Author Archives: Meridian Beekeepers’ Association

Bee Disease Insurance Limited sent the following information for circulation to Meridian members. Whole Apiary Shook Swarm Trial Bee Disease Insurance Limited (BDI) has announced the start of their whole apiary shook swarm trial in partnership with the National Bee Unit (NBU). Bee inspectors will now offer to beekeepers who find European Foul Brood (EFB)Continue reading “Whole apiary shook swarm and bee viruses talk by Kirsty Stainton”

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in the British Isles The Asian hornet is a dangerous, non-native species which has the potential to wreak havoc in the UK. It hails from Southeast Asia and could never have arrived here naturally. Natural History Museum It is already well-established in France (and across continental Europe) and has causedContinue reading “Asian hornet”

My best and worse colonies in 2020 I run between thirteen and twenty colonies, including Nucs, in five locations including my garden. Six locations if you count the New Forest where I take my largest and smallest colonies for heather honey (my favourite) or to fill the brood box with quality winter stores. In mostContinue reading “Louise”

Throughout the beekeeping year, its possible to accumulate quite a lot of wax from different sources. There’s the brace comb we remove during hive inspections, comb we’re replacing from brood boxes, cappings from honey processing and the wax we scrape from equipment when we’re cleaning it. Louise’s video shows a brilliant tip for collecting allContinue reading “Processing wax”

If you think you have a swarm of honey bees, here’s what to do: 1.Don’t panic! You may have seen the bees arrive, swirling through the air accompanied by a deafening buzz, but they’re at their least defensive during a swarm and pose little or no threat to us. Don’t try this at home! BeesContinue reading “Have you got a swarm?”

Tony AshworthTitchfield 07766 525968 01489 579863 Peter ClarkWest End 07867 557964 01489 692881 Louise EvansBotley 07434 952900 01489 781155 Howard TowlShedfield 07832 185913 01329 835814 All collectors cover the whole of our South Hampshire area including Bishops Waltham, Botley, Hedge End, Swanmore, Titchfield and West End The beekeeper will ask you a few questions: HaveContinue reading “Swarm collectors”

Swarming is the honey bees’ natural method of reproduction. It generally takes place over a few weeks in Spring but we do see early swarms and some take place later in Summer. Each honey bee colony has a queen. She lives for several years and is mother to all the bees in her colony. TheContinue reading “Swarming”

Meridian member Catherine Pardoe wrote to Flick Drummond, MP for Meon Valley to express her concern about the recent authorisation of a Neonicotinoid treatment for sugar beet. Here is the response. It only serves to emphasis the need to keep up the pressure. Here is a link to the petition on the Government website PetitionContinue reading “Neonicotinoids”

This page displays locally-produced honey and hive products. These are offered for sale by local beekeepers and their contact details can be found here. Most Meridian members have eaten or sold their 2020 crop (independent grocers have an insatiable appetite for local honey!) but keep an eye on this page, more will be offered inContinue reading “Honey and hive products for sale”