I've been busy at the apiary mowing grass , improving my driveway and getting things ready for this season. Bees have been highly active and training courses have taken up a fair amount of my time. 

Most of the clubs hives now have supers added. The long Hive is ready for splitting for the clubs nucs and Keith Danton has very kindly replaced the roof. 

Plenty of blossom and nectar bearing plants are in bloom and it's looking like a promising start of the beekeeping season.

The field is dry and we have been able to have 2 apiary meetings already. One club day and one the introduction to beekeeping first practical day. 

On the club day we did a demaree split on one hive as out of 11 frames, 10 were filled with brood. We also inspected several other hives. We will do the split again at the next meeting on Sunday 4th May so come along if you would like to see this in person. I'm pleased to say all colonies were well advanced in size for the time of year.

We purchased a new Langstroth hive so we now have 2 in the apiary, one is a back up as we are finding quite a few members have them. They are also compatible with the Flow hive, which is causing alot of interest and it is necessary for us to be able to demonstrate all type of beekeeping hives. 

Our April club day, went well! Thank you to Andy Cook and Belinda West for erecting our marquee for the season. Members were able to enjoy a rest in the shade and have a great catch up after the winter break. Our raffle raised £49  with some lovely prizes and Belinda and Steve brought along lovely cakes to share. Thank you, these are so appreciated. 

Last Sunday, we had the introduction to beekeeping practical. Joanne was the teacher for this session. 

The orange poly hive had all frames completely filled with brood along with 8 queen cells virtually ready for capping! We did a 4 frame split taking the old queen away and leaving just one cell. This way we saved the queen and colony can go in one of the hives we lost over the winter. The group also observed bees feeding from honey. It was a good experience for all to be involved with.

Before going to the bees, coffee and chatting was in order. We talked about pests and diseases. I gave out our hornet cards as discussions were taking place on them as one lady asked about the Asian hornet having one yellow band. Towards the end of the meeting, Steve our new Asian Hornet coordinator popped in and gave a talk on what he hoped the members may be willing to do. He was very enthusiastic and informative. 

The next day the lady who was asking about the banding found and exterminated a hornet in her greenhouse in Appledore. She followed instructions  from our card and contacted the NBU. Their officer arrived at her home within 15 minutes and took the hornet away for analysis. It was confirmed as a queen yellow legged hornet. What fantastic timing! 

Last  Monday whilst inspecting I found our lovely Buckfast breeder queen has been superseded. 

I found cells opened as bees were being hygienic towards varroa and in-between these cells was an opened queen cell. Being concerned, I carried on inspecting and found our breeder queen "number 26" still present. On turning the frame over I saw her daughter a fully mated laying queen. Incidentally,  last week by the hut, I thought I witnessed a queen mating and I now believe it was her. Anyway, I did a split and all is now well.

Also last week I was invited to attend a zoom meeting from BIBBA on training and local bees.

I won't  be changing from Buckfast at the apiary. 

However, I understand where they are coming from over imports especially as some very nasty pests are on the horizon.

I was involved with the British Black Bee over 30 years ago with Brian Palmer from Hadlow. We went and collected eggs and brood to raise queens from Breeders up north. I believe Albert Night. Then when the queens were ready for mating we did artificial insemination. The project lasted for several years.

I personally found temperament was an issue. I have also had black bees from Ireland which again were temperamental. 

I have been speaking with Jackie Thomas from Dover BKA and she has offered to give us one of her local queens to try.

Our club Queen Rearing Course begins next month. Those who decide to attend the course will be offered 2 options, Buckfast or Local queen. 

Yesterday whilst  helping a member with their hives, I was pleased  to see they had a lovely very dark bee colony. I would like to suggest that we propagate queens from their stock. My problem is mating and the site. I don't want this stock to have Buckfast drones.

These local bees were excellent. No smoke, docile non runny and had lovely brood patten. Probably one of the best stocks I've handled for a very long time. Gold Dust!

There are still some spaces available on this years Queen rearing course.
To be held on the following 7 dates all at the apiary. 

Sunday 25th May 2-4pm 
Wednesday 28th May 6-8pm
Saturday 31st May 2-4pm
Sunday 1st June 2-4pm
Saturday 7th June 2-4pm
Sunday 8th June 2-4pm
Sunday 15th June 2-4pm 

We appreciate members might not be able to commit to all 7 dates. This is not too much of a problem, we will recap along be way and you would be able to catch up on following dates. 

The cost is £100 per person to include a F1 Buckfast or local queen . 
Spare Queens if available can be purchased @ £25 each
Payment in advance to be made to : KBKA Ashford Branch
Sort: 08-92-99 Acc: 67268830
Contact Joanne to reserve your place joanneknaggs@icloud.com 

Sunday 27th April 1-4pm  we have the fourth and final session of our introduction to Beekeeping. We will inspect the orange poly hive and experience honey production. If any members are free from 3pm  and would like to pop along to the apiary, they would be very welcome. I'm sure our new participants would enjoy hearing your beekeeping experiences. 

Tea, coffee and biscuits provided.

Our next Club meeting is on Sunday 4th May at 2pm The topic is swarming  and making splits. It would be great to see even more old faces even if it's just a brief pop in. 

You will see we have had market stand in Ashford town centre over the past two months, the next market is on May 3rd, so do try and pop down. This has been organised by Katy Morrison and has been a great success. I believe we need volunteers for future markets, they are held on the first Saturday of each month. Please get in touch if you are able to help. 
For the May market, I will supply the observation hive. We have a new observation Langstroth hive which can take a nuc below the frame on show. This will certainly help draw customers to the stand. 

Jackie's BBKA Basic Assessment training course is in full swing, I believe they have practical sessions next month at the apiary.

Remember - Friday 27th June 
NBU Hive Safari Health Day with National Bee Inspectors 10-2.30pm Lunch included. £5 club members £10 non members. 

We have neighbouring club members attending so please pay and reserve your place in advance to avoid disappointment. 

Lastly swarming  has now started, both Joanne and myself witnessed our first swarms on Good Friday.

Wishing you all a happy  Easter.