What's occurring?

The colonies continue to eat fondant like no tomorrow. In the past the bees have largely ignored fondant, and been happy to forage instead. This year each colony (in National hives) is consuming approximately 500g fondant per week. According to some beekeepers, this is a sign that I did not feed the bees sufficiently going into winter. The alternative explanation is that I removed too much honey going into winter, as I would rather they used their own stores - and presumably that is better for them, too.

National Physical Laboratory

Bees, Charity & Embroidery

Here's a nice piece: 

Rapidly Growing Edinburgh Based Craft Kit Business Partners With Beekeeper Charity

Visit https://paraffle-embroidery.com/ 

Story from https://www.craftbusiness.com/news/view/rapidly-growing-edinburgh-based-craft-kit-business-partners-with-beekeeper-charity

PS Are they ever tempted to embroider the truth?

Trustees 2021

Trustees The BBKA was founded in 1874 and originally brought together some 26 county beekeeping associations, not to replicate their work, but to be in a stronger position to represent their interests at government level and to facilitate a nationwide educational structure supported by a common examination process. Currently we run as an umbrella to our 74 Associations. Each Association has one elected member who votes on all things beekeeping in the UK, at our Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM), at the beginning of every year.  Appointed at the ADM are the President and 12 Trustees, who collectively comprise the Executive Committee (EC) that is the governing body of the BBKA. Delegates may adopt propositions at the Annual Delegate Meeting that provide policy direction to the EC. We are now a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)  This page lists the trustees for 2021 This page also includes an email address for each trustee as well as information about which tr...

from British Beekeepers Association https://ift.tt/37lMIYf
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Bees for Development

How about this for an amazing story? 

Photo: Patrick Okello, who is blind, navigates his apiary using a string line, Uganda.

https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=16b653a6312b0c8ba4b72f2c5&id=92fad0f359&mc_cid=2f69c63742&mc_eid=15243fb870

The Beguiling History of Bees

 Worth a read: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-beguiling-history-of-bees-excerpt/#:~:text=To%20recap%2C%20bees%20first%20appeared,of%20a%20social%20stingless%20bee.

Nippy this morning in the UK

 

East Surrey Bees

Great presentation by Celia Rudland of East Surrey Bees about preparing for Spring. With more than 200 colonies, she really knows how to put theory into practice. 

In the past I have bought both queens and colonies from East Surrey Bees, all of which have proved excellent. 

http://www.eastsurreybees.co.uk/