Natural beekeeping on countryfile

[blackcavebees]

Just watched Countryfile on iplayer ...

Hello! ... Are the BBC thick?

"the bees like us"

A bit surreal methinks, cow pats wouldn't work over here with me, the rain would wash that one on the middle of the garden away in a day.

Episode reminded me of a guy I know who started grinding in a shed where he had been cutting up lots of wood, then was surprised when the tinder caught fire and nearly burnt the shed down, thick I say

JB would look nice in a bonnet (health and safety of course!)

 

[For want of a better word]

I wonder if it's legal to sell honey from the cowsh*t hives. Maybe okay if the label says "this honey was produced in a hive that also contained cowsh*t"?




My understanding is that "Natural beekeepers" do not need to wear anything other than long floaty dresses and as their bees do not produce any honey for them, buy it from the local health shop to sweeten their camomile tea!

The potty fringe !

 

[Chris Luck]

Personally I don't find her viewpoint any more potty than that of many posters on this forum, just a different way to keep bees and I think it's great that the media, (BBC in this instance), publish all perspectives.

While I'm at it...

Something that struck me with the so called " new design" was if they hardly ever go into the brood area how do they monitor brood diseases ?

I have colonies that have never had their brood boxes disturbed over many, many years and when the inspector comes he respects that. We only remove frames from hives where I'm happy to do so. I never treat and never have any issues other than those one would expect from healthy colonies - I wonder why?

One size doesn't fit all.

Chris

 

[victor meldrew]

I have colonies that have never had their brood boxes disturbed over many, many years and when the inspector comes he respects that. We only remove frames from hives where I'm happy to do so. I never treat and never have any issues other than those one would expect from healthy colonies - I wonder why?
One size doesn't fit all.
Chris

You wouldn't get away with that here I'm afraid!
The bee inspector has a statutory duty to inspect all the frames for foul brood (No antibiotics to treat AFB in the UK)
VM

 

[Chris Luck]

You wouldn't get away with that here I'm afraid!
The bee inspector has a statutory duty to inspect all the frames for foul brood (No antibiotics to treat AFB in the UK)
VM

As I understand it there is no obligation in the UK to even register your bees John?

If that is correct then your post is irrelevant.

Equally the Bee inspector is only another bee keeper anyway, but that's another issue.

Chris

 

[domino]

No antibiotics to treat AFB in the UK

Why is this?

 

[Chris B]

As I understand it there is no obligation in the UK to even register your bees John?

True. But at the same time both EFB and AFB are notifiable diseases, so if you suspect either then you are obliged to contact the bee inspector.

Inspections are actually risk based - history of foulbrood in the apiary or vicinity, and your perceived competence will all push you higher or lower on the inspection list. They can't physically inspect everything even if they had all colonies registered.

 

[victor meldrew]

As I understand it there is no obligation in the UK to even register your bees John?

If that is correct then your post is irrelevant.

Equally the Bee inspector is only another bee keeper anyway, but that's another issue.

Chris

Don't be too dismissive
Chinese whispers etcetera, ensures that most colonies are subject to inspection
Regional bee inspectors are employees of Defra (On a permanent basis) , maybe they are bee keepers but are given tuition , and trained up/kept up to speed with all the latest technology as well as having the facilities of learned bodies readily at hand !
Hardly irrelevant
VM

 

[Chris B]

The bee inspector has a statutory duty to inspect all the frames for foul brood (No antibiotics to treat AFB in the UK)
VM

Possibly more accurate to say the bee inspector has a statutory right to inspect, if foulbrood ir suspected.

 

[victor meldrew]

Possibly more accurate to say the bee inspector has a statutory right to inspect, if foulbrood ir suspected.

'Statutory rights' aren't subject to speculation !!!
Naturally discretion is the key word although discretion isn't a word used in the
remit! I will admit that the ethos (obviously for economic reasons ) has altered from regular inspections to attendance on request/ reported incidents (not necessarilly by the owner of the apiary concerned.) .
VM

 

[itma]

The only positive aspect would seem to be that it was made quite clear that this was an UN-orthodox view.

And just about as mainstream as the crystals and mystic hive decorations. / are they 'natural' by the way?
Why didn't they mention Ley Lines?



/// The Winter seems to have got off to an excellent, if just slightly premature start!

 

[victor meldrew]

Why is this?

Being an island nation the UK has relied on eradication to solve the problem of disease . Rabies for example! . Antibiotics merely mask the symptoms of American foul brood rather than eradication as is the case with colony culling equipment burning , honey destroying and boxes scorching !
Almost all cases of AFB have been traced to the infected colonies having access to imported honey which (through the use of antibiotics ) carries AFB spores.
Antibiotics are used with discretion against EFB , a none spore producing form of foul brood but even then ,if it is severe , then culling of the colony is the way it is dealt with
VM

 

[Chris Luck]

Ahhh, thread drift strikes again.

AFB isn't treated with anti-biotics in France and is the only notifiable disease.

AFB here is either "treated" by destruction - burning everything or can with strong colonies can be "treated" using the two/three metre swarm transfer to a clean hive with no drawn comb.

Chris.

 

[Chris B]

'Statutory rights' aren't subject to speculation !!!

Not speculation, but reasonable suspicion.
A bit like being pulled over and breathalyzed - they can't do it unless "you were driving erratically sir".

You would be within your rights to refuse an inspection (not that I would advocate such an approach) if there was no history of foulbrood in the area, and no other reason to suspect your bees might have it. Unless the beekeeper agrees, they can't force an inspection on the basis of a general sweep. They would need a warrant and they wouldn't seek one unless they thought they were actually going to find something.

A "natural" beekeeper could more reasonably insist statutory inspections be carried out in time windows that minimise disruption. Statutory powers are never absolute powers.

 

[For want of a better word]

As I understand it there is no obligation in the UK to even register your bees John?

My understanding was that Defra bee inspectors had the power to inspect any colony of bees... registered on Beebase or not, if they suspect disease?

Obviously the French it appears develop their own rules on any agricultural or other EU policy to suit themselves... CJD/ Badgers/ Bovine TB /detergent phosphate stripping/nuclear waste recycling/toxic waste disposal/foot and mouth.... not forgetting animal welfare................
according to THE SUN ....

 

[Chris Luck]

So to cut the crap, there is no requirement in the UK to register possession of bees and hives unlike France and there is no right to inspect without a warrant from a court of law in the UK.

So that's that then and it doesn't alter the fact that by and large inspection isn't actually necessary in my experience, but as I said it isn't ever a case of one size fits all and some of us that occasionally wear frocks and eye shadow can also be very successful bee keepers.

Incidentally, while I'm waving the flag for a less intrusive, no treatment method for keeping bees my winter losses are apparently right at the bottom end of the scale for this region at less than 10% on average compared to 30 to 50% for treated colonies....

...makes you think....

...perhaps not here though.

Chris

 

[theboynelson]

Having tried both standard and natural beekeeping, although I would inspect all of the hive in a TBH. I did find that the bees were less stressed when in a Tbh, and I could get away without being suited and booted for it.

Would never take someone else's word for it though.

 

[Chris B]

some of us that occasionally wear frocks and eye shadow

Do that when the bee inspector comes and you'll never see them again.

 

[For want of a better word]

Do that when the bee inspector comes and you'll never see them again.

​

and of course say your bees NEVER STING !!!!!!!


Poor Julia... bet she don't do that again!!

 

[For want of a better word]

So to cut the crap, there is no requirement in the UK to register possession of bees and hives unlike France and there is no right to inspect without a warrant from a court of law in the UK.

BUT IF the Bee Inspector suspects a source of disease he has the power to inspect them... with a warrant ( obtainable if required)? in the UK ????
Possibly no difference in effect then between France and UK ?