I would like to open this issue of Combings on a pleasant note by congratulating Kevin and Belinda Welby on the birth of their daughter  Evie Rose.  I wish them all well.

“Combings” is three years old. The first edition came out on 1^st March 2002.   If you have found it interesting, informative or if it raised a titter or two, it will have been worth all the work.  By its very nature it has to be a parochial magazine, being for York Beekeepers and written mainly by York Beekeepers.  Its continued success depends on members sending me material –anecdotes – particularly humorous ones are always welcome.   Things you have tried and succeeded with and thing s you have tried and failed.   They all help to make “Combings” an interesting read.  Do any of you do caricatures or cartoons? Such material will be most welcome.  Due to the limitations of the printing process, I can only accept black and white drawings.  I have produced “Combings” since its inception, but would be happy to hand over to anyone wishing to have a go.  My computer skills are very limited.  There is much more scope for the magazine that is beyond my ability, that those of you more computer literate could exploit.

You cannot fail to notice that the same names keep cropping up when ever some work has been done or an event organised.  You could also be thinking that a clique is operating.  This is not so. The names you see are the ones who volunteer to do these jobs. It would be nice to have other members to take on some of the work, soplease put your name forward. You will be most welcome.

Secretary Colin Hattee has a new e-mail address. It is: hattee@holmeapiary.fsnet.co.uk

Three new members have joined our ranks since I last wrote.  Please welcome Tom Bettles, Mr J N Binks and David Cantrell to our Association.

his year’s beginner’s class starts on Tuesday 3 May.  To enable novices to get started we require members to supply five frame NUC’s.  If you can help please contact course organiser Sue Hesp on 01904 489449.  The main stipulation is that the bees must be docile. 

As part of our agreement with the Farming Museum, we have to man the pavilion at weekends during June, July and August from 1000 hrs to 1600 hrs. Volunteers are wanted for this task.  If you are interested, then contact Colin Hattee on 01430 860972.  You can take your own honey along and sell it to visitors.  A price of £2.50 per pound has been suggested in Committee, and, for the sake of uniformity, you are asked to go along with this price.

Jenny Smith has taken over as Spray Liaison Officer.  To help her undertake this task effectively, she requires grid references of member’s apiaries.  Please ‘phone her as soon as possible with this information.

Ten members took up Yorkshire BKA’s  foundation offer.   It is good quality foundation at a low price and is available before the season begins.

This year’s auction is to be held on Saturday 21 May at the Murton Museum of Farming.  Full details are attached to your “Combings”.  As always, helpers will be required on the day to assist with general duties.  If you can spare a morning or an afternoon it will be appreciated.  At this time it is anticipated that there will be some bees for sale.  If you have any bees for sale, please have them inspected by the Foul Brood Officer before hand.

In the summer when there is a lot of work to do, one has to prioritise jobs that have to be done.  One that I tend to leave is hedge trimming and grass cutting – providing I am not inconvenienced by them.    At the end of January I set too and had a go at a mixed hedge immediately behind my bees at one of my out apiaries.  It is mainly hawthorn with a bit of holly plus holly and ash trees growing through.  The hedge bottom has nettles and brambles growing. The nettles are not a problem as my mower soon cuts them back – it is the brambles, that, if left unattended soon put out side shoots that run along the ground in the long grass making a trip hazard.  Cutting brambles back is a tedious job requiring stout gloves and a pair of secateurs. Each shoot has to be handled individually, cutting it back to ground level.  It never fails to amaze me how much growth a bramble can put on during the course of a summer – I was regularly cutting 15 feet lengths away.  While I was working, I was thinking of skep makers of bygone days who used split briars to sew their skeps together – the straw was free – the briars were free – the cow horn formers used to get the right thickness of rope were also free.  Yet today we will spend tens of pounds for a wooden brood box!

National Bee Supplies of Oakhampton, Devon are going to maintain their 2004 prices during 2005.  This will give you the chance to get your equipment a few coppers cheaper.  I have used them in the past and found their woodwork to be as good as Thorne’s.   Contact them on 01837 54084.

Ivor Davis, Chairman of the BBKA in his Chairman’s Letter in the December 04 edition of BBKA News tells us that advanced warning has been given that the1lb honey will be come obsolete and we will have to sell honey in metric jars.

With the beekeeping season just round the corner, let me remind you again about going to out apiaries. Tell your nearest and dearest where you are going and what time you anticipate returning home.  If you have a mobile ‘phone, have it on your person, fully charged and switched on ready for use in an emergency.  Accidents by definition cannot be predicted, but the old saying still holds good  - better to be safe than sorry.  While on the topic of personal safety in out apiaries, make a note of grid references of each of your sites, for they are often remote and possibly difficult to give any one directions to get there.  Also take your nearest and dearest to your sites occasionally so they are familiar with their locations.  Last autumn I was shown a brood box with an aluminium mouse guard, that the owner reckoned that mice had chewed away to get in side. To emphasise this assertion he showed me the damage the mouse had caused inside the hive.

For those of you that make your own equipment, getting hold of dimensions can be problem, they are all written down some where.  In days of yore the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food published a series of Advisory Leaflets on various aspects of beekeeping including dimensions of the different types of hive we use.  Having not seen any of these leaflets for some time now, I suspect they are out of print.   But all is not lost.  There is an article in the November 2004 edition of Beecraft by a man making his own woodwork and he gives an internet address where this information can be found.   www. beesource. com/plans.  Not having internet access, will one of you look at this site and tell me what it contains and if it is of any value?

The Association has three hand powered extractors for members to use, clean and return. They are held by Rob Coleman – 01904 762532, Sue Hesp – 01904 489449 and Jenny Smith – 01904 706941.

By mid May you will be wanting to start extracting some of your rape honey – but then other members will also be wanting to use the extractors as well, so please, book early and return them as soon as you have finished to give others a chance.

You will all be aware that Apimondia is holding its event this year in Dublin between the 21^st and 26^th August.  All sorts of events take place and it should be a good do.  One contest is for the best beekeeping web site.  It was decided at the Committee Meeting held on 22 November last year that York BKA should enter our web site.   The entry fee is €20 (approx £14.)

In “The Beekeepers Quarterly” of July 2003 there is an eight page article on clearing bees from supers prior to extraction.  There where two types of bee escapes used:  the porter escape and variations of it and numerous passive bee escapes where the bees go down a hole and are dispersed in all directions – the idea being that they are able to find their way out, but not able to get back into the super above.  Various beekeepers then wrote of their methods of ridding bees from supers.  One method that I have not come across before caught my attention.  This entailed putting a floor board with only a very small entrance along side the hive that you wish to remove bees from its super.   The bees will come out of the supers and fly back home.   The author reckons that you can put bees from two colonies on the same floor without any fighting, and if done before 1100 you can pick the empty supers up in the afternoon.  One point that comes to mind with this method.  Would it be possible to stack the supers from three or four colonies at one end of your apiary near to where you load your truck?   It is better to put clearer boards on early in the day so that yesterdays honey has been ripened overnight and before the bees have chance to store more nectar.

For those of you wanting to put bees on borage in the East Riding this year, John Acheson has given me two contact numbers: Craig May  on 01377 271387 or Philip Clayton  on 01652 678661.

A working party has been organised for Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th April starting at 10.00 to rub down and paint the outside wood work on the bee pavilion at Murton plus any other odd jobs that are found.  Please come and help.  Any time you can spare will be appreciated.

At the meeting at Murton on Wednesday 16^th February, two amendments to the constitution where discussed and passed.  The first was to define Associate Members and the second to clarify the voting majority required to carry a motion.  A simple majority will be required by those present and eligible to vote.  Copies of the amended constitution will be sent to you in due course.

The queen marking colour for 2005 is BLUE

We are at the start of a new beekeeping season and the start of a recurring problem – allergic reaction to bee stings. To the majority of us stings are a minor inconvenience – to others they are more of a problem.  Antihistamines have long been used to combat bad reactions to bee stings. Dr Harry Riches MD, FRCP in the Autumn 2004 edition of “The  Beekeepers Quarterly” states-  “Antihistamine drugs if taken prior to a sting give some protection against serious allergic reactions.  It takes time for an antihistamine to be fully absorbed from the gut and then distributed to all the body tissues by the blood circulation.  For that reason the medication should be taken at least an hour before a sting is sustained.  The use of antihistamines does not impair the development of natural immunity.    After using the treatment as described above for a few months, with no serious reaction to stings, the medication can normally be stopped”.

Bee Wolf Ravages in UK … Philanthus triangulum

While rummaging through some papers recently, I came across this piece in “The North Yorkshire Beekeeper” dated April 1976.  It is some thing I have never come across, yet at the time it was thought to be quite a problem.  Bill Bielby (North Yorks County Bee Advisor, based at Askham Bryan)  wrote the article.  At first sighting this insect appears to be a common wasp, or at least one of the species of wasp familiar to every one vespula vulgaris, v. germanica (both build nests underground), v. norwegica and v. sylvestris (bush or tree nests).  The bee wolf is ye1low and black and roughly the same size.      But it is not a social paper wasp. It is a solitary wasp and its prey is the honey bee which is viciously attacked in flight in the vicinity of flowers being visited by bees. Whilst the four species of vespula sneak into hives and steal honey (and possib1y brood) at certain times of the year, their main diet being small insects, especially aphids, the bee wolf directly attacks honey bees   about their normal occasions. The wolf is alerted by the smell of the bee in flight ,and intercepts it, grapples and brings it to earth, stings, para1yse's the bee, either lays an egg on the carcase, where it lies on the ground, or carries the body away to some place (nesting site? ) where an egg is deposited on   the body. The egg hatches into a larva which grows rapidly on sustenance from the dead bees body and eventually another bee wolf is born.  This killer of honey bees was first seen in action in Harrogate in July 1974.  The extent of the losses to colonies of honey bees in this country is unknown.  Beekeepers are asked to 1ook out for any wasp attacking a bee in flight and to collect the two in a matchbox when they fall struggling to the ground.  Please send the specimens with as much information as possible to the County Advisor in Beekeeping at, Askham Bryan College of Agriculture and Horticulture.

At Association meetings in late 2003 or early 2004 the topic of greater wax moth larvae being sold as bird and reptile food was brought up. We were informed that larvae not consumed immediately would soon perish and I reported this in “Combings” No 9.  Bill Cadmore – Secretary of Leeds BKA produced an article in BBKA News, showing that it is possible for these larvae to complete metamorphosis under certain conditions:  Ten packages of fifty wax moth larvae, from a range of suppliers, were purchased and divided into two samples. One sample was placed on a roofed bird feeding station in a shallow dish, as recommended by the suppliers, which prevented larval escape. The other sample was placed, in a similar container, on a high shelf, within the apiary building (but not in the hive store!).  Pet bedding was added to these dishes.  Not the most scientific study, as we did not control temperature, humidity and many other things, but at least under real conditions in a working apiary of twenty five hives.   The larvae on the bird feeders did not last long. The first sample of twenty five was eaten over a period of three days as the birds discovered them. Subsequent samples were eaten within twenty four hours. Feeding birds’ small numbers live larvae clearly presents no danger to a beekeeper; indeed attracting birds to feed may act as a biological control method.  Some of the larvae in the apiary building did pupate; these were transferred to a wax moth growing medium. Of these 92% hatched and a week later laid their eggs on the waxed paper supplied to them. Two weeks later young emerged to tunnel through the paper. These larvae only reached maturity themselves if both honey and wax comb (used brood comb was preferred) was added to supplement the wax paper. Clearly, adults from these samples could infect bee colonies.

Having proved that the astute readers of BBKA News were correct, does this leave us any wiser?  Surely, this source of this annoying pest would only be a problem if you as a beekeeper either lived near a keeper of reptiles and amphibians or near a supplier of these foodstuffs?

One Drop Of Honey ... Thai Proverb

Russell Carey found this proverb while on holiday in Thailand

In Thai, when a very small problem that could escalate into a major hassle pops up, people say “watch out for this one drop of honey”  It’s a little bit like a cross between, “All for the lack of a horseshoe nail” and the saying “From little acorns mighty oaks do grow”.  And as with other proverbs, this one has a story.

Once upon a time, there was a lovely village where everybody lived in perfect harmony.  Then one day, a vendor came in carrying a jar of honey.  It was to this poor village’s greatest miss fortune that he spilt one drop of honey onto the ground.  One of the nearest geckoes was quickest to lick up the honey.  A cat sleeping nearby noticed the movement on the ground and jumped at the gecko.  Alas a dog was waiting .He barked and tried to bite the cat. The poor dog was then beaten badly by the cat owner.  In pain, he cried so loud that his owner popped out to see what was happening. In anger he ran out cursing the cat owner and hit him hard.  The fight started.  Other villagers saw the fight, and they divided into two groups; one supported the cat owner and the other rallied round the dog owner.  The little quarrel became a small war.  Villagers grabbed up knives and started killing each other.  The side that was losing this little war (it happened a long time ago, so nobody knows which one!) sent a man to fetch help from their kin in other villages.  The other side had their intelligence service and also called upon their friends from other towns for aid.   A full scale war broke out in no time. Many had fallen and died before the King intermediated, finding out that a great war had broken out just because one drop of honey had been spilled.

The "S" Beekeeper (Part 2) ... by Robin Tomlinson, Barkston Ash & Leeds BKA

The Scrapers

This stimulates the next anxiety in the bee: the scraping of top and bottom bars, Queen excluders, box tops while in situ in or on the hive, will be associated as the clawing and raking of a predator. It will send shock waves and vibrations through the hive of enormous magnitude, given that we are dealing with a super sensitive creature. So why do we do it? I am told to make manipulations easier! The next time we go to the colony it will be easier to manipulate! My experience is that whatever you scrape off the bees will replace by the time you get round to manipulate them again. So what has been achieved?  Not a lot: You may have upset the bees; you have scrapings that have to be collected; you have prolonged the manipulation; you have retarded the bees, as they will rebuild what you have removed and the chances are you will have upset them. On the upside you can stand back and look proudly at lovely clean frame tops, Queen excluder and crown board surrounds, also box tops.  So what is the alternative?

	Ask why are the bees making brace comb, is the spacing correct?
	Where brace comb is extended just break of or peel it off with thumb and finger.
	Always make sure you place the Queen excluder and boxes in exactly the same position as when you removed them.
	Leave scraping until you have the boxes and frames back in your workshop.

I will concede that where a shallow box has to be placed under a brood box, it will be necessary to remove some brace comb from the brood frames bottom bars, other than that do not do it or keep it to an absolute minimum. The bees couldn't care less whether the top and bottom bars are clean of brace comb; if they were bothered they wouldn’t put it there in the first place.

The Shakers

Yes they are religious cult in America. Unfortunately in bee keeping circles we still have plenty of them. They can't go through a colony of bees without shaking just about every frame. So why do we shake bees? There can be some justification when supers have to cleared quickly or when trying to find a Queen using a Queen excluder over a box, also when using a 'Tarranoff' board also when making nuclei.

However, it is best avoided, for we now release another anxiety in the bees, their separation and dispersement by disruption and disorientation. Bees that may already be testy will really set about any living thing when you start shaking. I fail to understand why frames of brood have to be shaken on routine inspections when slight blowing from the mouth (not with onion or garlic laden breath) will move them away from the area to be inspected, retaining most of the bees in situ when the frame is gently placed back in the hive. Rather than having bees here, there and everywhere. If you don't know where the Queen is when shaking there is always the possibility she will take flight, if you haven't covered all your supers she may unbeknown to you return to them and not the brood box. You will certainly let your neighbours and any passers by know you have bees, nothing like sharing is there! Only on these occasions, it will be for all the wrong reasons and could have disastrous consequences for all concerned; believe me I speak from a bad experience which I do not intend to elaborate on here, suffice to say I avoid shaking and use a feather or brush.

The Swarmers

These are bee keepers who, like all of us, enjoy collecting swarms, but neglect to address the issue in their own apiaries. Many new people to the craft are lost too, due to swarming and many established beekeepers lose apiary sites because of it. There is no point in kidding ourselves that swarming generates anxiety in none bee keepers and many complaints arise from it. There seems little point in collecting swarms (probably the swarmers bees) and not doing something about it in your own apiary or at least trying to. You certainly won't stop it and there is much to be said for it. I do not propose to elaborate here on the different methods of control except to say most of them do work and they are interesting, pick one that is simple and suitable or convenient to you and always make sure you have enough spare equipment to apply which ever system you choose to use. We also have to consider propagating feral colonies by ignoring the issue. At least by controlling it we will keep these to a minimum. Clipping the Queen will help keep the swarm in the apiary. Feral colonies will harbour Varroa and other diseases and while most eventually expire it is not a good idea to have them around, realistically they will never be totally eliminated, but our contribution to their existence could be.

For Sale

1lb squat honey jars complete with lids are available from Colin Hattee at £28.00 per gross. Lids are available separately at £4.50 per gross. Colin will bring them to meetings or they can be collected from his home by prior arrangement.  Contact him on 01430 860972.

Past Events

Monday 22 November

A Committee meeting was held at Murton when Sue Hesp was elected to be Madam Chairman for the next two years with Rob Coleman being her deputy.  The other positions where filled and appear on the front of “Combings”  Other matters discussed were the Constitution and our Annual Dinner.  A date was set for our next auction.  It is to be held at Murton on Saturday 21 May 2005.  It was decided that another inventory of Association equipment be carried out by Messer’s Aston, Coleman and Hattee.  If you have any items belonging to the Association, please let the team know so that they can be included in the inventory.

Treasurer William Johnson reported that he has received £329 gift aid from the Inland Revenue.  (This is the income tax paid by members on the money given to the Association as subscriptions. Because we are a charity, we are able to reclaim this tax back from the Inland Revenue.)

Wednesday 24 November

There was a disappointing turn out to hear John Whittaker from Barkston Ash Association speak on floors.

John started his talk by telling us how many options beekeepers had when it came to deciding what equipment we had to choose from when setting our selves up .Floors, brood boxes, queen excluders, frame spacers. He went on in that vein and at twenty million different options, called a halt. That was using national equipment- never mind the rest.  He then went on to tell us about his thoughts on floors. Starting with sloping solid floors to how the mesh floors that he now uses with permanent small entrances which are being used as part of his integrated pest management, evolved.  With solid floors, live fallen mites will climb aboard the next bee that passes.  With mesh floors they will fall through and perish.  Your floors will also be cleaner as any debris will also fall through.  He also collects pollen which he adds to his breakfast cereals. They contain many nutritional elements.  He showed us his design of pollen trap, which should be left on the hive for no more than a week because the colony will become starved of pollen.  Collecting pollen also tells you what your bees are foraging on.  John makes his own equipment and uses standard sizes of timber that are readily available from DIY stores and timber yards.  This reduces to a minimum any sawing or planing to a minimum.

Wednesday 19 January

Was our regular monthly meeting at Murton.  Being unable to attend, John Acheson compiled the following notes.

It was announced to the meeting that we have an invitation to send a representative to sell honey at the Pickering County Fair – a donation of £40 would be expected!  A report from Michael Badger that CONBA was negotiating over the proposed EU regulations which would restrict the supply of medicines for bee diseases to vets only.  Secretary Colin Hattee confirmed that a full list of members has been supplied to the BBKA to ensure that every full member received information in future.   He also announced the family of Mike Ellsworth ,who died tragically in a road accident last year, have donated two of his hives with bees to the Association.  Members were reminded that details of equipment held on behalf of the association were required to complete the inventory that is being undertaken.  The speaker for the evening was our own Bob Hirst  reminisced  about some of his experiences and the lessons learned.  He followed this with a video record of a visit to Danish Beekeepers assisted by Ken Barran.

Saturday 29 January

Our Annual Dinner was held at the Gateway to York Hotel at Kexby.  I understand that 28 members, their spouses and friends attended.  There would have been more as my wife and I where on maternity duty in Cromer.  Our daughter in law had a baby boy three weeks premature and he was kept in hospital for a few days, so we had to give back word at the last minute.  Have spoken to some of you that attended, I think we missed a good do.

Wednesday  9 February

The Auction Sub Committee –Messrs Coleman, Fuller, and Johnston met at Murton to discuss the auction to be held in May so that the details can be included in this edition of “Combings”.

Monday 14 February

A Committee meeting was held at the Farming Museum at Murton.  Among the topics discussed where:- the auction in May,  manning the pavilion,  a bus trip to Stoneleigh, our web site, cuts to DEFRA.

Wednesday 16 February

This was our regular monthly meeting at Murton.  Amendments to the Constitution where explained and voted upon.  A working party was organised for Saturday/Sunday 9/10 April to spruce up the bee pavilion at Murton.  Scarborough BKA are running a bus trip to Stoneleigh and invited us to take their spare seats.   Eight seats are available and most were taken at the meeting.  Ring Colin Hattee if you are interested.  A non-returnable deposit will be required.

Our speaker this evening was Tom Robinson on his speciality subject – queen rearing – having started rearing queens in 1989, Tom has a wealth of knowledge on the subject, and has kept records since he started. Tom uses a Jenter cage to get the eggs he needs before putting them into a cell raising colony and ripe queen cells are put into Apidea’s at twelve days.   Of all the eggs laid, 50% become mated queens. One piece of information I found interesting was the time a virgin queen took on her mating flight.  With a virgin queen in an Apidea, Tom put a queen excluder in the entrance and released the virgin himself and replaced the excluder to prevent her entering with out him knowing.  Twenty minutes later she arrived back.  In all probability she will take other flights on other days.

Forthcoming Events

Thursday 3 March

Halifax BKA is starting an eight week course for beginners. More details from the Secretary on 01422 442188 or e-mail: farshepherdhousefarm@btopenworld.com

Saturday 12 March

YBKA Spring   Conference will be held at The Buckles Hotel, on the east bound side of the A64 between Tadcaster and York. Lecturer David Aston.   If you wish to order lunch, please contact Secretary Vera Rider.

Wednesday 16 March (1930 hrs)

Our regular monthly meeting to be held at Murton.    David Aston will be our speaker.   His topic – Plants and Bees.

Saturday 2 April

Lincoln BKA sale of bees and equipment will be held at the County Showground, Scampton just north of Lincoln on the A15.  Auction to commence at 12 noon.  Further information and to enter contact Alan Campion on 01522 522679.  I went to the Lincoln auction a couple of years ago and it was held in a barn out of the elements, so don’t be deterred by the weather.

Saturday/Sunday 9/10 April

A working party has been organised to spruce up the bee pavilion at Murton 1000 hrs onwards.  Please come and lend a hand.  Free tea and coffee.

Saturday 9 April

Yorkshire BKA Bishop Burton Conference.  On the A1079 some five miles west of Beverley.    0830 hrs on for registration and first speaker  0930 hrs.  Speakers are Dr Dewey Caron – Professor of Entomology – University of Delaware, Newark, USA.  Ian Craig – Past President Scottish BKA and Michael Badger – Past President  BBKA. Tickets are £19.00 including lunch and £14.00 without lunch.  Contact Dudley Gue,   87 Grove Park ,Beverley, HU17  9JU.   ‘phone 01482 881288.

Saturday 16 April

BBKA Spring Lecture, Convention and Exhibition at Stoneleigh near Coventry.  0900 hrs to 1700 hrs Entrance fee £14, but £12 to BBKA members or £10 if purchased before 4 April.   The lecturers and demonstrators are: - Michael Badger, Brenda Ball, Dr Dewey Caron from the USA, David Charles, Philip Cunningham, Glyn Davies, Francis Farnsworth, David Friel, June Hughes, Margaret Johnson, David Lishman, Paul Metcalf, Gerald Moxon and Margaret Thomas.  Their subjects are: Beeswax candle making, making wax blocks for show, mead, working holidays for bees, pollination – why and how, practical equipment assembly, painting with beeswax  and others.

Wednesday 20 April (1930 hrs)

A representative from the National Bee Unit at Sand Hutton will come and speak to us.   Speaker and topic not known.

Sunday 24 April

Beverley BKA annual auction will be held at 456 Hull Road, Dunswell.   Contact Lester Quayle on 01 482 859 324.  Viewing from 1200 hrs and the auction will commence at 1300 hrs.

Tuesday 3 May

York BKA‘s “Introduction to Beekeeping” course starts this day, 1830 hrs to 2030 hrs at the Bee Pavilion, Murton.  The cost is £30.00 for nine lessons.  Sue Hesp is the course organiser.  Contact her on 01904 489449 or e-mail suehesp13@aol.com

Saturday 7 May

Halifax BKA auction.  Contact Mike Joyce on 01274 835490.

Saturday/Sunday 7/8 May

A weekend course is to be held at Natures world, Middlesbrough. Details from Rob Andrews on 01642 718639 or e mail robandrews@telco4u.net

Saturday/Sunday 14/15 May

Pickering Game and Country Fair.  For those of you wishing to sell your honey, a pitch is £70.00.   Reading the information I have – you supply your own table.

Saturday 21 May

We will be holding our 6^th Annual Auction at Murton.  Details are enclosed with your copy of “Combings”

Saturday/Sunday 21/22 May

Richmond BKA Beginners course will be held at the Foxglove Covet.  For more information contact David Gray on 01748 850791.

Tuesday/Wednesday 24/25 May

Yorkshire BKA Primary School days will be held at the Pavilion, Harrogate Showground .  Volunteers are wanted for this event. Please contact Vera Rider.

Saturday 4 June

BBKA Spring Conference the National Agricultural Centre Stoneleigh

Saturday 11 June

South Riding BKA will be holding a field day at Thrybergh County Park, Doncaster.  More details from Monica Coates on 01709 548700

Sunday 3 July to Wednesday 6 July

The Royal Show at Stoneleigh where the British Beekeepers Association have their headquarters.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 12/13/14 July

The Great Yorkshire Show.  Yorkshire BKA are asking for volunteers to man the Bee Pavilion.  Please contact Vera Rider.

Sunday 21 August to Friday 26 August.

Apimondia meeting in Dublin.  Hosted by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers in conjunction with Ulster BKA and supported by the British, Scottish and Welsh BKa’s.  Conference Secretariat:  Apimondia 2005,   c/o Ovation Group, 1 Clarinda Park North,   Dun Laoghaire,  County Dublin, Ireland.  ‘phone + 353 128 026 41 and fax  + 353  128026 65.  E-mail: apimondia2005@ovation.Ie

Wednesday 19 October (1930 hrs)

York BKA Annual General Meeting and Honey Show will be held at the Farming Museum, Murton.

Thursday/Friday/Saturday 20/21/22 October

The National Honey Show will be held at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon north London.

Saturday 13 November

Yorkshire BKA ‘s Annual General Meeting is to be held at the Buckles Inn on the A64 between York and Tadcaster.   The speaker will be Clair Waring and her topic - “Big bees, little bees and those that don’t sting”.

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