Newbattle Beekeepers Association

January 2025 Webinar

Here's a date for your new diaries! On Wednesday the 15th ofJanuary at 7.30pm the Scottish Beekeepers Association   are delighted to welcome James Fearnley who will discuss 'Propolis, the Bee Arc Project, and the International Propolis Research Group (IPRG)'.

The webinar is free and open to all. If you would like to join us please use the link below

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7767277134868289627

James is the CEO of BeeVital and Nature’s Laboratory, and he made his first connection with honeybees and one of their most remarkable products – propolis in 1990 and has been actively involved with it ever since! He has written and published “Bee Propolis – Natural Healing from the Hive” and is also the founder of the International Propolis Research Group (IPRG). An organisation dedicated to guiding research and collaboration into propolis, creating a database of research and organising international conferences on the subject of propolis. You will also find out more about the Bee Arc Project, which grew out of James’s idea to build a research centre which could explore both the medicinal properties of bee products as well as more sustainable forms of beekeeping.

• Monitor the debris on the Varroa Board insert. Use a magnifying glass if need be. Count the mites every five days Check out NBU guidance on managing varroa here 
• Heft your hives. Get to know the expected weigh. It should be heavy in January. Make sure there is fondant on top of the colony. The bees will take it if they are hungry.
• Make sure your hives are secure.
• Make sure you have mouse guards in place

Rapeseed Oil and Offshoring  

In this post dated 8 November David discusses the Consequences of Climate Change 

Read the Blog Post Here

It is again time to update your BeeBase records with the total number of overwintering hives as of 1st November 2024.

To complete this year’s hive count please click the link below which will take you to BeeBase. Once logged in, please answer the hive count questions displayed and then click the ‘Submit response’ button. It is as simple as that! Please update your records by 31st December 2024.

If you currently have no colonies, please update your BeeBase record to confirm this in question 1.

Please click this link to update your Hive Count.

https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/hive-count/

Please note: your username to login is not your email address

More details of this project, its importance and why we need your help can be found on BeeBase:
https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/bees-and-the-law/hive-count/

2023’s count indicated a total UK population of honey bee hives at approximately 252,500. 

If you have any security concerns about clicking on the embedded links in this email, you can access BeeBase directly from your Internet browser to complete the hive count. Simply log in to BeeBase and select ‘Hive Count’ from the list of options displayed.

We have produced additional guidance on how to update your records within BeeBase, these are included in the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document on the Hive Count information page of BeeBase.

For more information on the National Hive Count you can email bees_mailbox@gov.scot

Thank you very much in advance for your assistance.

Bees are known for their honey-making skills and for packing a bit of a sting - ouch!

However, scientists in Oxfordshire have discovered how bees can help us understand more about climate change.

No, they won't be donning little lab coats and test tubes.

The proof is all in the honey. 

• Published

Watch the BBC Newsround Video

Smith Hive Parts (used) are available to buy from the Online Shop. Click on the link below to get yours.

Order Your Smith Hive Parts Here

VARROA LEARNING PACKAGE SRUC and the Scottish Government’s Bee Health Improvement Partnership have recently produced a learning package on Varroa.  The Scottish Varroa Learning Booklet is now available to download and print. It aims to give beekeepers a better understanding of the particular issues beekeepers face in Scotland when tackling Varroa. Varroa is a key threat to Scottish honey bees and became a reportable pest in Scotland in April 2021 through the Bee Diseases and Pest Control (Scotland) Amendment Order 2021. You can download a copy of the booklet here DOWNLOAD BOOKLET or from the National Bee Unit (NBU) BeeBase. Go to the Beekeeping in Scotland section of BeeBase and go to the bottom of the page called latest updates.  If you need more information please email Lorraine.Johnston@sruc.ac.uk

Posted on 11 Oct. - 15min read

Click on the link below to read the post

undertakers-hygienic-bees-and-the-scent-of-death