Category: Events

Excursion to Manchester Beekeepers Association on July 22nd.

An opportunity for beekeepers to visit a highly renowned apiary to learn more about approaches to beekeeping. Transport will be provided by Fellrunner bus. Departure from the car park behind Greystoke Village Hall at 9.30. a.m. . Estimated time of return 6.00.p.m.

Cost: £30 per person provided at least 12 people participate.  This opportunity is being co-ordinated by Penrith Beekeepers Association.  Contact Margaret Riches: for further information. Places are limited so early application is recommended.  Closing date for reservations: 8th July.

Thanks

Margaret

Stop Press!  Stop this Pest! 

Join the Asian Hornet Watch

The Asian Hornet, vespa velutina, is an aggressive predator of honey bees and other beneficial insects. Since a fertilised Asian Hornet queen arrived in France in 2004, inside a box of imported Chinese clay pots in which it had hibernated, it has spread to Spain, Majorca, Portugal, Italy, Belgium and Germany and the Channel Islands.  Over 50% of the hives in these countries have been destroyed, along with other insects on which small birds depend for their survival. Each Asian Hornet nest can produce 200 queens in one season. Once established, it can spread at the distance of 100km each year.

Its sting can also be fatal to humans !

The Asian Hornet is the Putin of the insect world: small, but dangerous with invasive intent! 

In Asia, bees and the other insect populations have co-existed with the Asian Hornet for thousands of years. They have developed strategies for evading and destroying it, but the European bees and insects do not have the benefits of this knowledge and experience, which is why they are so vulnerable to its attacks.

Since 2016  Asian Hornets have been seen from time to time in the UK. mainly in the south of England, but they are now appearing more often further north. On each occasion they have been successfully tracked and their nests destroyed.  Two weeks ago, one was found in Northumberland in a container of vegetables.   This reminds us that it could arrive in Cumbria very soon.

Cumbria is a perfect habitat for the Asian Hornet. It has  trees to provide the wood that it needs to create the pulp to build its nests and in which the nests can remain hidden from view in the canopy of tall trees; sources of water to enable it to mulch the wood into the pulp; plentiful supplies of bees and other insects for its food. It also thrives in damp, cooler conditions.  The Asian Hornet may arrive as a tourist, but when it does, it will be here to stay!!

Early detection, so that the Asian Hornet can be tracked and its nests destroyed, is essential. During your walks in the countryside or when you are working in your garden, remain alert to the possibility of seeing an Asian Hornet. If you think you have seen one, do not touch it. Instead follow the 3 simple steps to begin the track and trace process:

i) SEE it

ii) SNAP it on your camera/ phone

iii) SEND the image to attached to an email if you don’t have a smart phone or via the new Asian Hornet Watch app.

Download this free from Google Play or the App Store.  The app gives detailed ID guidance and will help you to quickly record and send potential sightings.

Computer systems sift through the images that are received.  Pictures of other types of  hornets/ wasps are rejected.  When a picture of the Asian Hornet is recognised then swat teams of beekeepers are sent into the area to find and track them back to their nest.  Nests are then destroyed and removed overnight using specialist equipment.

Your vigilance will stop this pest! The battle to control it has been lost on the continent. It has just begun here.  It likes hitching a lift in caravans, cars and luggage when our holiday makers return from the continent. Please check your luggage carefully before you leave for the UK to make sure it is not hiding away to makes its escape when you arrive home!

Other types of hornets which are native species to the UK are not the target.  Electronic copies of an Asian Hornet identification chart to help you identify the ‘enemy’ and differentiate it from other hornets, can be downloaded for you to use and circulate to your friends.

At Greystoke Village Hall, near Penrith CA11 0TW

A PBKA Course

Provisionally the Next course will be 7 -8th June 2025

Course Details: Introducing Beekeeping PBKA June 2023

Ian Robinson wins W Barton cup for best exhibit in the Mead classes

at the Cumbria Honey Show November 2022.

Order Form

Please print your name: ……………………………………

I would like to order…….  copies of the calendar.

Tick whichever applies:

□    I will collect them from 16, Byrnes Close.

Contact tel number:  ……………………                        

E mail: ………………………………………

□     Please mail the copies to the following address:

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Post code: ……………………

Total payment due: £…..

Cheques should be made payable to: Penrith Beekeepers Association.

Post to:  Dr. Margaret Riches 16, Byrnes Close, Plumpton, CA11 9PE

Alternatively : E mail your order to

and make your payment by BACS:

HSBC Account: Cumberland Beekeepers Association, Penrith Branch

Sort Code: 40-36-10   Account: 61519573

Please make sure that you have added your name as reference.

N.B. Calendars will not be available for collection / posted until payment has been received.

On 9^th October beekeepers gathered at Great Salkeld Village Hall for the first meeting of the Winter Programme. The panel of experts, which included Fred Ayres (Chair Lune Valley Beekeepers), Stephen Barnes, (Chair of British Beekeepers Association Trustees), and  Dominic Rhodes (Vice- Chair PBKA)   responded to the questions posed to them by members. The session was expertly chaired by Mike Innerdale (PBKA member). The panel advised on issues such as whether treatments to destroy varroa should still be applied; how to deal with lots of bees remaining on the crown board/ bearding on the outside of the hive in early autumn by removing the queen excluder and how to recognise the on set  of Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus which is becoming increasingly common. During the refreshment break members chatted to each other, swopping the ‘tricks and tips’ they had used to meet the challenges that the summer season had presented.

 The course was led by Graham Royle:

Graham has been beekeeping since 1988 and started to study for the BBKA examinations in 1995 when he decided he wanted to know more about the bees he was keeping. His studies resulted in achieving the BBKA Master Beekeeper certificate in 2002 and the National Diploma in Beekeeping in 2004 (the highest beekeeping qualification recognised in the UK). He was also awarded the Wax Chandler’s prize in 2002. Until recently Graham was a seasonal bee inspector. 

The one day course covered the following aspects and approaches to beekeeping: stages of queen rearing; 3 possible queen rearing techniques; cell raising; queen cell distribution; mating and queen introduction techniques.

The course was held at Acorn Bank (CA10 1SP) National Trust property at Temple Sowerby. The theoretical aspects of the session took  place in the Drawing Room of the Main House. The bees and equipment that were used during the course came from the Penrith Beekeepers Association apiary which is located in the orchard at Acorn Bank.

The 15 participants provided the following feedback:

Key : % of responses:

The course increased my knowledge/ understanding of queen rearing strategies:

Because:

-Practise techniques that be taken into action.

-Perfect level of course for our needs

-Interactive, engaging. Lots of knowledge given

-I was coming from limited knowledge, and course was delivered really well, with good knowledge and a great teaching style.

-I had little success before.

-There is a lot to learn

-Clearly demonstrated procedure. Good responses and interaction and questions.

-A little because I have already been doing this for a while

-Increased skill with grafting

I will now try to rear queen bees using some of the strategies that were demonstrated today:

I would like to learn more about:

-Disease ;  Bee husbandry;

Overall the course was :

Because:

-Good teaching style and good pace.

-Good pace. Plenty opportunity for questions and practical experience.

-Gave us more confidence and knowledge with how to proceed.

The approach was simple and well explained

Excellent presenter, nice setting. Good chocolate biscuits!

Very knowledgeable presenter, well organised, engaging delivery, with good pacing.

Very well presented, taking the mystery our of queen rearing.

-Simple, concise, entertaining presentation

The course could have been improved by:

Excellent as it was

Not much- two days?

Many thanks for extending the invitation to KBKA. Very interesting and helpful opportunity.

Additional comments:

-Just to say very many thanks for inviting us to the Queen Rearing Session. Not only enjoyable, we learnt so much to help our endeavours. Charlie Payne (Chair Keswick Beekeepers Association)

– Thank you so much for allowing us to join onto your queen rearing course, which was really excellent. We learnt so much and it was great to see the wonderful setup you have at Acorn Bank.  I do hope there may be opportunities in the future for members from South Westmorland to join in with your activities. (Stella Crompton)