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Autumn Apiary Tidy-up and Bee inspection
8th September 2019 @ 10:30 - 15:00
Volunteers are wanted to help with the apiary clean-up. The schedule is:
10:30 – 12:30 Winter preparation in the apiary
10:30 – 12:30 Tidying the bee-friendly garden
12:30 – 13:15 Lunch
13:15 – 15:00 Disease inspection of the apiary hives
15:00 AOB and/or close
This session is particularly recommended for graduates of the beginner’s course, because there is an opportunity to help clean equipment before putting it away for the winter. It can be a bit daunting wondering what should be done with used equipment, and this is an opportunity to get some practical experience. We can only find this work for about 8 people so beginners who arrive early will get priority. Wear old clothes because it can be a bit mucky.
Otherwise there is gardening to be done in the bee-friendly garden – make sure you bring appropriate clothes and implements – gardening gloves, fork, spade, secateurs, loppers etc. Our bee-friendly gardeners Merilyn, Lynn and Gill, will direct you so that you can be most useful.
A simple lunch will be provided, thanks to Gill, Lynn and Merilyn, probably soup and hot dogs including some vegetarian hot-dogs. Please send an email to me, jc@whatho.net, to let me know if you will be coming, so we can ensure there will be enough food. If anybody needs gluten free meals could they please bring their own – you’re welcome to cook them on the barbecue. Also if anybody feels like bringing a cake for pudding, I’m sure it would be most welcome.
In the afternoon our regional bee inspector Mark Lynch will be inspecting the bees in the apiary for disease. I am sure he will describe what he is doing, what he is looking for, and pass round any frames he thinks of interest. I always find it a very educational experience watching the regional bee inspectors – they really know what they are talking about. You may well get an update on the Asian hornet as well.