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A one day course in the company of Roger Patterson: Stock improvement is important for beekeepers, but many are happy to continue to keep poor bees, probably because they are unaware of the improvements that can be made or how easy they can be. This one day course will discuss topics such as...

Hi Everyone, Up to now I've been borrowing our beekeeping Society equipment to extract my honey but think now is the time to look at getting my own. I've been using an electric, radial, 9 frame extractor with a reversible motor which has been great but wondered what everyone else uses. Next...

Has anyone ever used honey to sweeten and flavour Sloe Gin? Not that it needs additional flavour of course but, tempted to try and don't want to ruin a prefectly good recipe by complicating it! Stewart

Following on from another topic about frameless hives in the BBKA News this month, I read (p.18) an article about the treatment of Nosema. It would appear that, although the use of Fumidil B is no longer licensed, if you can find a qualified vet to agree that you have Nosema the Vet is legally...

Hi All, I've just purchase a "job lot" of hives and "stuff" and most of the foundation for the supers is Drone size. Not ever used it before, obviously once drawn if a queen gets in there she's going to lay drones but other than that are there any other issues? Should I just trash it and get...

Help! I've just had a message from a friend who wants to start beekeeping and is a pig farmer. They have been told at their first beekeeping lesson at their local association that they can't keep bees with pigs because the bees will drink the pigs wee!!!! Someone help me out here, is that...

Just about to start my 2nd year of queen rearing and considering the practice of clipping the queens wings. It appears in the General Husbandry assessment and it's something I've never done. I'm guessing there will be different views. What do you think? Stewart

Hi All, I've taken the plunge and submitted an application to take the General Husbandry Assessment this year. I would be grateful for any useful tips or advice about the assessment as I always seem to get really nervous with these things. Also, if anyone else is planning on taking it this...

Hi Everyone, I recently found a hive with the first signs of woodpecker damage. It hadn't penetrated entirely through the side wall but had spent quite some time doing a fair bit of damage. The hive was one of six in an apiary that had never had woodpecker issues before and none of the hives...

Hi Everyone, This year, for the first time, I have hives close to fields that will have Spring Oil Seed Rape. I want to prepare the colonies to be as strong as possible for taking advantage of the crop. Should I feed early to encourage a larger population and thus have bees ready to forage and...