Import of NZ bees into UK

[RoseCottage]

I have been following this thread and occasionally said a few words..

I have looked at ITLD's pictures and want to make 2 observations:

1. What a lovely landscape to work in...with the possible exception of the invisible but probably ever present midges.

2. I am surprised and I guess partly impressed by the lack of protective clothing. Whatever strain of bees you are using must be incredibly docile for you to have such confidence with your grandson.

I thought my bees were docile but I dont think I would let a youngster (or for that matter anyone) that close without protection around the head and throat.


All the best,
Sam

 

[gavin]

ITLD kindly took me to one of his overwintering sites in late November to take some samples for a bee breeding workshop we were running. While I fumbled for my bee suit he wandered over in his *black* jacket and trousers, so I left it off. We opened a few hives, pulled frames, and he brushed bees off into a container for me using bare hands. These bees were pussy cats and have completely forgotten how to defend themselves.

Whether hybrid derivatives are going to resemble these bees or turn out to be vicious isn't something anyone can be sure about yet.

Gavin

 

[peteinwilts]

ITLD kindly took me to one of his overwintering sites in late November to take some samples for a bee breeding workshop we were running. While I fumbled for my bee suit he wandered over in his *black* jacket and trousers, so I left it off. We opened a few hives, pulled frames, and he brushed bees off into a container for me using bare hands. These bees were pussy cats and have completely forgotten how to defend themselves.

Whether hybrid derivatives are going to resemble these bees or turn out to be vicious isn't something anyone can be sure about yet.

Gavin

it is nice to hear of such a gentle bee... however, I would be interested to how they fare in wasp season or when trying to defend themselves against any other threat.
I like the fact that my bees are a little grumpy now and again as I won't always be there for them.

 

[BobH1]

...with the possible exception of the invisible but probably ever present midges.

which might be a reason to suit up, even with bees as calm as those!

 

[gavin]

I haven't tested all makes for being midge-proof, but certainly Th&rnes veils leaked Wester Ross midges and you just ended up with as many inside the veil as out!

 

[RoofTops]

You can get proper mozzy nets to go over a hat - much finer mesh than a beekeeping veil.

 

[Poly Hive]

The pick of the bunch is the "Skye midge hood" however it does seriously reduce light making night time moves interesting to say the least.

These ones may be better for visibility.

http://www.midgie.net/

PH

 

[johna]

Where are the photos posted??

 

[Hughesie]

So your not interested in the country of origin of the product, nor the country of origin of the queen (if I understand this right), but you think the co-op should identify one of the countries where she may have been mated.

Please point me to the post where I have said all this !

Dont make assumptions !

 

[BKF Admin]

Where are the photos posted??

Bee Pictures

 

[johna]

Thanks Admin

 

[Somerford]

NZ Bee Imports...thoughts so far

Not sure if ITLD will get this before he goes on his travels, but I recall somewhere around page 20 ish that he said that he was importing queens as well/or packages or both from NZ. Which of these will end up in Hereford/Gloucestershire ?


I am glad that the Co-Op now have someone reading this thread, as well as a 'Spy-In-Our-Midst' forwarding everything....I wonder who that is ??! Bl**dy turncoat

Anyway, in spite of all that ITLD has said, the FUNDAMENTAL issue has still not been tackled...that of such a large volume of bees being imported into the UK and the DOUBLE STANDARDS of the Co-Op for endorsing this when they also support Plan B.

ITLD can't defend that in my view (nor would I expect him to has he has taken the Co-Ops shilling), but neither can the Co-Op.

This thread has evolved far further than I ever expected it to, and, writing this on a Sunday night bottling honey produced by local British bees, I really do think that, with the end consumer firmly in mind, that they would be very concerned as to the real issues at stake here, not withstanding the whole bee import issue, and that that ITLD mentioned about full frame nucs coming in UNDER THE RADAR from Europe.

I continue my campaign to raise awareness of this...am awaiting a number of responses from a few parties here and there, and will show my hand as and when I am able to.

I appreciate that a few people as a % of the forum have commented here, hopefully far more have read the thread, and I hope that everyone is discussing this with their friends and families and getting them to discuss it with their friends too. Some of the issues that have come to light here, I am certain, will bite us in the $rse sooner or later....it comes down to us all as RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS and BEEKEEPERS, whether a newbeek, 1 hive, 10 or 100 to start asking about the source of their nucs from the retailer....and don't accept no for an answer.

Meanwhile I need to go back and label a load of jars and work on some of the 'British Bee' labels myself and Friar Tuck are pulling together for the forum beeks to use in due course.

regards and please continue to support this thread and communicate with friends and family...

Somerford

 

[Into the lions den]

Not sure if ITLD will get this before he goes on his travels, but I recall somewhere around page 20 ish that he said that he was importing queens as well/or packages or both from NZ. Which of these will end up in Hereford/Gloucestershire ?


I am glad that the Co-Op now have someone reading this thread, as well as a 'Spy-In-Our-Midst' forwarding everything....I wonder who that is ??! Bl**dy turncoat

Anyway, in spite of all that ITLD has said, the FUNDAMENTAL issue has still not been tackled...that of such a large volume of bees being imported into the UK and the DOUBLE STANDARDS of the Co-Op for endorsing this when they also support Plan B.

ITLD can't defend that in my view (nor would I expect him to has he has taken the Co-Ops shilling), but neither can the Co-Op.

This thread has evolved far further than I ever expected it to, and, writing this on a Sunday night bottling honey produced by local British bees, I really do think that, with the end consumer firmly in mind, that they would be very concerned as to the real issues at stake here, not withstanding the whole bee import issue, and that that ITLD mentioned about full frame nucs coming in UNDER THE RADAR from Europe.

I continue my campaign to raise awareness of this...am awaiting a number of responses from a few parties here and there, and will show my hand as and when I am able to.

I appreciate that a few people as a % of the forum have commented here, hopefully far more have read the thread, and I hope that everyone is discussing this with their friends and families and getting them to discuss it with their friends too. Some of the issues that have come to light here, I am certain, will bite us in the $rse sooner or later....it comes down to us all as RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS and BEEKEEPERS, whether a newbeek, 1 hive, 10 or 100 to start asking about the source of their nucs from the retailer....and don't accept no for an answer.

Meanwhile I need to go back and label a load of jars and work on some of the 'British Bee' labels myself and Friar Tuck are pulling together for the forum beeks to use in due course.

regards and please continue to support this thread and communicate with friends and family...

Somerford

1. I have already answered this. Only queens are coming from NZ this year.

2. Your turncoat is the exact oposite. They are only letting the Co-op know about opposition, not about the posts that are not fully supportive of your position. Still do not know who it is btw. Will be visiting Manchester soon, might find out then.

3. Stuck record. I have explained in detail why these bees. The pics might shed some light on it if you still believe only in the saintly A.m.m. they want to encourage beekeepers to start. These gentle bees are to assist with that on visits and demos. they are not for sale outwith the venture. yes, there are lots more of the queens coming in to other people, but none of the ones in the Co-op venture will be for sale outwith it. Getting people started and showing them it does not HAVE to be done with grumpy bees MUST be a good thing and as such is wholly in accordance with the spirit of plan B.

Large volume of bees? It will not be 10% of the imports this spring that *I* know of................no idea the overall total, but it could be 10,000 plus? Forget the official figures, they are just the tip of the iceberg.

4. Me taken the Co-ops shilling? or maybe they have taken mines??? lol.................sling mud if you wish. I have a thick hide and am impervious to it.

5. Your anti foreign stance is very plain. However in the world you live in today your borders are from the Baltic to Cyprus, from Portugal to Romania. It is not UK/England/Gloucestershire/Cirencester/4 Anystreet. At least from outwith these shores you should have a health certificate. Unnotified shipments have the same status health wise as internal UK shipments. That is NO official health status.

6. Yes, I know you are organising a campaign. The Co-op knows it, and I *assume* it is your campaign that two members of the media have been in touch about. I await their next follow up, as it seems more likely they will end up running a positive story, as happened with the Scottish unit. You are indeed apparently raising awareness of the project. Good. The worst publicity one can get is no publicity at all.

Quite plainly you have a fixed mind about all this and are not really here to find out............your claim to have 'pieced together the whole picture' back at post one, and jumped to conclusions based on rumour, heresay, and assumptions mixed with scant facts really says it all. You did not have the full picture, and now I am offering it to you, you do not want it. If you think I am the kind of person who takes ANYONES shilling then you are again working on assumptions in the comfortable isolation of never having met me, not seen how I work, and seemingly no wish to. ( 'Nothing to gain' comment in response to the offer to visit.)

A good number of people are coming back to me privately on this scheme now, mostly wanting to find out more, and several wanting to come to visit.

I head off on my travels tomorrow afternoon. Lots to do. Will still answer questions though.

 

[Into the lions den]

I thought my bees were docile but I dont think I would let a youngster (or for that matter anyone) that close without protection around the head and throat.

I would NEVER let the boy be with me like that near my black bees. Some days they would be fine, other days they will be nasty.

THESE bees were even workeable on horrible days at the heather, with no smoke, no veil, no gloves. Anyone who knows going to the heather will know that almost all bee go very snotty there.

Its kind of the point I was making early on about the bees being so suitable for the very young to learn on and get a liking for bees with. Getting more beekeepers is a key goal of plan B.

 

[Into the lions den]

however, I would be interested to how they fare in wasp season or when trying to defend themselves against any other threat.
.

No problems noted. Wasps seen off. No particular robbing noticed. Just seem very normal that way. They just seem to not be bothered by humans or livestock.

 

[Into the lions den]

Whether hybrid derivatives are going to resemble these bees or turn out to be vicious isn't something anyone can be sure about yet.
Gavin

We will find out soon. Took a few grafts off the best of them, and have maybe 80 or so queens overwintered in Canada boxes. No indication that they are any different to any of our other crosses off similar stock. Intermediate between themselves and our local blacks. Spring will tell.

 

[Hivemaker.]

They are only letting the Co-op know about opposition, not about the posts that are not fully supportive of your position.

Who are they letting know...the farm managers,the secretarys,the accountants,the guys that stack the shopping trolleys....lol

 

[Into the lions den]

Who are they letting know...the farm managers,the secretarys,the accountants,the guys that stack the shopping trolleys....lol

lol indeed.............do not know exactly..........all the copies I am getting have a name Rachel (who is a marketing assistant) in the chain as the one forwarding it on to Catherine David.........the actual manager who took this particular project forward ( but who left on Friday to go to Fairtrade). How it gets to Rachels desk in the first place I do not know.

 

[onriver]

ITLD - I've just had a quick catch up of the last few days worth of postings - some good, inciteful comments you've answered well - just be mindful of it being too early on a Monday morning - paranoia needs sleep to counter it!

 

[Into the lions den]

ITLD - I've just had a quick catch up of the last few days worth of postings - some good, inciteful comments you've answered well - just be mindful of it being too early on a Monday morning - paranoia needs sleep to counter it!

LOL.........nothing bad about being around at that time of day. I had to make some calls. Needed to talk to New Zealand about a variety of bee related things and the wanted me to call at their lunchtime on Monday, plus I also had a call to make to China (personal) at 8AM their time, midnight here.

I keep strange hours, but then I suspect many bee people do. You will probably find me this afternoon, parked up near a bee site, snoring my head off!