Hi from kent

[Stevem099]

Hi everyone,
Firstly great forum, been reading on here quite a while so thought I'd better sign up and say hello!
My brother keeps bees but lives a good few hours away but this sparked my interest when visiting him.
Ideally I'd like to start keeping bees next year so this gives me a year to swat up!
I'm perticually intrested in AMM bees and was wondering if anyone in Kent kept them.
Many thanks
Steve

 

[thenovice]

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the forum. None of the members of the Canterbury Beekeepers Association is knowingly keeping them as far as I know. the rest of kent is terra incognita for me.

Good luck with your endeavors.

 

[Vortex]

Hi everyone,
Firstly great forum, been reading on here quite a while so thought I'd better sign up and say hello!
My brother keeps bees but lives a good few hours away but this sparked my interest when visiting him.
Ideally I'd like to start keeping bees next year so this gives me a year to swat up!
I'm perticually intrested in AMM bees and was wondering if anyone in Kent kept them.
Many thanks
Steve

Talk to John Holmes of the Whistable Beekeepers. You can reach him via Wildwood.

 

[JWF]

Hi Steve,

I'm in Herne Bay but I'm not aware of anyone keeping AMMs specifically - interesting to see the Wildwood hives mentioned, which I've seen as a visitor to WW.

Whereabouts in Kent are you?

 

[Stevem099]

Thanks all for the welcome
Will have to go and have a look at Ww I've been told by a few people that it's well worth a visit! I live in boughton very near faversham but plan to keep bees at my parents, which is down near old Romney/lydd way.. Providing it's not too windy there! I'm unsure weather it would be best to join a club near where I lived. Or nearer the bees?
Thanks again
Steve

 

[Vortex]

Thanks all for the welcome
Providing it's not too windy there! I'm unsure weather it would be best to join a club near where I lived. Or nearer the bees?
Thanks again
Steve

Other than drifting and/or the hives being blown over (which can be mitigated against) wind is not really a significant issue.

As to which Association/Club .. which can you get to more readily vs having a mentor who can readily visit your hives if you need it.

In regard to the WW bees (i.e. John's bees) whilst he doesn't explicitly keep AMM there are a couple of beekeepers in the area who are specifically trying to breed AMM bees, hence why I suggested you talk to him.

 

[Webby]

Hi Steve,
Welcome. I live in hawkhurst Kent and am a first yr beek. Loving it. Good luck next yr.
Sam

 

[Stevem099]

Thanks again everyone. Hope you had a successful first year webby,
I went to see a friend of a friends apiary yesterday for some hands on experience and well I'm hooked! I was able to see different stages of brood, handle some bees and extract some honey!
Now just need to find some hives ready for the spring

 

[Robbo8916]

Thanks again everyone. Hope you had a successful first year webby,
I went to see a friend of a friends apiary yesterday for some hands on experience and well I'm hooked! I was able to see different stages of brood, handle some bees and extract some honey!
Now just need to find some hives ready for the spring

I bought mine in the Thornes sale in January. Paid about £175 for two complete national hives including frames and foundation. Might be worth a look. They are seconds but very good quality and perfectly serviceable.

by the way