2005 has been a difficult and exhausting year in the Apiary – a ´Bay of Pigs´ year. Many of you will remember the Cuban crisis during which Britain anticipated nuclear attack from Russia, but were you young enough to be at school and experience a visit from the ´man from the Ministry´ whose job it was to advise the nation´s schoolchildren how to escape death. ´Run from the Building before it collapses; lie flat on the ground to avoid the blast of air; shelter behind a wall to protect yourself from the fireball; find a pond and dive in to escape radiation` Children looked at each other incredulously and began to laugh.
Laughing has not been something Johan has been doing much of this year as each ´missile´ has assailed us before we have coped with the previous one. At the beginning of the year we were pleased that all colonies had survived the winter but spring was a disaster. By the end of June it was suddenly summer and this seemed to continue until December. The bees must have anticipated an Indian summer because swarming lasted until late August, although the Association hives only experienced one which flew out, circled the Apiary and flew back home.
In early June, Alan Bayham and Caroline Washington inspected our hives and found EFB in some. All were shook swarmed and old frames burned. Sadly, on their return another two colonies were affected. They were burned and all equipment was washed and fumigated, a great deal of extra work for Johan and our helpers.
Queen rearing with Martin had to be abandoned. We then had a drone laying queen and laying workers with which to contend. After one particularly exhausting day a friend commented, ´I thought this was supposed to be your hobby´.
The compensation for all the grief and aggravation was the experience we gained, and the advice we received from our Inspectors. How could the Government think of dispensing with their essential services. The shook swarm method they demonstrated enabled our colonies to build up amazingly quickly – surprising to us all and a great relief.
The good news last year centred around the shed, so much more useful than anticipated. We have successfully extracted honey using our new manual extractor and settling tank. The bees remained outside thanks to our Chairman´s cunning little window flaps. The shed was also invaluable whilst requeening in a thunderstorm. Yes, it was damp and crowded inside but bees, beekeepers and Brian the Dog were ´well pleased´ and the hot coffee afterwards was bliss.
The observation and Ann Winzer´s hives were both affected by disease but Ann was able to view her kind donation in memory of her father. At the beginning of the season we held a shed opening tea, so pleasurable we will start each season with one. During our Apiary sessions the shed is much like a human hive with clusters of beekeepers chilling around the entrance!
In the autumn we had a grand clear out of plants and pond weed to provide much needed space for this year´s adopt-a-hives. Johan demonstrated the ´whirling dervish´ approach to pruning and we thank everybody who helped, particularly to Liz Jack who removed mountains of greenery to the tip.
Thanks also go to Mary Ogle for researching and purchasing a microscope and dissecting tools.
Elizabeth Murray has received an all clear and an Epipen from the Allergy clinic and will be back on Apiary Duty this season.
All our hives are now fitted with mesh floors, through which the wretched varroa mites fall, and should they still be alive, they adhere to the vasalined test trays beneath so that we can count them – there has to be a fun side to all the effort!
This coming season we will be inspected again and hope to have the Stand Still Order lifted.
We will be organising demonstrations and talks to help members prepare for the coming battle with all that nature throws at us but if you feel overwhelmed and think of giving up – please don´t. Grasp your hive tool tightly and say - ´I am but hurt, I am not slain. I´ll lay me down and bleed awhile and then I´ll rise and fight again´.