Meon Valley Beekeepers

Winter Meeting (Warnford)
2024-03-07 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
A Day in the Life of a Bee Remover – Clive Stewart
Domestic and Commercial – Bee Removal Services, Westart Apiaries is based in the beautiful county of Staffordshire, carrying out efficient and professional bee removal services, built on reputation & trust. Westart Apiaries has been removing bees from buildings since 2009, and has perfected a number of techniques and methods to ensure safe and efficient removal of bees. The bee story however, goes back much further than this. Westart Apiaries has been keeping bees for 22 years, and produces some of the most delicious honey from the bees that have been rescued over the years. Westart now shares its knowledge of the subject with other beekeepers, and pest controllers on its courses held throughout the year.
The link for the meeting will be shared via the newsletter the week of the meeting so check your inbox for the details.

Winter Meeting (Zoom)
2024-02-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
What do bees collect and how do they use it – Jane Medwell
I learnt beekeeping from my mother in the 1970s, when the activity was rather different. In 1999 I set up my own apiary in Warwickshire and joined WLBKA. I have found learning about changes and developments in beekeeping an ongoing enjoyment.
In my early years of beekeeping, I kept around 40 hives and learnt a good deal about keeping bees on a larger scale. However, I realised that my interests are in the study of beekeeping rather than honey production. Since 2010 I have reduced my hive numbers to a maximum of a dozen in two or three apiaries near my home. This has allowed me to experiment with methods of queen rearing and do more training and education activities at branch, county, and national levels. I have been a Master Beekeeper since 2013. I remain committed to keeping my knowledge relevant and am currently studying for the BBKA microscopy certificate and NDB.
The link for the meeting will be shared via the newsletter the week of the meeting so check your inbox for the details.

Winter Meeting (Zoom)
2024-01-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
Managing Common Diseases and Disorders – Dan Basterfield
Whilst varroa, hornets, and foul brood receive a lot of attention, it is easy to overlook the impact of the more mundane (but arguably more damaging) diseases and disorders. We will look at three common problems: nosema, chalkbrood, and queen failures (both drone layers and laying workers), and discuss how to spot them, and what to do if we find them. The emphasis is on practical colony management, and the session is aimed at both beginners and those with a few years of beekeeping experience.
Dan grew up with beekeeping around him, earning pocket money by clipping and marking queens. Having spent 15 years working in large companies, he returned to the family beekeeping business in Devon in 2005, and with his father expanded the business and built a brand new Honey Farm as the centre of their honey production, queen raising, and teaching activities. Dan holds the National Diploma in Beekeeping (NDB), is a BBKA Master Beekeeper, and is an examiner for the BBKA and NDB examinations. He is a regular lecturer around the UK on practical beekeeping topics. Daniel wrote some of the BBKA’s Course in a Case training courses, has contributed to the BBKA’s Liquid Gold and Swarming videos, and co-authored the BBKA’s Healthy Hive Guide book. He has just published Using Apideas, a manual for queen mating nucs. He is a member of the Bee Farmers Association, and has been a Trustee and Chairman of the International Bee Research Association (IBRA), and Chairman of the NDB Examination Board.

The link for the meeting will be shared via the newsletter the week of the meeting so check your inbox for the details.

AGM and Christmas Party (Warnford)
2023-12-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
