Starvation Warning!!🐝
In most areas of the UK our Bee Inspectors carrying out inspections over the last few days are seeing bee colonies which are extremely short of food stores within hives. Sadly, we have also attended apiaries where colonies have already died as a result of starvation.
After such a prolonged wet and cold Spring beekeepers should monitor their colony food levels closely, particularly if apiaries have not been visited for some time. Despite the forecast suggesting that temperatures will increase during this week colonies will still need to be checked for food levels.
Feed can be prepared from refined white sugar and water mixed at a 2:1 ratio or one of the proprietary ready mixed syrups available from beekeeping equipment suppliers.
More information about mixing up sugar can be found in the Best Practice Guidelines found on BeeBase.
If you have any questions then please contact your local Inspector:
https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/contact-us/ National Bee Unit
Very successful skep making course!
A fascinating skep making course was held this Saturday at Scolton Manor for PBKA members.
The participants were trained by Tina, a very talented local skep maker, who explained and demonstrated the process before putting them to work!
The course lasted the whole day and by the end of it the skeps were well on their way!
Following the success of this course, we hope to repeat it later in the year.
Many thanks to Tina for providing the training with her expertise and enthusiasm in an ancient craft, which the PBKA is delighted to support and encourage!🐝
More Bees for Sale!🐝
Nucs for sale on 6 National frames
Local bees in overwintered nucs for sale. Available from the third week April/ first week May (weather dependent and build up of bees) minimum of 3/4 frames of eggs/ brood with 1-2 frames of stores
Should be ready to move into a full hive asap. Headed by a 2022 queen. Treated for Varroa with Apivar in Aug/ Sept and Oxalic acid in December.
£160 each. Discount if more than one is required. Supplied in correx travel/ nuc box. Price includes £10 refundable deposit for box.
Full colonies of overwintered bees for sale on 11 National frames.
Ready from last week April/ beginning May. Local bees on frames only or can be bought as the complete hive including hardware. Headed by a 2022 bred queen.
Treated for Varroa with Apivar in Aug/ Sept and Oxalic acid in December. On Frames only, £220, including hive, £POA
Collection or can deliver locally within 10-15′ ish miles of Haverfordwest for cost of fuel.
For further details/ enquiries contact: David Moore at djmrockwood@gmail.com or 07817 433808
Pembrokeshire Beekeepers' Association 