Category Archives: Events

Watching for Asian hornets

Posted on October 31, 2019 by

My notes from our final talk – by Phil and Karen Green – at our Cornwall Beekeepers Association/West Cornwall Beekeepers Association ‘Bit of a Do’ conference this September. Phil is the Asian hornet co-ordinator for the WCBA (this means he co-ordinates … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | Tagged | 4 Comments

Swarming from the bees’ perspective

Posted on October 15, 2019 by

My notes from our second talk by Scottish bee farmer Tony Harris at Cornwall Beekeepers Association/West Cornwall Beekeepers Association ‘Bit of a Do’ conference this September. I’ve read books on swarm behaviour and studied it for the BBKA’s module exams, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Swarms | Tagged | 13 Comments

Neonicotinoid pesticides and bees

Posted on October 8, 2019 by

The second speaker at our annual Cornwall Beekeepers Association/West Cornwall Beekeepers Association ‘Bit of a Do’ conference in September was Dr Ben Woodcock, from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), on ‘Neonicotinoid pesticides and bees’.  Ben is an Ecological Entomologist … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Maximising your honey crop – tips from Tony Harris

Posted on September 23, 2019 by

At the weekend I heard Tony Harris, a Scottish bee farmer, give two talks at the annual Cornwall Beekeepers Association/West Cornwall Beekeepers Association ‘Bit of a Do’ conference. Here are my notes from his talk, which had plenty of jokes … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony management, Events, Honey, Swarms | 19 Comments

Eden project bee exhibition – and a bee update

Posted on February 13, 2019 by

Last weekend we sheltered from the lashing rain under the Eden project’s enormous biomes. I had been drawn there by the current exhibition on bees. A set of three hives are placed in a prominent position up on a hill … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | 16 Comments

Notes from Cornwall ‘Bit of a do’ Beekeeping conference 2018 – Chris Park, Skep beekeeping (3.)

Posted on October 15, 2018 by

The final talk I’m going to write up from the joint Cornwall Beekeepers Association and West Cornwall Beekeepers Association ‘Bit of a do‘ day is Chris Park’s talk on skep beekeeping. Chris keeps bees on organic farmland around the Oxfordshire / … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Hive types | 10 Comments

Notes from Cornwall Beekeeping conference 2018 – Honey bee dances: new insights (2.)

Posted on September 27, 2018 by

Our first talk of last week’s conference was given by bee farmer Dan Basterfield and was all about honey bee dances and ‘The dance language controversy’. About Dan: Dan grew up with beekeeping around him and now helps to run … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee behaviour, Events | Tagged | 12 Comments

Notes from Cornwall Beekeeping conference talks – Bit of a Do 2018 (1.)

Posted on September 23, 2018 by

The two local Cornish associations (the Cornwall Beekeepers Association and West Cornwall Beekeepers Association) put on a great ‘Bit of a do‘ day of talks and trade stands. I’m going to write up Dan Basterfield’s talks on ‘Honey bee dance … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | Tagged | 8 Comments

Notes from a talk by Norman Carreck – colony losses, native bees, pollen diversity and the small hive beetle

Posted on March 4, 2016 by

Yesterday I went to a talk by Norman Carreck, which was organised by the London Beekeepers Association (LBKA). One of the great things about being a beekeeper in London is being able to hear expert speakers like Norman. He is currently Science Director of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | Tagged | 14 Comments

Middlesex Federation Day Part 2: Pam Hunter, How nutrition affects colony health

Posted on February 29, 2016 by

My second post on the Federation of Middlesex Beekeepers’ Associations annual ‘Federation Day‘. Below are my notes from the second speaker, Pam Hunter. Pam is a Master Beekeeper who has been keeping bees for over 25 years. She is now … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | Tagged , | 13 Comments