Acorn Bank Members Meeting

The sessions are from 1.30. – 3.30. Please aim to arrive at Acorn Bank National Trust Property at Temple Sowerby, (CA10 1SP) by 1.15. to give sufficient time to park in the main car park, show your PBKA Membership Card and *National Trust Membership card (if you have one) at the entrance and then walk up to the apiary which is located at the top of the orchard.

*This is not a condition of entry but helps to boost the NT Visitor numbers if it can be shown and ‘swiped’

A Trustee will usually be available to greet you at the edge of the car park.

The Trustee   will ensure that you know how to reach the apiary. He/she will check that you are wearing appropriate footwear and that your bee suit is clean if you are bringing your own.

There are bee suits available for use at the apiary if you do not have your own. We also have a small number of pairs of wellington boots, but cannot guarantee that we would have the size that you will need, so it is best to bring your own.

We ask members to be aware that the following rules apply on visits to the apiary:

• You may wear your own bee suit, but only if it has been laundered since you wore it to visit your own bees. This is to minimise the risk of cross-colony infection. Bee suits are available to borrow for the afternoon if you cannot guarantee that your own is clean/ if you do not have one yet.
• Nitrile gloves will be supplied. Leather gauntlets / other protective gloves of your own are not acceptable .
• You should wear wellingtons or other footwear that completely covers your feet and lower leg to avoid bee stings in this area.It is helpful to the apiary managers if most people arrive together so that they can provide a brief update about the bees before the group enters the apiary and begin to look at the colonies.

To avoid congestion at the apiary, it is recommended that you put on your bee suit and wellingtons in the car park.

As the season progresses some meetings will focus on particular aspects of beekeeping relevant to the needs/ activities of the colonies at the time. If this is known in advance of the Sunday meeting, then you will receive an E mail beforehand to let you know what is likely to be taking place that afternoon.

TEA AND CAKE! Tea/ coffee and biscuits/ cake will be available at the end of the afternoon for our group in the Volunteers Kitchen in the main house. The beekeeping sessions usually ends by 3.30. to give time for a ‘cuppa and a natter’ before you head off home.