AUGUST 2007
AN INVITATION TO VISIT, PREPARATIONS TO HOST
Dear Member,
At this stage in the year, I hope that you have some honey gathered in your supers. It hasn’t been easy this year with such poor weather in July when the blackberry and clover have been in bloom. I think some of my bees have been having a party in the supers and started eating some of the honey they stored in May. It’s rather perverse that they seem to raid the supers and keep the honey that’s in the brood nest. The recent warmer weather, however, is welcome and activity in the apiary would indicate that foraging is on the go again. Three out of my four nucs this season have shown signs of a successfully mated queen and started to lay in the last few days, so there is some cause for celebration of increase.
Invitation to visit
The club has received a kind invitation to visit Joe Thompson’s apiary in Newcastle on Sunday 12 August in the afternoon. Joe has a large apiary on a beautiful part of the coastline just outside Newcastle. This is a particularly good opportunity for beginner members to see bees at close quarters, to see a well-run apiary and to ask questions about bee management. Joe is a very knowledgeable and entertaining demonstrator, so you are guaranteed a treat. Protective clothing is essential for visiting the apiary.
If you are interested in going, please let me know so that I can give you details of the rendezvous point. Joe’s wife usually provides a cup of tea so I would like to be able to let her know in advance how many might be coming. I’m going to suggest that you let me know by Thursday 9 August. I’ll also be quite up front in saying that it would also be nice to bring a little gift; a small bunch of flowers or whatever – not looked for, but it’s always good to show appreciation.
Hosting the Belfast Honey Show – 15 and 16 September in Botanic Gardens
Our association hosts the Honey competitions at the City of Belfast Autumn Flower Show every year. You can check out the event on the city council website which is www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks
Anne Newell and Libby Bennett (our representatives on the organising committee) will be looking for volunteers to help set up the stands on Friday evening (14 September), for stewards to assist the judges on Saturday 15 September and for a presence around the exhibits on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th. We usually have a BDBKA display stand which is a good opportunity to promote beekeeping to the general public, so helpers are required there as well.
Resolve to be there. We need much more team work as a club in running this event. So, no excuses at the September meeting.
Entering exhibits at the show
I have official programmes for the event, so apologies to Anne that I forgot them at our last meeting. The classes, however, are as follows
Class 102 |
Two sections of honey, any type (glazed or unglazed) |
Class 103 |
Two cut comb honey in plastic containers 101mm by 75 mm (4in X 3in) to be between 190g – 260g (7oz-9oz) weight |
Class 104 |
Two jars light honey |
Class 105 |
Two jars medium honey |
Class 106 |
Two jars dark honey |
Class 107 |
Two jars creamed/soft set honey |
Class 108 |
Two jars granulated honey |
Class 109 |
Two jars chunk honey |
Class 110 |
THE McCOMB CUP Twelve jars of honey, any type, but all the same. Labelled showing producer’s name and address |
Class 111 |
Six 27g (1 oz) blocks of beeswax |
Class 112 |
One cake of beeswax 227g to 454g (1/2 lb to 1 lb) |
Class 113 |
THE EDDIE BYRNE CUP One frame for extracting |
Class 114 |
Collection of bee products, consisting of 3 or more of the following; two sections, two jars light honey, two jars medium honey, two jars dark honey, two jars chunk honey, two jars granulated honey, two jars creamed/soft set honey, two 8oz boxes of cut comb, one cake beeswax not less than 8oz weight. A space approximately 3ft deep by 4ft wide will be available. Exhibitors may make use of anything they consider will add to the display. |
Class 115 |
Polish or furniture cream in any size of tin or jar. |
Class 116 |
THE U.B.K.A. PRESIDENT’S SHIELD Honey Fruit Cake
Ingredients: 225g/8oz self-raising flour, 175g/6oz sultanas, 175g/6oz honey, 110g/4oz butter, 2 medium eggs, pinch of salt.
Preparation: Cream butter and honey together well. Beat eggs and add alternately with sifted flour and salt (save a little flour to add with sultanas). Beat mixture well and lightly. A little milk may be added if necessary. Fold in sultanas. Stir well and pour into a prepared 180mm/7in round tin. Bake in preheated oven 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4 for approx 1 ¼ hours |
Class 117 |
One moulded candle |
Class 118 |
One bottle of mead |
Novice classes for those who have never won a First Prize in Honey Shows at any venue
Class 119 |
One jar honey, any type |
Class 120 |
One section honey (glazed or unglazed) |
Class 121 |
One frame honey for extracting |
Class 122 |
One cut comb honey in plastic container, size as for Class 103 |
This is your notification that the first indoor meeting of the season will be Monday 10 September in Queen’s Leisure Complex at 7.30pm. Membership of £10 will be due and this year’s Winter Programme will be made available. Pin this letter on your noticeboard and I’ll hope to hear from or see you soon.
Yours in beekeeping
Esther Ross, Secretary, BDBKA |
