It’s the first day of March, it’s not yet 9-00am, the sun is shining from a nearly clear sky but the pools of water out there are frozen solid. We’re told that by lunch-time we will have snow, rain and gales, yet again. It is, of course, still officially winter, though there are many signs of spring clearly visible. Not least it may be seen in the humorous activities of the birds squabbling for possession of nest boxes or nesting material. The bees also show distinct signs of increased activity. There’s nothing like sunshine to draw them out in large numbers and the offers of nectar and pollen now opening up along the hedgerows causes them to risk their lives in strong winds and unending showers of rain to gather the valuable harvest. There are many dead bees just in front of the hive entrances after recent spells of sunshine, bees that have died within the hive and been thrown out to keep the hive clean and tidy. These provide food for birds, particularly blue tits that can be seen scavenging near the hives at this time of the year. I used to think blue tits caught a significant number of flying bees too, and though they may catch some I am not convinced any more that birds do catch very many. I’ve stood and watched several times recently, and now that my hives are standing on much higher stands I can see more clearly what is going on. Birds are seen much more to be ‘working’ the area on the floor in front of the hives rather than flying up towards the entrances, for it is only at the entrances that bees are taken, for once the bees are away from the hive the birds don’t seem to bother them.

Well that was a few days ago. Since then I have been laid low with a very nasty virus that has kept me indoors for a whole week. I have been out today (8^th March) for the first time. It was about 10⁰C but quite windy, though bees were on the wing and obviously taking advantage of the nectar and pollen to be collected out there. The willow catkins are turning bright yellow, the crocus’s are open and the mahonia is a sight for sore eyes.

I spoke recently to a Beekeeping Association not a million miles away from here and was quite surprised to learn that not many beekeepers could name even the common plants useful to honeybees. There are two publications issued by the BBKA that should be pinned to the door of every beekeeper/gardeners tool-shed. The first, and perhaps the most valuable to the small time beekeeper, is ‘Shrubs, Plants & Wild Flowers for Bees’. and is BBKA advisory leaflet number 39. It lists well over 50 shrubs and flowering plants many of which can be planted in the average garden. The second publication is entitled ‘Trees for Bees’, BBKA advisory leaflet number 8. If there is sufficient interest I will obtain leaflets for any CBKA members, please let me know if you want copies. Few people have room for large trees, but some are quite small and very decorative, and when covered with bees, usually in the spring, there can be no more impressive sight. It will do no harm to quote just a few of

the more common ones:
Shrubs Buddleia Cotoneaster
Escallonia Holly
Mahonia Rosemary
Roses (Single) Willow
Plants Borage Campanula
Crocus Golden Rod
Heaths Heathers
Lavender Mallow
Limananthes Michaelmas Daisies
Sedum Walflower
There are of course very many more, but if every beekeeper planted just that little collection he would soon be rewarded with the sight of many more bees in his own garden. In addition there’s all the fruit trees, soft fruit, meadow plants, large trees and wild flowers; the list is endless. Many of them produce an abundance of flowers for the bees (and butterflies) in spring with a crop of berries for birds in autumn and winter.

I feel sure that many folks did not know there were so many different types and size of hive in use in the British Isles before last month’s talk. As a bees officer Ian will have seen them all (just as I did when I did the job for a year), though I should think, and hope, that by now many of them have been used to light the garden bonfire. If beekeeping is to be dragged screaming into the 21^st century there’s a clear case for ridding ourselves of some of the labour intensive, back breaking, awkward to manipulate specimens of old and accepting that the modern design is now well and truly proven. Ian mentioned frames too, and the variety of choice is clearly a case for rationalisation, starting with the metal (now plastic) ends. Those should have been despatched to the garbage bin years ago in favour of the self spacing Hoffman frames. But I suppose the ‘traditionalists’ or ‘stick-in-the-muds’ will have their way and insist on using them. As Ian said, "a bees officer sees more bees and strange beehives in one year than most folks see in a lifetime", and it’s only then that you begin to realise there’s considerable room for change and improvement.

February also saw two new members joining us; well one has been a member before but that was long ago. We welcome both Alan and Russell; we look forward to them being with us for many years to come. We now have 38 members, more than for several years. Lets hope it signifies an upward trend in beekeeping. 21 of those 38 members attended the February meeting, which again is a healthy sign for we have struggled to reach 20 in the past. I was particularly saddened to hear that Rob’s beekeeping class had been cancelled even before the first night. Clearly the Education Authority want firm bookings before allowing the class to start, though in the past people have been allowed to enrol on the first night. With only three students firmly booked in, and since it costs money just to open up a class even for a fruitless night they were obviously not prepared to take any chances. The onus is now clearly on us to spread the gospel, to make people realise that beekeeping is still possible, and very necessary, even in this age of candyfloss and bottled water.

The conference season looms ever closer again, and this is the last chance to remind you of both the Bishop Burton conference to be held on the Saturday the 6^th of April and the Kirkley conference two weeks later on the 20^th. Handout’s have already been distributed but if you have lost yours see Ian or myself and we will gladly find more for you. Please, please try to support all the events your Association set up for you, for they are a grand opportunity to help raise the level of your beekeeping by meetings and discussion with a wide variety of similarly interested people. The conferences are held in major agricultural colleges set in superb rural surroundings, establishments that we ordinary mortals do not normally have the opportunity to behold at first hand. As visitors you have the freedom to wander as you will and to see many examples of gardening that make you want to rush home and rebuild your own, once more, from scratch.

I have now put several jars of honey on one side in readiness for the Cleveland Show due to be held on the 27^th of July. Yes, I know that’s still many moons away, but at least I will have honey for then and not be scratching around trying to salve my conscience just to put an odd jar or two into the show. I said earlier, the onus is on us to spread the beekeeping gospel and a honey show, open to the public is one of the best ways of achieving that. People do visit the show and ask how they may start beekeeping, it’s quite simply our shop window.

By now you will all have your hives cleaned, and frames cleaned and waxed ready for the new season. It is obviously almost on us, for last Saturday (9^th March) we had a considerable fall of snow here. The rape in the field across the railway is in flower and the yellow heads looked quite impressive sticking up above it all. During the middle of the day the bees are flying freely and returning with yellow pollen. They are also returning with a shiny grey pollen gathered from the heathers that are flowering so well this year.

Thanks to Kevin who did a wonderful job all on his own while I was poorly, the late John Morton’s bees are now on my garden. Of the original 14 ‘boxes’ that I saw before last Christmas there are only six alive. I have not yet had chance to examine them but will do so before the next meeting. The hives all seem to have passed their ‘sell by date’ so will require repair or replacement.

This month I am re-issuing Adrian Waring’s notes on Swarm Control. For those of you who cannot find your queens it’s an excellent system.

Kindest regards to you all,
Bryan Hateley