Saturday's meeting was good, well attended by a very wide cross section of the public including the Mayor and local politicians. I think I can claim, at least I hope I can, that everyone including the strong contingent of children present were entertained and found something of interest in the proceedings.
Thanks to the team who helped prepare and run the event.
Today we'll try to remove some of the queen cells found in the Beehaus hive and install them in mini nucs.
Bedonwell Teaching Apiary news
Changes are afoot on the Apiary in 2011. Our goal is to create a model Bee Garden or get as close to it as our resources will allow. We want the Bees to thrive and visitors and beekeepers to have a pleasurable and instructive experience when they visit.
Work so far has mainly been to establish the basic infrastructure, new woodchip paths have been laid and the hive stands have been positioned to minimize “drifting” and to allow audiences to observe hive manipulations during demonstrations of practical beekeeping. We’ve installed two, discreetly screened, “Tardis” type toilet cubicles, which have proved to be an excellent site amenity. Another important improvement to the Apiary is the housing of the Generator in its own shed. This shed, which I thought of as little more than bonfire fuel was in pieces and seriously damaged but Colin Mann has somehow managed to salvage and modify it to a very high standard. We have installed all but 6’ of a new fence, bordering the allotments and three new water containers for rain water collection.
Building maintenance is also underway. The pavilion roof has been repaired with new felt laid along the ridge (Colin again), and the solar power system is under repair though still operable. The Andersen shelter has been modified, part of it is now a compost enclosure.
Pavilion furniture now includes an improved mounting for Bill Mundy’s slide projector, two new cupboards for visitors’ bee suits and veils, two large tables for demonstrations and presentations, a 3 by 5 metre tarpaulin for the canopy attached to the front of the pavilion and four new picnic tables.
The garden is taking shape, we want it to look good, to smell good, to bear fruit, to resound with birdsong and importantly to hum with insect life. We’ve cut down almost all the blackberry thickets on site but will allow some plants to re-grow to clothe the chain-link fence. These will be managed to maximize forage and fruit. A small lawn has been laid as a “stage” for the chairman’s Saturday lectures and for visiting speakers. Beds have been dug to eliminate competition with our choice of plants from “weeds” and brambles, annuals will be cultivated where there’s bare soil but most of the planting will be of perennials shrubs and trees which will be allowed to naturalise if they will. These will be planted in drifts where possible . The plantings will be selected mainly to supply a succession of forage for the bees. Preference will be weighted for early and late pollen or nectar production as at these times of the year adverse weather and short daylight hours may make long distance foraging difficult or impossible. Other factors to be borne in mind are - length of time in flower, the height of plants, quantity of nectar (number of flowers per square metre), the presence of extra floral nectaries ,as with field beans or Cherry laurel, the time of day when nectar is released, provision of shade from hot sun and shelter from prevailing winds and wildlife habitats to suit expected fauna including nesting sites for birds and insects. A much larger pond is a must, it attracts people almost as much as it attracts wildlife, Colin and I have noticed that on a warm day honey bees, collecting water for the hive, cover the damp moss on the rocks in our existing pond and also that children make a bee-line for this pond (which is about one square metre in area), as soon as they come on site.
Members and visitors are encouraged to use the “Wildlife Log” if they would like to record any unusual wildlife sightings around the garden. Observations on the enthusiasm with which honey Bees are foraging particular plants and the time of day when this occurs would also be appreciated as this could help with improvements to the garden planting scheme.
Lastly,thanks Colin and thanks Darcy for the ideas and hard labour! Thanks Jim, Roy, Mick Jean and the other members and friends of the Apiary who donated plants including bay, medlar and crab apple trees, rosemary, foxgloves and various other plants all of them fitting in nicely with our planting scheme.
Barry
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