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
What to be doing during Autum
August
Time harvest your honey so 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 Fred Stephens.
Last but not least make a note in your diary for the honey show, Saturday September 8th; 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!
Whist temperatures are warm and the honey has been extracted, now is the time to gt the varrora treatment on and insert the drop boards so you do the drop count. This allows yoyu to monitor effectivness of your treatment and state of curretn infestation. The club has discounted supplies of Apiguard, available from Chris Reynard
Thoughts from a New Beekeeper
The Beginners’ Practicals carry on through the summer right through to September, and are an important part of the training course - thought to be one of the best run in the West Midlands. Having hands-on experience before you get your own bees is very important and makes sure you are capable of dealing with the different situations you can find inside a hive.
These classes are mostly held in Twyning at the Branch Training Apiary, and details can be found on the Event Calendar, by logging in to the site.
If you haven't been able to come to the first session, you are welcome to come to the following ones. Please note that these Practical Sessions are for those undertaking the complete (Theory and Practical) Beekeepers’ Course only. If you are a full member and have bees but are not on the course, the Improvers’ Evenings are for you. Again, see the Event Calendar for more info