'NEWS AND VIEWS' -Get the latest Buzz here !

Members are invited to contribute relevant information of interest. With the inclusion of photographs.-

i.e. Members Blogs, Events, your views on the latest Government released research information. Diseases and cures that you are encountering. Just feel free to send in any news item that will be of interest and help to other Members. 

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*** LATEST NEWS *** LATEST NEWSLETTER ***  LATEST NEWS  ____________________________________________________________

MARCH NEWSLETTER 2010 To read the latest goings on in further detail. Please check with Either of the following Jon Davey 00118 975 0734 - Michael Blackburn 0118 947 5451 - Stella Lawson-Foster 0118 961 0201

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Report from Reading & District Beekeepers for March 2010 Newsletter. 

Festive Beekeeper’s Annual Dinner: This was at The New Inn, Kidmore End on 29th January. We had a very good attendance with exclusive use of the restrauant. After the meal a Draw and Auction was held with members kind donations which netted a useful £45 for the Association’s coffers. The founders of our feast, Stella and Mike Lawson Foster had worked very hard to with the arrangements to make our evening a pleasant one and our thanks go out to them and all members who gave this annual event their support. The New Inn's Service was very excellent and members seemed well satisfied, certainly the roast sirloin enjoyed by this beekeeper was 'passing good' !

February 11th meeting at Caversham Heights Methodist Hall gave us the opportunity to receive an illustrated talk by Dr Michael Keith-Lucas.

Subject; Pollen, Honey Fraud and Crime.

Having retired as Biology Professor at Reading University Michel now is very active with various police forces in the providing vital evidence by use of the pollen record found at the scene of the crime. His specialist knowledge of the unique structure of pollen grains, their sources in the environment gave a fascinating insight on just how successful this type of forensic evidence now can be.

Nothing stops the pollen fall and grains present in nostrils from ‘last breaths’ or within the weave of garments etc.can provide vital evidence. Just about every grain of pollen ever shed by plants even back in prehistoric  time is still in evidence microscopically as the pollen grain’s very resistant outer casing, composed of a substance ‘sporopollanin’ is just about the most resistant material ever found and prehistoric grains can be found in rocks, oil, coal etc.

Michael showed and described the characteristic grains used by wind pollinating plants’ insect pollinating, where the spines on pollen grains have evolved to successfully ‘stick; to the feathery hairs on a bees  body and legs etc. The amazing way in which bees learn to tune the pitch of their ‘ buzz’ when entering a flower  that is a pollen source to stimulate a shower of pollen for them to collect, different pitch for  different species of flowering plant and how when gathering the smooth grains of wind pollination pollen that don’t easily adhere the honey bee can return to the hive and collect a small amount of honey to stick these non-spiky grains together to  allow harvesting of early pollen of this type e.g. from hazel catkins; are all amazing facts that without Dr Keith Lucas’s teaching we as ordinary beekeepers would hardly suspect.

A large amount of information was imparted including microscopic characteristics of plant seeds wood & soils which can also be a source of evidence in legal proceedings. Pollen content of honeys and their identification as to source, important in view of the high prices charged for product being  described as  ‘single flower’  honey. Toxicity of some pollen to some bees and of some honeys to people! We’d like to thank Dr Keith Lucas for a fascinating insight into the importance of pollen in our lives, the life of the honey bee and within our environment.

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MARCH; What’s happening at Reading Association? Please see the separate announcement of our Introduction to Beekeeping and Membership Day at Trench Green Hall on Saturday 20th March. This is the second annual event of this series following the amazingly successful ‘Taste of beekeeping Day’ in March of last year.

Keep an eye on the website www.rbka.org.uk and contact Mike and Stella Lawson Foster, Michael Blackburn or Jon for information,. If you’re a Reading beekeeper, particularly if a 'New Member' waiting for your first bees of Spring or have any family or friends in the Reading area interested in keeping bees - This day is for you !

Reading & District Beekeepers Association are pleased to announce:

An Introduction to Beekeeping and Membership Day.

  Intended for Reading Association beekeepers new and not so new and for interested people in our locale.

 Saturday 20th March 2010. Trench Green Community Hall, Nr Mapledurham.10 AM to 4.30PM 

Speakers and Demonstrators planned for the day are:

Dr. John Gate: 

Step by step history of beekeeping and biology of the honeybee.

Rob Nickless:

From R&J Nickless , beekeepers, beeswax formulations and hive components producers.

John Hamer:

From Blackhorse Apairies Woking. Beekeeping at home in the garden.

Many other demonstrations and displays beekeeping video show.

Refreshments available, families welcome, If you are interested in the honeybee come and find out how to get involved and be a  BEEKEEPER    

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YOUR STORY HERE... 

Well, you're a shy lot ! Where are all you stories ? Good and bad. It 'is important that we all network, so we can help when need is required and buy your home produce to compare. Either way, your stories are very important and more interesting than you think. So don't be bashful, go one put finger to keyboard we're waiting !

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Hey you guys ! We really look forward to hearing from you and what you are going to do this season.

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Press release to beekeepers' associations in England, Wales and Scotland

Low priced, great value sugar from Booker Wholesale

Members of  beekeepers' associations are now welcome to shop at any of Booker's 173 trade-only Cash and Carry stores.  Booker's price for granulated sugar is about 60p per kilo, compared with 84p (Lidl, own brand) up to 93p (Tesco) per kilo at supermarkets, offering members great savings.

Booker is a trade-only wholesaler, and each member should register individually with their local store.  When registering, each member should present their current BBKA membership card if in England, They will then be registered and able to shop straight away.  A membership card will be sent by post within 14-21 days.

Payment is by cash or debit card when leaving the store.  Members can visit www.booker.co.uk to find their nearest Booker store.

 This new arrangement has been approved by Booker head office, Northampton in discussion with Conwy BKA, North Wales.

gt; 

Booker contact: Melanie Balmer

Conwy BKA contact: Peter McFadden  

www.conwybeekeepers.org.uk

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