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On Saturday 4th May Simon Jones, RBI for the South West, visited the WDBKA apiary to lead a disease inspection. He started the afternoon talking about the anticipated arrival of the Asian Hornet and asked all beekeepers to be especially vigilant. Asian Hornet trap Our apiary will become a sentinel apiary with a specially [...] Full story…Simon Jones RBI demonstrates how to conduct an inspection for bee disease Members of WDBKA gathered at the apiary on Saturday 6th April for the first meeting of the season. Not surprisingly the weather was deemed too cold to open hives and inspect the colonies. Hives were hefted to assess the weight of stores to keep the bees going whilst the cold snap continues. Varroa trays were [...] Full story…First Apiary meeting of the year for WDBKA members On March 3rd members from across Dorset gathered to support the AGM of the Dorset Beekeepers Association. Caroline Dilke has recorded the key points from the presentation by our guest speaker, Ged Marshall. Ged Marshall, a commercial beekeeper since the 1980s, runs 200-400 hives and reaps about 10 tons of honey in a good year. [...] Full story…Ged Marshall at the Dorset Beekeepers’ Association (DBKA) AGM Our course for new beekeepers is well underway. A variety of topics are covered during the evening theory meetings, held at Netherbury Village Hall, delivered by a team of WDBKA members who are all experienced beekeepers. Students have already considered the merits of different hives, frames and foundation. Protective clothing and basic equipment, siting an [...] Full story…Course for new beekeepers is well underway! Zest hive frames can be made from plastic Report of talk by Bill Summers on “Beekeeping with Zest”, at the United Reform Church, Bridport. Feb 2013 Bill and his technical sidekick Dave Durrant began by explaining that the concept of Zest (Zero Energy SusTainable) beekeeping began with a need to provide cheap, bamboo hives [...] Full story…Beekeeping with Zest Around 50 members and friends gathered to enjoy a splendid lunch at Bridport Golf Club on Sunday 20th January. Everyone tucked into a delicious meal and there were several suggestions that this should become a more regular event in our WDBKA calendar! Thank you to Carole for organising such a pleasant start to the [...] Full story…WDBKA Annual Lunch In one of our winter talks Richard Ball, retired NBI, delivered an informative lecture sharing his thoughts and experience regarding the importance of effective queen rearing for all beekeepers. Richard began by urging us all to improve our stocks, for which good husbandry is the key. If we beekeepers each year selected our best [...] Full story…Queens: Chance or Choice? Talk by Richard Ball Rtd NBI In spring 2011 Carole Brown and Ken Bishop were “volunteered” to take part in a short film about beekeeping for the Guardian website. The opportunity came about when a friend of David Smith was talking with the filmmaker, Edwin Hasler of Soft City Films, about bees and the enthusiasm and dedication of beekeepers. Inspired [...] Full story…A little bee film The site is designed to be a resource for members of the West Dorset Beekeepers’ Association (WDBKA) and for interested members of the general public. Our Association draws its members from West Dorset, the area roughly west of Dorchester and the A37 (a smaller area than that covered by West Dorset District Council!) What [...] Full story…If you are interested in bees you have come to the right place |
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The West Dorset Beekeepers Association |
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