A Happy New Year to you all, and may it be your best one yet. So far it’s a mild one with temperatures warm enough for bees to be flying in the middle of each day. Have you noticed how some colonies seem to be more active than others at this time of the year, the same colonies flying for longer periods too when others have gone to bed early. We have to ask ourselves if there’s brood in most hives for the foragers are returning with pollen - not a lot but it’s clearly visible. It’s only the 14th of January today but the days are getting noticeably longer, we have bees flying, snowdrops open and the viburnum is a sight for sore eyes; it’s covered with masses of beautiful pink blossom and the perfume is wonderful. Look closely at your bees as they are returning home to see if they are carrying a light, pale slate grey pollen. There will not be lot of it at this time of the year but it tells us there may well be brood to feed even in mid January. Another shrub that appears about to burst open is the golden pussy willow or palm. This a great source of early pollen as well as being a very attractive plant to have in any garden. They come in a very compact variety these days quite suitable for even the smallest garden. The open mesh floors on my hives also indicate where the bees are working within each hive for the hive debris drops on to the ground in rows corresponding with the frames in the brood box. Some colonies seem to be working several frames while others are doing very little. Many years ago (that’s an indication of my age) bees did very little in the winter. The winters were too cold and the bees just remained in clusters hardly being seen before early spring. Even in my short lifetime I have seen a considerable change in the weather with the winters now being much milder. When did we last see the huge snow drifts of years ago; villages cut off for weeks; farm animals dying in the fields from starvation; schools closed for days on end; ponds frozen over safe enough for skating for weeks at a time; who remembers the sea being frozen and many other past winter wonders. But, our bees have been genetically ‘programmed’ over many years to expect such weather. The changes we are now experiencing and which we have ‘engineered’ have them confused. That confusion can be seen in several areas of the natural world with plants flowering at the ‘wrong’ time being one classic example. Beekeepers have watched as rape fields come into bloom earlier every year, perhaps with the help of genetic engineering but our bees don’t know that. So with bees flying earlier each year it is up to us all to see that they do not run out of food too early and die of starvation. I’ve heard a lot of nonsense talked over the years about not feeding bees in winter, however do remember that bees given food do not have to use it, but if it’s not there when they do want it the result is disastrous. There is simply no excuse for bees dying in early spring through shortage of food; we are their guardians and we must guard against it happening. On a mild day, about the second week in February and when bees are flying well, stand beside a hive and gently try to raise one side off the ground slightly. If it’s heavy, more than 25/30 lbs (12/15 Kilo) it may be safe to leave it a while. Remember the weight you have lifted is just one half of the total weight, but it tells us there is approximately 50/60 lbs or 25/30 Kilo total weight there, and allowing for the woodwork perhaps half the remaining weight is food. If it lifts readily there’s a problem and you will need to feed before it’s too late. At this time of the year feed with a contact feeder, an inverted bucket type feeder, with one 1.0 kilo bag of sugar to 750 ml of water. The alternative is to give them a block of fondant. I give mine fondant using old margarine containers; cut a 25 mm hole in the bottom and fill it with fondant. Both the bucket feeder or the fondant feeder must be placed directly on top of the brood frame top bars. Put an empty super on to raise the crown board sufficiently to clear the feeders. To prevent robbing, only feed in the evening when the weather is mild and the bees have been flying freely that day.

When walking round the area recently I have been quite surprised at the state and the extent of the Rape crop. In most places the fields are green, no soil can be seen. My local farmer had his rape sown very early last autumn and I feel sure that once more it will be in flower early. No two years are ever the same, but if there is a warm spring we will have rape honey by the ton again for there’s rape fields as far as the eye can see. Be ready for it, unite any weak colonies, have your supers waxed up and ready for use in good time. Once your bees are flying well and you examine them for the first time, be prepared to clear out any brood frames choked up with last years honey. Make room for the queen to lay all the eggs she can in the brood box and ensure the nectar is going into the supers by providing them drawn comb or clean fresh foundation. Above all keep in front of your bees, check them every 7/8 days making sure they have all the room they need to store nectar before it’s conversion to honey.

I have four reminders for you this month:
First, Do get your orders for wax and jars to Kevin before the end of this month or you may be too late.
Second, Another reminder for beginners wishing to join Rob Andrews ‘Introduction To Beekeeping Course’ should set aside the week end of May the 8th and 9th.
It will cost you £25-00 and will be held at Natures World, Middlesbrough. Further details can be obtained by contacting Rob on 01642 781639 or contacting Rob through this website
Third, Change of Meeting date; Please note that the summer meeting with Mark & Gill at Howe Hill Farm programmed for the 20th of June has been changed to the 13th of June. Make a note in your Programmes or diaries now.
Fourth, Beverley BKA are to hold their Annual Auction of beekeeping equipment on the 18th of April at 456, Hull Road, Dunswell, Hull. Viewing starts at 12.00am, the sale starts at 1.00pm. Buyers must register with the auction office on arrival.

Obituary:
You will all be saddened to hear that John Wade died just before Christmas. The following note was sent to me by his colleague John Allen:
John Wade, 1938 to 2003
"John was a family man, and a farmer. He was always friendly and helpful with a kind word for everyone. His love of life was exemplified by his never ending cheerfulness. Having lived all his life in the same area, his love of the land and all God’s creatures within it was infectious. He spent every day of his life trying to improve his understanding of the land and the animals upon it. His great joy for everything that nature has to offer never seemed to tire his enthusiasm for life. His bees were no exception even when they decided to sting him.
John was introduced to beekeeping in the nineteen forties by his father’s sister, the Wade family having kept bees for generations. She instilled in him a love of beekeeping which was to last him all his life.
Two years ago he decided to relax a little from the farm and to devote more time to his bees. At the same time he opened the beekeeping business as a diversion from farming and there’s no doubt his enthusiasm would have contributed to its continued success.
Even during his long struggle against illness he still found the time to help anyone who he thought needed a helping hand. Johns love for life never failed him and never failed to rub off on to all those who knew him.
We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife and family at this difficult time."

I understand that the beekeeping business is to carry on as before.

I wonder how many of you have spotted the ‘GMNo’ campain being organised on the Internet by Joan Ruddock MP; Simply type in ‘http://www.gmno.org.uk/index.jsp‘. Open the page and read what she has to say - a common sense statement that all beekeepers must surely agree with. She asks that we add our name to the list of folks who wish to see a change in the way GM’s are being forced upon us. I have signed up already, why not join me?. Pass the details on to your friends, we must get as many folks as possible to sign it before it’s too late.

Roger Chappel, our new Chairman is also a member of Richmond BKA. Raby Estate at Raby Castle have been in contact with Richmond BKA with a view to re-establishing the apiary that used to be there and Roger has kindly offered to take the project under his wing. Three beehives are to be installed in the first phase of the project. There is also to be a ‘bee friendly’ tree and shrub planting programme. Anything that brings honeybees to the attention of the general public is to be commended and we must wish Raby Castle, Richmond BKA and Roger every success with the venture.

And lastly but by no means least, many of you may be interested in seeing the carpets of snowdrops that positively flourish each year in the grounds of Greatham church - they’re truly magnificent sight. This year the grounds will be open during the afternoon of Sunday the 8th of February. There is a small charge and light refreshments are available. Photographers should take their cameras. Greatham village is just off the A689 road heading toward Hartlepool from Billingham.

Kindest regards to you all,
Bryan Hateley