"I’ve sent a cheque to join the local beekeepers assoc, but rumour has it there not all that welcoming."
cancel the cheque and donate £15 to admin.
Open Mesh Floors are a very important advance since then. Beeks call them varroa mesh and leave the varroa trays in and lose the great importance of the ventilation and hugely improved conditions they provide.
Mention that at your first meeting and you'll be well on the way to losing friends and alienating people!
Other differences between now and then:
I tried to join an association in the 80s and members were terribly, terribly - and doctors, accountants, civil servants and their wives and not very welcoming.
Many are the same and take the money while excluding the member.
Many were not very skilled and may be promulgating ineptitude still.
Now, there are a more diverse crowd - bunny huggers - wannabee scientists - more studious, concerned experimentalists who do not like the pour chemicals over them they should survive attitude.
And then the fast buck merchants.
Has to be good for the bees
if all this information is disseminated, discussed and rationalised.
This is more likely now due to a more investigative approach by beeks but is held back from leaps by the 'we've always done it this way brigade' whom newbies follow for want of study and questioning.
Writing to MAFF, DEFRA, Fera, NBU and asking if imports can be stopped to prevent varroa (early 1980s letters to) now to prevent the other b awful conditions and mites that afflict bees - results are still negative. No change there.
More regulation - MAFF et al did such a good job on BSE, Foot and Mouth and many other debacles they thought they would light the flame under a pot, rename and out popped the NBU who do nothing to prevent imports carrying disease etc that will destroy the bees. I blame the incestuous nature of gov depts.
Polystyrene hives - good for bees - good for bees
OMF - good for bees - good for bees
Forums such as this, where information is disseminated freely and expert, long time beekeepers are happy to discuss problems, alternatives and methods - good for bees - good for bees.
The numnut policy of the government that has destroyed our countryside and made it into huge square or rectangular fields with manicured hedges that no longer contain the wildlife or wildflowers it used to then.
Oh and the bun-fights that brighten up the dull times!!
