Welcome to MUBKA
Firstly, thank you for visiting our website. At MUBKA we love bees, and we want to encourage people of any age who may be interested in keeping bees, or even joining us just for interest. Our Associate member grade costs only £5 per year (plus a single £10 joining fee) and gives you full access to our knowledge base and website.
As you will see from our Event Calendar, we have a wide range of activities to interest and support beekeepers throughout the year, and in particular during the beekeeping season. We start with a session explaining how to get yourself and your equipment ready for the bees’ rapid expansion in the spring and follow through with various events covering bee diseases, good practice and talks on general and specialist bee related subjects.
If you don’t currently have bees, we offer a Beginners’ Course which offers spectacular value. Starting in March every year, the £50 fee (plus membership fees) covers four 2 hour theory sessions and then Beginners only practicals every Thursday evening for the rest of the season, supervised by experienced beekeepers and which are held at our Training Apiary near Twyning.
After your first season, or if you are joining as an existing beekeeper, we have regular “Improvers” evenings to provide support and to encourage your development as a beekeeper. Social contact is important to us as well, and we usually end our sessions at the local pub.
I believe that we really have something for everyone who has even a passing interest in bees. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or would like to join our course.
John Moseley
Chairman MUBKA
j.f.moseley@btinternet.com
Bee stings and dealing with them
There's an old wives tale that says, " ...vinegar for wasps and bicarb for bees ..." It's an easy way to remember that the sting from a bee is naturally acid, and that from a wasp is naturally alkeline. In the case of a beesting, the bicarb(onate of soda) neutralises the acidity of the sting. These methods deal with the after effects of the sting,but often leaves the poison in your system to continue working away.
What to be doing during Summer
MAY Jobs
Are you ready for taking or collecting a swarm? You must have your hive ready complete with frames and foundation. The bees will not wait for you! If you collect a swarm make sure you put a feed on, it will help you to keep them in the hive.
The nectar flow should now be in full swing so remember the bees need space! So put that super on early and be prepared, it may stop them swarming if they have more space? One important point to remember! If you worked with a brood and a half during the winter, and you have reversed the boxes, it must remain as a brood and a half. If you wish to use this as a super for honey extraction, the foundation must be removed and the frames must be steamed or scorched, and replaced with new foundation. The apiguard will have tainted the frames and foundation making the honey unfit for human consumption.
JUNE Jobs
Well are you ready for the “June Gap” make sure you keep an eye on your colonies. If you have taken off the spring honey and there are very little stores then it is time to put on alight feed, (in new money this will be 1kg sugar to 1.25 litres of water).
JULY time
They are saying that the summer harvest is going to be a good one! Be prepared (just like a boy scout) make sure your bees have plenty of room and add another super when the other is half to two thirds capped. Now where do you put the new super that is the question?? Some say you should put it on the top as that way you do not have to keep lifting the full super to check the lighter super, others, say it should be put underneath as bees in a wild nest work downwards. If you ask a room full of beekeepers they will all have a different opinion so do whatever is best for you!
Make sure the bees have space to store the nectar be prepared and put on a new super before they have run out of space!
If you need to extract honey don’t forget the association has three extractors available you just need to check availability and book.
Jars and Foundation can be bought at a discounted price from Alison Ayling.
Last but not least make a note in your diary for the honey show; it is a must for all beekeepers so plan your entries...remember 1lb Jars only for the shows!
Well did you make the Asian hornet trap? If not “get to it” the bees need your help to protect them.
Go to it! And may the nectar flow for you!
Polly Pollen x