyd a pheswch oedd mêl, yn gryf ac yn llawn crisialau ac nid rhywbeth byddwn yn bwyta o ddewis. Pan symudon ni i’n tŷ presennol yn Sgeti, Abertawe, roedd gennym ardd

fawr oedd angen plannu yn helaeth a dyma fi yn mynd ati gyda brwdfry-dedd i blannu, ymysg pethau eraill, llwyth o lafant. A chyda brwdfrydedd daeth y gwenyn - yn gorchuddio’r planhigion lafant, yn codi mewn cwmwl

gan achwyn adeg torri’r lawnt pan fyddwn yn amharu ar eu torheulo a’u cwsg. I’r gwenyn roedd y lafant fel cyffur. Wrth i ddiwrnodau hir, heulog diwedd y 90au fynd yn eu blaen byddai’r gwenyn yn mynd yn fwy ac yn fwy cysglyd fel byddai rhai byth yn codi i fynd nôl i’w cartrefi gyda’r nos ac, yn hytrach, yn aros yno, yn oeri, fel mai cyrff bach, marw, truenus fyddai’n cwrdd â ni yn y boreau.

Roedd felly gen i ardd llawn gwenyn a’r peth mwyaf amlwg i mi oedd mai gwell o lawer fyddai hi petai’r gwenyn yma yn wenyn fi. A’r breuddwyd yn cychwyn: diwrnodau twym a hir o haf, dau gwch gwenyn gwyn ar waelod yr ardd, a’r gwenyn yn suo o gwmpas y blodau di-ri. Fy mwriad, dros y

misoedd nesaf, yw rhannu peth o’m profion a prhofiadau ar y daith i fod yn wenyn-wraig. Medi 2010 - Medi, y mis traddodiadol am gychwyn dosbarthiadau nos, a

finnau’n mynd ati i chwilio am wersi cadw gwenyn. Gwersi Ffrangeg, Eida-leg, Mandarin, trwsio ceir a thrin blodau ond dim byd ar gadw gwenyn. Yn ôl i’r we amdani a darganfod manylion cyswllt West Glamorgan Beekeepers Association. Dyn cyfeillgar, sy bellach yn eilun i mi a’r lleill sy wedi’n dys-gu ganddo, yn fy nghynghori fod 12 wythnos o wersi yn cychwyn yng nghanol Abertawe yn Ionawr ac i anfon ffurflen a siec yn nes at yr amser a dyna ni.

Petai rhywun i ofyn i mi nawr - ac mae llawer yn gofyn i mi - nid yn gy-maint mod i’n arbenigwr ar gadw gwenyn sut gymaint â mod i’n hoff iawn, iawn o siarad amdanyn nhw - hyd at syrffed y rhai sy’n gwrando. Ffordd

bynnag, petae rhywun yn gofyn i mi nawr, byddwn i’n awgrymu chwilio am gymdeithas lleol, cyfeillgar, gyda dosbarthiadau ar noson gyfleus, pobl sy’n cadw gwenyn cyfagos i le ‘rych chi’n byw ac i chwilio am gymdeithas gyda

gwenynfa hyfforddi. A chan na fyddai person newydd-i-gadw-gwenyn yn gwybod beth yw gwenynfa, heb son am wenynfa hyfforddi, mae hyn yn cynnig cyfle arall i estyn fy nhraethu am o leiaf’ pum munud os nad mwy. Ionawr 2011 - Ie, ‘dwi wedi anghofio popeth am y gwersi. Mae’n oer,


mae’r tywydd yn ddiflas, mae’r nosweithiau’n dywyll a finnau wedi blino ar

ddiwedd diwrnod gwaith. Heb anfon y ffurflen nôl, heb dalu’r ffi. Ond ‘dyw hyn oll ddim yn ddigon i mi gael fy ngwrthod o’r cwrs ac ym mhen dim dy-ma fi’n eistedd mewn ystafell ddosbarth gyda 30 o gychwynwyr eraill.

Bu blwyddyn ni yn flwyddyn eithriadol o ran nifer y bobl yn cychwyn. Eu rhesymau am gadw gwenyn yn amrywio o ddechreuwyr oedd am achub y blaned i rai oedd yn poeni yn sgil y storïau yn y papurau am wenyn yn marw; rhai oedd yn cadw gwenyn yn barod ac am wersi ffurfiol; ambell i un diniwed oedd am wneud ffortiwn o arian o fêl; un person yn cynrychioli cymdeithas rhandir oedd â diddordeb mewn cadw gwenyn er mwyn peillio blodau a llysiau a finnau - sydd yn hoffi gwenyn yn yr ardd. Yn y diwedd,

oherwydd y nifer, rhannwyd y dosbarth i mewn i ddau - yn cwrdd naill ai nos Fawrth neu nos Iau. Cychwynnodd y gwersi yn ddigon syml gyda mathau o wenyn, rhannau’r

corff, a mathau o gychod - y cychod ddim o gwbl fel o’n i wedi dychmygu, a hyd heddiw ‘dwi’n dal heb weld cwch WBC go iawn. A dyma ni’n dechrau ar eirfa a byd newydd o derminoleg newydd am rannau’r wenynen, rhan-

nau’r cwch, yr offer fyddai angen ac ymddygiad y gwenyn. Chwefror 2011: gwers arbennig - noson DVD - An Introduction to Bee-keeping gan Paul Metcalf. Ac o fewn pum munud distawrwydd llethol yr ystafell. Pob un ohonom ni yn gyfarwydd gyda gwenyn unigol ond dim un wedi paratoi am hyn - miloedd ar ben miloedd o bryfaid ych a fi. Y cwbl lot yn debycach i nyth morgrug a phwy yn eu meddwl iawn fyddai am agor nyth morgrug? Tawelwch a sioc ac un llais yn siarad drosto ni i gyd “Well

that’s it. I’m never going to be able to do it.” Beth i wneud nawr? Wedi talu am y gwersi a dim byd gwell i wneud bob

nos Iau felly dyma fi yn penderfynu dal ati. Dal ati drwy fis ar ôl mis o fy-wyd y wenynen, golygfeydd ysgytiol agor y celloedd i checio’r gwenyn bach gwyn am varroa, lluniau wedi chwyddo lan ffiaidd o’r varroa ac afiechydon eraill. Derbyn mai cachgwn bwm (bumblebees) ac nid gwenyn mêl oedd yn fy ngardd. Dysgu fod y fath beth â ffordd i ddal morthwyl - pwy fasa’n

meddwl? A dysgu, tro ar ôl tro, sut i dynnu hoelen allan o ffrâm, sut i roi ffrâm at ei gilydd y ffordd anghywir a sut i roi ffrâm at ei gilydd yn gywir. Saith hoelen pwysica’m mywyd. Dwy awr o wers ar heidio artiffisial a fin-nau’n dal wedi drysu’n llwyr rhwng ba frenhines sy fod ym mha gwch. A thrwy’r cwbl oll dod i adnabod criw newydd o ffrindiau cefnogol a da. Ebrill 2011 - y gaeaf yn dirwyn i ben, Ebrill a’r gwanwyn yn dod a’n ym-

weliad cyntaf â’r wenynfa. Siwt benthyg gan y clwb a wellies a marigolds amdani. Mae’n fore Sul heulog a braf yn y wenynfa yn Penllergaer, y coed

a’r llwyni’n blaguro, blodau melyn a llygad y dydd yn ffynnu, adar yn canu a’r cwch cyntaf yn cael ei agor. Y gwenyn yn symud yn hamddenol ar y fframiau, yn hedfan o gwmpas ein pennau a sŵn suo ymhobman a finnau’n cael fy swyno’n llwyr. Drwy gydol gweddill y dydd ac wrth fynd i gysgu'r noson honno ‘rwy’n clywed y suo yn fy mhen. Y cyfan oll wedi fy hudo a,

wir, dwi ddim yn credu fod posibl troi nôl. Mis nesaf – ymlaen i brynu’r offer a helyntion cael fy ngwenyn cyntaf.


Since the last WBK magazine we have seen the start of apiary tours at the National Beekeeping Centre Wales and these have been very successful, for the centre, for volunteers and visitors. For most visitors, taking an

apiary tour and holding a

frame of bees is a new experience, opening a door into the world of bees and providing them

with a new perspective on the environment and the delicate balance of

nature. The intention is that for people visiting the centre, taking an apiary tour or not, we can put them in touch with and encourage them to

join their local beekee-ping association. In this

respect alone the centre performs an important gateway function in conjunction with Bodnant Welsh Foods and the regional Beekeeping Asso-

ciations. It is not by accident that NBCW directors chose to locate the beekeeping centre in Furness Farm on the Bodnant Estate in the Conwy valley and ho-

me to Bodnant Welsh Foods. The centre is close to Bodnant Gardens with all its diverse forage and the fabulous Food Centre which attracts many visitors, so a trip to the centre for beekeepers can be combined with a tour of the amazing gardens and the food hall filled with quali-ty Welsh produce…. and then there are the restaurant and

coffee shop. We meet with all sorts of bee interest levels, for some peo-

ple the centre is an eye-opener others are experts and visit occasionally. My

grandsons look out for bee jokes to tell granddad and Tom (5) asked me why do bees hum, dutifully I said I

Volunteers View (2)

Barry Griffiths


didn’t know and he said

it’s because they don’t

know the words! When I saw a boy a bit older than Tom with his Mum I thought I would test my new joke as an ice-breaker and asked the

question; he replied “they hum as one of their forms of commu-nication which include vibrations, scent and noise” I said you are

right; I couldn’t follow

up with the silly punch line when he cared and knew so much about bees.

At the NBCW children are fascinated by the live CCTV of bees in the apiary and the demonstration equipment. We were recently delighted to be joined by three additional volunteers Denis, Robert and Adam, a local beekeeper.

Adam works with children so he gets them and the parents taking hives to bits, sniffing wax and wearing bee kit. Kids and adults like honey sampling and it’s provoked a whole debate of regio-

nal and floral differen-ces, we always have a

few jars of Welsh ho-ney open for taste tests and if you have any honey for sale please do let us know. The centre experience is widening all the ti-

me; even now outside our relatively short flying season or mon-thly association mee-

tings, bringing people to bees when bees are not about. We look forward to your visit soon.

Barry Griffiths member Conwy BKA and NBCW volunteer.

Photo captions New volunteers at the NBCW (Adam, Denis, and Robert with Holly) -Intrepid new recruits - Volunteer Anne leading an Apiary tour - Honey tas-ters.


The Honeybee Colony as a Superorganism

Tony SHAW

Superorganisms exhibit a form of ‘distributed intelligence’, a system in which many individual agents with limited intelligence and information are

able to pool resources to accomplish a goal beyond the capabilities of the individuals. (Definition taken from Wikipedia) Bees, ants and termites are the obvious superorganisms but we now consi-der the Mole Rat colony and Homo Sapiens as superorganisms

Although the term ‘superorganism’ is relatively recent, the ideas behind it were first proposed by the Jesuit priest Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) in his book The Phenomenon of Man. Teilhard talks of cosmo-logical relationships and of our own planet being a lump of rock of different geological levels (Geosphere) upon the surface of which is a thin smear of life (Biosphere). The life form is interrelated and indivisible: hurt one part and the whole would be different but is not destroyed. Put in modern ter-

minology, Teilhard conceived the whole cosmos as a superorganism chan-ging and evolving. Our own planet was another superorganism,with evolu-tion, this time, developing towards the primacy of Homo Sapiens and his ‘overall’ consciousness. Our planet, any planet, would have a sphere of consciousness radiating from the core and ‘above’ or ‘on top of’ the surfa-ce smear of life; it is termed the Noösphere.

Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin S.J. 1881 -1955


The environmentalist guru James Lovelock in his Gaia Hypothesis mere-

ly updates Teilhard's notion of the biosphere and noösphere. Recognition of the concept of the Gaia or Noösphere leads not only to philosophical but practical problems for environmentalists, politicians and beekeepers. What is the individual or superorganism? Is it the entire cosmos, the pla-net and all its interrelated entities, or the mass of mankind and its collecti-ve consciousness; or is it a cultural entity such as a religious or national grouping? Or is the single human being, the 65 kilo, walking, talking, smi-ling entity that we call an individual, a superorganism itself? This idea has been proposed by many modern geneticists who point out that there is more DNA in the bacteria in our gut than there is in the muscles, sinews and bone that we consider to be ourselves. Struggling with how to define

an individual means that we are in a constant dilemma about how to treat foreigners, neighbours, ourselves and of course such non-human superor ganisms as the ant, the bee and the termite. Our understanding of the way a honey-bee colony operates has been en-hanced by a recent recognition that the colony itself is a single individual biological entity. Where we have cells that communicate around our bo-dy, the hive has individual free-moving units, insects that have foregone an independent existence to become part of a superorganism, the honey-bee colony. The individual in a superorganismic society performs func-tions that, in less social species, are the responsibility of an organelle, cell,

or organ, making a superorganism analogous at every level to a simple organism. So, for example, the queen is the only member of a honey bee colony that procreates; thus the queen is the colony's gonad. An indivi-dual honeybee has a weak immune system, but the weakness of an indivi-dual honeybee's immune system is compensated for by the fastidiousness of certain colony members. Those cleaners are the cells of a collective im-mune system, one that is located not within the body, but within the group. Most beekeepers do not bother with esoteric notions of a superorganism but they will, in effect, be using such a model when they decide to cull a

hive that behaves aggressively or that fails to produce honey or which fills too much space with propolis. Sometimes it is necessary to destroy each individual bee but often it is only necessary to change the queen. The fer-tilised queen has the genetics that control the whole hive, so if the queen is changed, the superorganism will be a totally different individual.


BDI Appeal and Review

A wide ranging review has recently been carried out by Bee Diseases Insu-rance Ltd (BDI) and has been discussed by the BDI committee.

The recommendations that have been approved will be dealt with in a phased manner and to avoid confusion amongst local BKA Treasurers announcements will be made at the appropriate time. In the course of conducting the review it has become obvious that expert

help is needed in some areas, one of which is LEGAL knowledge of formu-lating and making changes to company rules that are acceptable to the Financial Services Authority (FSA). If you or anyone you know may have expertise in this area and may be able to help please contact the BDI Se-cretary Donald Adams at the following email address: [email protected]

BDI - Subscriptions and Compensation Rates For 2013 there will be no increase in the subscription and premium rates. Compensation rates will change as these are set in line with a well known manufacturer’s catalogue at 90% of the retail cost. This generally means a

slight increase in claim payments.

Maximum compensation in respect of statutory destruction of hives because of infestation with Small Hive Beetle Aethina tumida or Tropilaelaps mites is to remain at a maximum of £50,000 gross claims per annum with a maximum of £150 per hive destroyed dependant on

condition. If gross claims

exceed the amount then all such claims will be reduced pro-rata for the given year.

Richard Ball,

President BDI [email protected]


IMPROVING HONEY BEE HEALTH

Franck Gellatly

http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2013/01/10/bee-health-1301/ Defra and Welsh Government are proposing changes to the way we deal with the pests and diseases that threaten honey bees. They have just pub-

lished a public consultation and I thought it might be helpful to outline the main proposals and key points of interest for beekeepers in Wales. Introduction

Four years ago, after consulting with beekeepers, bee farmers and bee-keeping organisations, Defra and WG launched The Healthy Bees Plan. It

started, amongst other things, a systematic process of reviewing bee health, government policies and the NBU’s inspection work, and the role of beekeepers and beekeeping associations. The bee health review began with the Random Apiary Survey (RAS) during which NBU inspectors took samples from around 5000 apiaries across Eng-land and Wales. Many of you may remember being involved. The results

have given us a detailed picture of honey bee health, pests and diseases. A review group of scientists, officials and beekeeper representatives (including one from Wales) was set up to assess, in the light of the RAS evidence, the effectiveness of the current approach to bee health. It went

on to consider how to make best use of the resources available (from gov-ernment, associations and beekeepers). The consultation reflects the group’s work and Defra and WG’s response. It

is published alongside a series of disease-specific evidence papers that draw on the RAS findings and profile each of the individual pests and dis-eases. The Consultation Document Improving honey bee health seeks views on changes being proposed to the

way in which we manage and control current pest and disease risks - American and European Foulbrood (AFB and EFB), Varroa and Nosema in particular - and exotic pests such as small hive beetle (SHB), Tropilaelaps

mites and the Asian hornet. The consultation paper contains a detailed analysis of the evidence. It has five sections and asks questions along the way. Sections 2 and 3 are the

heart of the consultation and will be of most interest to beekeepers. Honey bee health status and current policies (Section 2) Overall, the review group found that honey bee colonies in England and


Wales are in good health and that government’s approach, in particular the

work of the NBU, has been effective in reducing notifiable diseases, AFB and EFB, and in preparing for exotic risks. However, it found that AFB and EFB absorbed considerable resource whilst the non-statutory pest, Varroa,

remained widespread and poorly managed by many beekeepers. The group identified three alternatives for the future:

Option 1 : refine and build on the current approach but with a re-

newed commitment to collective action by government, beekeepers and associations;

Option 2 : current policies are maintained (no change);

Option 3 : the minimum is done to meet EU obligations which would

allow the removal of EFB from disease control programmes and the

cessation of Beebase registration by beekeepers and the NBU’s tar-geted surveillance work.

Recommended changes (Section 3)

In order to sustain a healthy bee population for pollination and honey pro-duction, Defra and WG are proposing to adopt Option 1. The consultation goes on to explain the ‘refine and build’ approach and its implications for the various pests and diseases. It is underpinned by a commitment to col-lective action that recognises the importance of local and national bee-keeping associations and beekeepers themselves. It also includes some different approaches to managing EFB.

It aims to:

Enable beekeepers and improve their self-reliance - for example, by sharing data and analysis on pest and disease risks at local and national levels, and by improving the planning, coordination and delivery of educa-tion and training;

Tackle the causes of problems (not just symptoms) - for example, by improving the response to recurrent outbreaks of EFB; Formalise and extend regulatory approaches for the control of AFB and EFB – for example, recognising and rewarding good practice in commercial and semi-commercial beekeeping by reducing the inspection burden;

Broaden the focus of the NBU’s role to cover other pests and diseases (not just foulbroods) - including a campaign and new guidance on Varroa; a new ‘rolling’ training programme, run with local associations, for all bee-keepers; a new welfare code for beekeepers on their responsibilities; and, more work to prevent the establishment of exotic threats such as SHB.

The questions raised are summarised at Annex 2.


Other comments are also welcome.

The closing date for replies is 9 March 2013 to Bee Health Policy Defra

Sand Hutton York YO41 1LZ or by email to [email protected]. Conclusion The consultation document, accompanying impact assessment and evi-

dence papers represent a ‘position statement’ on bee health, pests and diseases. Not everyone will want to respond but I would urge every bee-keeper with an interest in bee health (i.e. everyone!) to bookmark the evi-

dence papers as an invaluable information resource. The proposed approach very much reflects the way we work in Wales – in close co-operation with Welsh Government and local associations, prioriti-

sing information and education, alongside our inspection work, and suppor-ting the knowledge, confidence and capacity of beekeepers who are at the frontline of safeguarding bee health.

Frank Gellatly Regional Bee Inspector Wales


In 2012, all 22 candidates who have taken their Basic Exam in the summer have passed – Jonathon Roberts, David Hodgeson, Bill Lee, Lyndon tanner, and

Victoria Stephenson from Bridgend BKA, Ann and Dan Ritter from Cardiff, Mar-garet Watson, Anna Scruby and Stephen Smith from East Carmarthen, Trevor Sharples and Steven Searle from Aberystwyth, Paul Eades, Jeremy Percy, Tom Pegg, John Dudman, Chris Welton, Gordon Watson, George Durham and John Myers from Pembroke, Roy Norris from Montgomery and Carol Demmer from South Clwyd. A big congratulations to all of you and especially to Paul Eades who (with 92%) attained the highest score that WBKA has ever seen! In March 2012, Module 1 was passed by Jenny Witham, David Pitcher, Nick Grant, Sandra Lane, Andy Ryan, Mike Davies, Stephen Thomas and Fred Po-well. Module 2 was passed by John Beavan, Helen Payne, Lynfa Davies, Andy Ryan, Greg Nutgens and Nick Grant.

Module 7 was passed by Ade Morris, Steve Rose and Tim Radford. In the summer 3 beekeepers passed their General Husbandry assessment – Stephen Thomas, Ade Morris and Steve Davies. In November 2012, Module 1 was passed by Matthew Carroll and Paul Eades. Module 3 was passed by Andrew Ryan, Steve Davies, John Beavan, Greg Nut-gens and Bill Lee. Module 6 was passed by Steve Davies and Ade Morris. On the 23rd of March 2013 Modules 1,2,3,6 and 8 can be taken and on the 9th November 2013 Modules 1,2,3,5 and 7 can be taken. Applications on the WBKA form for the March exam should be with me by Fe-bruary 10th and for the November exam by 30th September 2013. The applica-tion form is on the WBKA web site and please include your e-mail address.

At it's last meeting the Examination and Education board agreed with the coun-cil meeting in that it would ratify passes. It also decided to bring the pass mark for the basic exam in line with BBKA basic and award over 50% as a pass, ho-wever the modules stay the same at 60% pass. It was also decided that each Association education secretary should take more responsibility for organising Basic assessments within their area and make sure the apiary and viva voce facilities are adequate. The name of 2 examiners will be provided by myself or my deputy. So, these assessments should be planned early in the summer but as last year, we can never guarantee the weather! We continue to pursue funding for the training event in February and the prac-tice General Husbandry work shop in June.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the examiners for the time they have spent this year either marking questions for the modules or asses-sing candidates for the Basic exam. There are only a handful of us so it takes up a lot of time and examiners efforts are really appreciated. As suggested by a candidate who has recently passed a number of modules, we should continue to cascade down to beginners the information that has been learnt (which also happens to be an excellent way of keeping up to date).

WBKA Exam Secretary's Report

D Sweet



NOTES FROM A GRUMPY OLD BEEKEEPER

A new beekeeping year with new hopes and dreams of a wonderful summer, after the snow that covers the world as I write. So much for ‘Colony Collapse Disorder’ and the now ridiculous statement ‘Bees are under threat’. Not in Britain they are not. We now have more bees and beekeepers than ever befo-

re, and that’s wonderful. Every association has at least a 25% increase in membership and all those people have got a minimum of one hive. The stan-dard of husbandry has gone up and the Bee Inspectorate has gone over the top with its vigilance, thus reducing the instance of foul brood, especially in

Wales, to an all time low. And with all the new beekeepers coming on board wanting to know ‘how and why’, life for a bee couldn’t be better. And climate change could be the reason for the large drop in Varroa problems. A vast area

of Scotland has now been declared Varroa free. Great! The upside of all this is due mostly to the American’s gross abuse of the ho-ney bee, with their vast areas of monoculture, carting them in huge numbers all over the country and feeding them on genetically modified corn syrup - ‘genetically modified to contain insecticide’-! I always thought bees were in-sects! But don’t knock it, as it caused a huge panic in Britain and this has

done British Beekeeping a world of good and some bad! Sadly!! You heard it from the media first as they jumped on the bandwagon ‘Bees are under threat’ on and on and on... The good first! From some surprising places, the local Co-op. They put out

public viewings of the American crisis and followed that up with their plan bee (pun clearly intended). This involved creating their very own honey farms, albeit in the East of En-

gland where it’s mostly rape. (Sweet lard I call that - But then they haven’t tried Welsh honey). Followed by their hugely generous gift of seeds to all who care and that has carried on for over three years. This will have a double impact as not only will it help the bees, who are not under threat but the vast variety of butterflies, moths, solitary bees and bum-ble bees who are under serious threat due to lack of habitat and the flowers they need. Do please plant your seeds if you have some. They are of course

wild flower seeds, and can be a bit wild! And in some gardeners minds, weeds! Well if you don’t want them in your garden, please find an earthy patch of roadside verge near you and tip them out and rake them in there or

especially where the council has been clearing trees and scrub. You can watch the results then as you drive past. But there is a downside that I don’t like at all. Those exploiting the new caring

beekeepers who want to do their best for their bees and older ones who should know better! The money makers are on the band wagon big time! Here we go again ‘Bees are under threat’ Let’s make money out of the bee-keepers! They are a soft touch! Oh Yes, you must buy our specially prepared feed far better for your bees. It


contains sucrose, glucose, and... fructose! Exactly what is contained in a

bag of sugar from a supermarket at double the price and because it comes ready mixed as a syrup, it must contain preservative to stop it from fer-menting. Then you can buy your syrup with a hundred and one very spe-

cial additives to cure everything your bee might or might not have, and, what’s more, might or might not work. Most importantly, making lots of money for the producers in the process. How about Varroa treatments? Loads of those making another pile of cash. A beginner I know spent hundreds of pounds on all this rubbish, and asked me what I used. None of that, I told him. ‘What about Integrated Pest Ma-nagement’ was his shocked reply. ‘Count the Varroa drop first, then we will

see’. How about beehives? Loads of money in making beehives: plastic ones, long ones, tall ones, hexagonal ones, every one better than the last. All

with different frames and gadgets. All of them very expensive. All probably very suitable for different parts of the world, but this is wet, wet Wales. Loads more making ‘real cedar wood’ WBCs and Nationals. As

if that was something quite new on the market. All money makers Lastly, books! ‘Beginners books’. Never have so many been published as in the last year or two, as well as every other aspect of beekeeping, all to make money. But the greatest heartbreak for me was the latest produc-tion from IBRA Plants for Bees by Kirk. I bought a copy as he had produced it in conjunction with the wonderful book written by F.N. Howes. Howes’ book is a paperback, written many moons ago, telling you all about

every imaginable plant and its suitability for bees. Howes worked at The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew for 40 years where he was an economic bo-

tanist and beekeeper and knew his subject well. Kirk is a professor of entomology (insects), not a plantsman. He has upda-ted Howes’ work with pretty pictures, contributions from other knowled-geable people on solitary bees (O’Toole), on the interaction of plants and bees by David Aston and Sally Bucknall, and a foreword by television pre-

senter Kate Humble. But the one thing on every page that screams out at me is the chart at the side, which tells you about the plant which bees like it, and then HONEY no!. Hundreds of plants, honey no! Of course not!! Plants don’t produce honey, they produce nectar!!! He has marked a few Yes’s to honey, oil seed rape and white clover! An expensive book if you can afford it; but you would do better to go to Amazon and find a second

hand copy of Howes’. Carl Showler used to keep a large supply in his wonderful shop and we

bought them for all the beginners. It’s April. Spring has sprung I hope. Now is the time to mark your queens. There are the least number of bees in your hive at this time of year, and the queens are easier to find. No luck? Get a friend to help you. It’s good fun then. This year, you are supposed to mark them red. But I cannot find

a red queen when the hive is full in May. So I only use white, but that’s up to you. I used to use Tippex but I’m now told it contains nasty chemicals. So I splashed out on a proper marker!


A BIONIC BEE FOR TOMORROW ?

Sometimes real science sounds more like science fiction. Just the phrase ‘bionic bees’ sounds like something out of an old paperback. But that is the

goal of a new project from the Universities of Sheffield and Sussex. Engi-neers are planning on scanning the brains of bees and uploading them into flying robots, with the hope that the machines will and act like the real thing.

The goal of the project is to create the first robots able to

act on instinct. Researchers hope to implant a honey bee’s sense of smell and sight into the flying machines, allowing the robot to act as autono-mously as an insect rather than relying on pre-

programmed instructions. Possible applications for the bionic bee include search and rescue missions such as a collapsed mine, detecting chemical or gas leaks and

even pollinating plants just like a real bee.

Dr. James Marshall, the head of the $1.61 million study, wrote in a press release: ‘The development of an artificial brain is one of the greatest chal-lenges in Artificial Intelligence. So far, researchers have typically studied brains such as those of rats, monkeys, and humans, but actually ‘simpler’ organism such as social insects have surprisingly advanced cognitive abili-ties.’

Researchers anticipate that developing a model for scanning and uploading an animal’s brain will offer insight into how a brain’s cognitive systems work, potentially offering advances in understanding animal and human cognition. ‘Not only will this pave the way for many future advances in au-tonomous flying robots’, wrote Dr. Thomas Nowotny, the leader of the Sus-sex team, ‘but we also believe the computer modelling techniques we will

be using will be widely useful to other brain modelling and computational

neuroscience projects.’ The project, which researchers call ‘Green Brain’ is funded by the UK’s En-gineering and Physical Sciences Research Council with technical help from IBM and hardware donated by NVIDIA Corporation. Scientists hope to have a bionic bee in the air by 2015.

courtesy of Somerton Beekeepers and thanks to www.Apisuk.com


OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

Ruth BETHELL , Conwy BKA

CONWY BEEKEEPERS ANNUAL COMPETITION

Last October we redesigned our annual ho-

ney show so that, instead of inviting an offi-

cial judge as in previous years, we could all

become judges for the evening! The aims

were to enable all members to take a more

active part in the procedure, to make eve-

ryone feel involved and to provide valuable

experience in selecting the best exhibits in

the competition.

It must be said that there were a few mur-

murs of disapproval among committee

members when this plan was proposed, and

a feeling that what had been a very profes-

sional annual show was at risk of being

“dumbed down”. So, those responsible for

the event were determined that customary

high standards must be upheld: the bees themselves have the hig-

hest standards in the hive, and we should do likewise.

In order to create a workable timetable for the evening, we redu-

ced the number of classes to ten, selecting those which usually at-

tracted the most exhibits. We settled on 3 criteria for each class

and these were circulated to the membership prior to the show to

assist in preparing exhibits. On the evening each member was gi-

ven a sheet with all classes listed and a tick box beside each, and

the same 3 criteria were also displayed on cards at each class to

guide judging. Members then spent 40 minutes examining each

class, in no particular order, and marked on their sheet which one

exhibit they judged to be the best in that class. Finally, they had to

decide on the best overall exhibit in the show.

Refreshments followed judging to allow time for results to be wor-

ked out. The exhibit in each class which gained the greatest num-

ber of votes gained 1st place and by this method 2nd and 3rd places

could be decided. Attractive place cards were placed beside winning

exhibits. Members were then invited back to the show area and

the results led to much animated discussion. Lastly, the “Best in

Show” award was presented.

So, was the new format a success? One disadvantage was that

members could have voted for their own exhibits, but surely bee-

keepers are honest folk and, in any case, this would have had mini-

mal effect on results. Also, some judging procedures had to be

compromised: we did not allow jar lids to be lifted so we could not

smell the aroma of the honey (although torches were provided to

judge clarity), we did not allow honey cakes to be tasted and we

did not light the candles.

On the positive side, however, it was considered by the members-

hip and the committee to have been a great success. You could

hear a pin drop while every member present was busily involved in

judging, and there was a real buzz of discussion when results were

revealed. At the end, a committee member with much experience

of judging gave a short talk about the results. In his opinion the

correct exhibits won the prizes, and this was borne out by the fact

that the winner of the jar of clear honey was also the winner of that

class in the Royal Welsh Show. Thus it was demonstrated that

members were well able to select the best!

The aims of the change in show format, therefore, were achieved

and the whole evening was very enjoyable. Indeed, it was such a

success that, you never know, we might just repeat it next year!

Ruth Bethell, Conwy BKA

[email protected]


BEEKEEPING DOWN UNDER

Pam GREGORY

September in NSW Australia is the equivalent of March at home, spring has officially arrived, trees are starting to blossom and birds are starting to

nest. But there any similarity with the UK rather ends as I am consumed with envy at the ease of beekeeping this area. The temperature is already around 23 C most days in this drought stricken area. Rainfall has been less than expected for the last 7 years or so – one wonders if this now makes it the norm and the climate has now changed permanently – who can tell. Nonetheless the bees seem to thrive in the circumstances. The forest ve-

getation is plentiful, the clover and daffodils make a curious sight in flower at the same time, there are European style spring blossoms together with bees buzzing on the indigenous bush plants and the bees are building up well. I would love to see such large colonies of bees at the equivalent time of year in my little patch of Wales.

Spring blossoms in Tilba NW Australia

Eucalyptus forests in the Blue Mountains NSW

Beekeeping is done using a standard Langstroth frame hive system someti-mes using an ‘Ideal’ size frame which is half the depth of the standard Langstroth generally for supers. Sometimes the 10 frame system is repla-ced with an 8 frame system which makes the colonies lighter and so easier

to move. To some extant this depends on the amount of hive migration undertaken and the degree of mechanisation being used to move the

stocks and this in turn depends on the size of the outfit. The hobby bee-keeper with between 1 and 100 hives can easily stay put and not practise and migratory beekeeping because there is plenty of forage year round, while at the other extreme another beekeeper, reportedly with several thousand hives, stated that once he’d been on pollination contracts to the

first two commercial crops of the season had made his bread and butter income so the rest was jam – or should I say honey.


Farming and bush country in NSW I was told not a great deal of winter-

feeding is required and the honey crops are expected to be150kg or more an-nually. Swarm control is by lopping off

queen cells, giving the bees more work to do and by taking off the honey crops regularly so colonies don’t get over crowded. Queens were replaced on a regular basis. However, the thing that made me most envious was the gentle-ness of the bees. As an imported exotic

species there are no aboriginal ho-neybees that would interbreed with the

very gentle Italian types used (making them bad tempered as happens

here in the UK) and the good weather and plenty of forage meant that bees could be worked without veils and bee suits – a condition which enti-rely transforms beekeeping. I had seen

pictures of people working bees in sorts and tee shirts but somehow never quite believed it. Of course not everything in the garden is rosy and beekeepers were reporting new problems with the small hive bee-tle that was discovered in Australia in

2002, which can rapidly cause a weak colony to deliquesce into a soggy mess.

AFB is quite common and I found EFB in the first hive I looked in. The ho-neybee, as an introduced exotic ani-mal, is also considered to be threate-ning to certain indigenous animals and

birds by taking over the hollows that the former would use for nesting. Like beekeepers in the UK, they wish the

government was more proactive in paying for research and protection of the honeybee colonies. The monofloral honeys have cheery and

sometimes colourful names; stringy bark honey, iron bark honey, yellow

box, red gum, blue gum are a few. The yellow wattle, the national flower, is a cheery yellow. I was told it bears little honey only pollen but this seemed hard to believe on seeing the bees flocking

round it.

Stocks are kept permanently strapped ready for mechanical

loading onto lorries for pollination migration

A stiff spring breeze necessitated long trousers.

Local Association Representatives

Aberystwyth Ann Ovens, Tan-y-Cae, Nr Talybont, Ceredigion, SY24 SOL 01970 832 359

Anglesey Ian Gibbs, Dryll, Bodorgan, Ynys Mon LL62 5AD 01407 840 314

Brecknock & Radnor Dr Gill Todd, Meadow Breeze, Llandew, Brecon Powys LD3 9ST 01874 610 902

Bridgend Sue Verran, Tŷ Mêl, Maesteg Rd., Coytrahen, Bridgend CF32 OEE 01656 729 699

Cardiff & Vale Annie Newsam, Stonecroft, Mountain Rd, Bedwas Caerphilly, CF83 8ER 02920 868 756

Carmarthen Brian Jones, Cwmburry Honey Farm, Ferryside SA17 5TW 01267 267 318

Conwy Peter McFadden, Ynys Goch, Ty’n Groes, Conwy, LL32 8UH 01492 650 851

East Carmarthen Linda Wallis, Maestroddyn, Harford, Llannwrda Carmarthenshire, SA19 8DU 01558 650 774

Flint & District Jill and Graham Wheeler, Mertyn Downing, Whitford, Holywell, Flintshire, CHS 9EP 01745 560 557

Gwenynwyr W I Griffiths, Llain Deg, Comins Coch, Cymraeg Ceredigion Aberystwyth, SY23 3BG 01970 623 334

Lampeter & District Gordon Lumby, Gwynfryn, Brynteg Llanybydder, SA40 9UX 01570 480 571

Lleyn ac Eiflonydd Amanda Bristow 01286 831 328

Meirionnydd Dr David Hope, Dyffryn Ardudwy 07784 320 798

Montgomery Maggie Armstrong, 20 Dol-y-Felin, Abermule , Powys, SY15 6BB 01686 630 447

Pembrokeshire Brigid Rees, Canerw Cottage, Llanboidy, Whitland, Carmarthenshire SA34 0ET 01994 448 210

South Clwyd Carol Keys-Shaw, Y Beudy, Maesmor, Maerdy, Corwen, Conwy, LL21 0NS 01490 460 592

Swansea Paul Lyons, 2 West Cliff, Southgate, Swansea, SA3 2AN

Teifiside Donald Adams, Bryngwrog, Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn Ceredigion, SA38 9QR 07939 536 356

West Glamorgan John Beynon, 42 Whiteston Avenue, Bishopston, Swansea, SA3 3DA 01792 232 810


Plants for your bees

Phacelia

Phacelia (phacelia, scorpionweed, heliotrope) is a genus of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants, native to North and

South America. The genus is traditionally placed at family rank with the waterleaves. Many species are cultivated as garden plants and honey plants. As with many species in the Boraginaceae family, contact with the hairs of some species of Phacelia can cause a very unpleasant rash similar to that of poison oak and poison ivy in sensitive individuals.

Phacelia is a quick growing hardy annual green manure that germinates

at low temperatures and is ideal for sowing from March until September. It will grow erect up to 1m in height and is tolerant of cold temperatures and may over-winter if it’s not too cold. It suits most soil types but is particu-larly good in dry ones. The seeds are "negatively photoblastic", or photo-dormant, and will only germinate in darkness. The wild form is glandular and coated in stiff hairs. The leaves are mostly

divided into smaller leaflets deeply and intricately cut into toothed lobes, giving them a lacy appearance. The very hairy inflorescence is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue and laven-der. Each flower is just under a centimeter long and has protruding whis-kery stamens. It was originally native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, but it is now used in many places in agriculture as a cover crop, a

bee plant, an attractant for other beneficial insects, and an ornamental plant. It is planted in vineyards and alongside crop fields, where it is va-lued for its long, coiling inflorescences of nectar-rich flowers which open in sequence, giving a long flowering period. It is a good insectary plant, at-tracting pollinators such as honey bees. Phacelia has beautiful scented purple/blue flowers with dense fern-like

foliage. It smothers weeds and has an extensive root system that improves the soil structure. However it does self-seed very easily so if it is used as a green manure, dig in before flowering or cut down and compost the folia-ge. It flowers from 6-8 weeks from sowing for a period of 6-8 weeks. It is listed as one of the top 20 honey-producing flowers for honeybees and is very attractive to bumblebees and hoverflies. (Hoverflies eat a lot of

aphids). A small patch of Phacelia could be left to flower, especially near

to vegetables to attract pollinating insects to the area, but don’t have too many of them or too big an area as the insects will feed on the Phacelia rather than the veg. It also makes an excellent cut flower and has a long vase-life with strong stems. Phacelia is part of the Hydrophyllaceae family so fits into any bed in a crop rotation plan.

Welsh Beekeepers - Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru | … · Welsh Beekeepers’ Association ... requiring no protective bee clothing; ... Some new beekeepers have told me that they plan

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