Stephen Barnes and Margaret Riches attended a Memorial service on Monday 2nd September in remembrance for David Galloway our former Chair and Patron.
News and Articles
Cumbria Autumn Bee Convention 7 Sep 24
Dear Beekeeper
You are cordially invited to the Cumbria Beekeepers Autumn Convention organised by Cockermouth Beekeepers
The Convention will be held at Embleton Village Hall on Sat 7 Sep 24. Doors open at 9am. The post code for the hall is CA13 9XU.
Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits will be available all day.
The programme is attached and has been selected to have something for all levels of beekeepers.
There is no need to book in advance and the entry fee of £15 is payable at the door (Cash only)
There is some parking at the village hall, but otherwise please park at the Embleton Spa Hotel across the road. Please do not obstruct access to the fields
The cost of the Beekeepers Lunch is £22 per head for a starter and a main, menu choices to be made on arrival at the event. The quality of the food is excellent and a good craic about bees is always on the menu!
Hope to see you there
Peter Weatherill
This email was sent to: from the eReturn2 system
Click here to unsubscribe from eReturn2 mailshots or manage your email preferences
Click here to unsubscribe from eReturn2 mailshots or manage your email preferences
2024-Convention-pages-2-3.docxWarcop Primary Bee Week
The ‘Bringing a Buzz to the Curriculum’ took place at Warcop Primary School during June 2024. Three members of Penrith Beekeepers Association worked with all the classes in the school. A total of 79 pupils were involved. The children enjoyed all the cross curricular activities and the teachers indicated in their evaluation of the project that it had been highly successful in helping the children appreciate more about the value of bees and what amazing creatures they are! The summary of their feedback can be read here
Bee Project : School Evaluation Warcop Primary School June 2024
79 pupils in total comprising:
| Reception & Year 1: 30 pupils
|
| Yrs 2,3 & 4 : 26 pupils |
| Yrs 5 & 6 : 23 pupils |
1.The activities that have been provided by Penrith Beekeepers Association which you consider have been particularly beneficial for the children’s learning:
| Reception & Year 1: -Craft activities- making bees and hexagonal printing -Stories + puppet show were appropriate for KS1 pupils -Bringing in the hive to observe -Honey tasting – different types of honey -All children really enjoyed the sessions and ame awayu knowing new vocabulary / information about bees . |
| Yrs 2,3 & 4 : -Dressing up activity to learn about the bee body parts. -Trying different kinds of honey -Looking at some real bees -Different sized flowers/ bees and making own flower design
|
| Yrs 5 & 6 : -Asian Hornets -designing a flower bed to a budget -colours that attract bees to plants -lots of flavours of honey -worker bees have pollen baskets -the nectar is at the base of the flowers |
2.Suggestions for aspects that should be improved:
| Reception & Year 1: More chance to dress as bees / beekeeper suits. Only a couple of children got this opportunity.
|
| Yrs 2,3 & 4 : -Children suggested harder things to guess on headbands (though I think we only caught the start of that activity due to being late across to join the group.) -Children suggested toast to have the honey on! |
| Yrs 5 & 6 : Children suggested they would like to learn more about: – the bees life cycle -Asian Hornets -comparing bees honey to ‘man made’ honey |
- Additional comments:
| Reception & Year 1: Thank you for the fantastic sessions!
|
| Yrs 2,3 & 4 : Had a wonderful time – very informative ad children really enjoyed themselves. Thank you.
|
| Yrs 5 & 6 : Excellent activities throughout, with lots of learning for all children, incorporating maths, science, geography, English alongside the activities. Very well organised by Margaret and team. Thank you very much for all your hard work. |
Introducing Beekeeping Course
The ‘Introducing Beekeeping Course’ took place 1st-2nd June 2024 and was led by Julia Piggot and Martin Hoggard. Julia and Martin are both highly experienced beekeepers and trainers. They run the Brigsteer Bee Reserve, just outside Kendal. The course was a blend of theoretical sessions and more practical tasks. It included an opportunity for participants to closely observe bees on the frames in two nuc boxes and help to transfer them into full size hives. They also made hive frames, practised swarm control methods and watched honey being extracted, filtered and jarred. Fifteen people attended, including two juniors.
The course evaluations indicated that all were highly satisfied with the course. The full feedback summary can be read here.
Introducing Beekeeping FEEDBACK SUMMARY
June 2024
15 attended : 14 feedback forms completed
Rated comments shown as % of responses received
| 1=grotty 5=very good | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| How well has the course met your learning needs?
| 100% | ||||
| Comments: -Very helpful answers to questions! Considerate / encouraging and informative -Excellent and informative -May be shorter day: 10.00.-3.30. would be better? -Very informative- good to have hands on interaction -Perfect, came in knowing nothing really, leave feeling so much more knowledge and confidence. -Very interesting, informative and well paced. -Thoroughly professional, comprehensive, informative -Yes & more! -Yes, I am clear on my next steps and have confirmed my involvement. | |||||
| Was the information presented well and clearly? | 100% | ||||
| Comments: -Full of variety- good class engagement. -Presented with humour -Excellent -Yes – explained well -Yes, split well and learning was reinforced -Good mix of practical and theoretical -Delivered at a measured pace without overwhelming -Patiently delivered presentation. -Accommodated well for all needs. I’m so inspired! -Yes, two very informed and gentle presenters.
| |||||
| Do you feel the weekend provided value for money? | 7% | 93% | |||
| Comments: -Plenty of hands on opps. + literature -Could charge more! -Yes- a good mix, feel confident to move forward. -Excellent launch for my BK hubby – thank you. -Worth the money -I am really appreciative that this course was so affordable! | |||||
| Is the balance between PowerPoint learning & practical hands on about right given that you do have to learn the boring bits?
| 7% | 93% | |||
| Comments: -Yes- though day 2 was more mixed activity so less powerpoint.. I really enjoyed everything though. -The training hives and practice hives were excellent. -Yes- overall, but I would have preferred slightly more with hive time. -A bit more time with the bees welcome. -A very good balance | |||||
What do you need next?
-Yes, the intermediate course looks good!
-Join Penrith Beekeepers before committing to keeping my own bees.
-Mentor x 3
-Perhaps a practical learning day every quarter to cover the ‘yearly cycle’.
-Join Penrith Beekepers
-Join my local association for a port of call for help and assistance in the future
-Hands on experience of a mentor
-Already in contact with my bee buddy – need to have a visit to Acorn Bank
-Will encourage my grandson + Julia and Mark also!
What did you enjoy most on the course?
Learning about swarm control
All aspects both classroom and hands on
The interactive Q and A opportunities: I am a learner who needs ot understand the logic behind why we should do stuff. Thank you.
-The bees and putting together the apiary
-apiary time
-Everything + Martin being a tree
-Being close and interactive with the bees.
-A good mix
-Fantastic Course! Fabulous mentors, good mix of practival, theory was just enugh for beginners.
-Opportunities to question – mix of students.
-Looking at the hives and being calmed by the bees.
How did you hear about our course?
Penrith Beekeepers x 4
Volunteer at Acorn Bank
Internet x 3
My wife
Through employer
Daughter who also attended
Any other comments ?
-Useful info about varroa treatments and more natural controls.
-Wonderful
-Really helpful and informative, far exceeded my expectations.
-Great introductory course – excited about getting bees
The completion of the pathway to the long hive
PBKA held a small gathering to celebrate the completion of the pathway which will ensure access to the long hive. The pictures show a friend of Penrith Beeekeepers Association demonstrating how easily frames can be extracted from the long hive as it is such a convenient height for wheelchair users to reach. She is accompanied by her carer and some of the younger members of PBKA who were very excited about being involved. PBKA was able to express its gratitude to Lord Inglewood for the assistance that the Hutton in the Forest Estate has provided which has enabled this project reach such as satisfactory conclusion. We are looking forward to the bees moving in and making this their new comfortable home.
Penrith Library Display
Spot the difference between
the Asian Hornet and a Honeybee
Introducing Beekeeping on behalf of PBKA
Julia Pigott & Martin Hoggard will run the Introducing Beekeeping on behalf of PBKA. It will be of interest to anyone who would like to become a beekeeper as well as those who have started beekeeping, but consider themselves to be beginners.
Julia and Martin are both highly experienced beekeepers and trainers. They run the Brigsteer Bee Reserve, just outside Kendal. More information about Julia, the Bee Reserve and her training programmes, along with course feedback, can be found at www.BeeEd.org.uk
Introducing Beekeeping is a two day course. It will run on the following weekend:
- Saturday 1st June and Sunday 2nd June
Day one will commence at 9.00. (registration) and finish at 5.45.p.m. (Includes colony inspection) Day two will commence at 9.00. and finish by 5.00.p.m.
The course will combine theory with practise and will involve an introduction to all the basic skills needed to become a competent, confident beekeeper
Fee: £110 This includes: tuition; loan of kit; information to take home; light refreshments, EXCLUDING lunch. Participants may bring their own packed lunch or a lunch can be pre-ordered from the Boot and Shoe Inn which is opposite the Village Hall. The lunch menu and prices will be available during course registration so that pre-orders and payments can be made on arrival.
Concessions: £100 PBKA Members £70 *students in full time education.
*Minimum age 12 years. Students U.18 must be accompanied by an adult who is parent/guardian or officially acting in ‘loco parentis’ and is also attending the course.
Places are limited. To reserve a place please contact PBKA asap: see below.
Closing date for applications: Monday 20th May. Cancellation: unless PBKA cancels the course, refunds for cancelled places cannot be made after 20th May 2024.
Introducing Beekeeping PBKA Application form
Contact Margaret Riches (PBKA Contact Margaret Riches (PBKA Treasurer)
Or visit PBKA website: penrithbeekeepers.org
Two Cumbrian wildlife charities celebrate funding win
Penrith District Beekeepers Association and Eden Rivers Trust have welcomed donations from a national housebuilder.
The two charities, both based in Penrith, successfully applied for funding through an initiative run by housebuilder Persimmon.
Persimmon Managing Director Anthony Mansfield this week joined Westmorland and Furness Councillor Lorna Baker to present cheques for £1,000 and £4,000 respectively.
Persimmon’s Community Champions initiative is open to all local charities, clubs and community groups seeking new funding with winners awarded between £1,000 and £6,000 every quarter.
Margaret Riches, Chair of Penrith & District Beekeepers Association, added: “We’re delighted to receive the support from Persimmon Homes which will be so useful for developing the work with our bees in the future.
“Funds will go toward the construction of a path in an orchard where the Long Hive that we purchased last year is sited. We are also concerned about the impact that the Asian Hornet will have on the survival of our colonies, and protective equipment will need to be bought.”
Elizabeth Radford, CEO Eden Rivers Trust said: “Thanks to this donation, we’ll be able to provide more opportunities for local residents to get involved with our accessible community tree nursery in Penrith this year.
“It will help us realise our vision of creating a fully accessible ‘doorway to the world of conservation’ in the town centre where everyone is welcome. People can visit the nursery to enjoy some fresh air and company, while learning how to grow native trees, all on their doorstep!”
Lorna Baker, Councillor for Eden and Lyvennet Vale, said: “Westmorland & Furness Council is pleased to see Persimmon Homes supporting local community organisations and commends the beekeepers who are contributing magnificently to maintaining pollinators across our very rural area.”
Anthony Mansfield, Managing Director at Persimmon Homes Lancashire commented: “Sustainability is a key pillar of our business, and I am delighted to support both Penrith Beekeepers and Eden Rivers Trust with donations from our Community Champions scheme.
“It is brilliant to see local charities supporting and enhancing Cumbria’s stunning natural environment. I wish both every success for the future and look forward to seeing the positive impact their work has in the local area.”
Winter Programme 2023-24
Charity number : 1170487
Winter Programme 2023-24 Issued 31st October 2023
Background to Guest Speakers/ Workshop Presenters
| Dominic Rhodes | An engineer by profession, Dominic has been fascinated with the science / engineering behind bees. Dominic is a well known lecturer on bee related matters across Cumbria. An experienced beekeeper from his early teens, he runs advanced courses for beekeepers specialising in pollen identification, microscopy and queen rearing. He has supported the training of beginner beekeepers at the association apiaries at Penrith (Acorn Bank) and Whitehaven. |
| Margaret Murdin | Margaret Murdin has been keeping bees for 20 years and is a Master Beekeeper. She has won the prestigious Wax Chandlers Award for the highest marks in the BBKA exams and holds the National Diploma in Beekeeping. Margaret has recently stood down after 8 years as a BBKA Trustee and is a Past President, assistant moderator and examiner. |
| Clare Densley & Martin Hann | Clare and Martin manage the apiary at Buckfast Abbey. They are regular contributors to Bee Craft Magazine and currently provide responses to questions from beekeepers in the ‘Ask the Mentors’ section. Their presentations provide practical advice with reference to their own beekeeping experience and the findings of scientific research. |
| Julia Piggot | Julia is a Regional Bee Inspector and recently retired GP. Her combined experience of beekeeping and her medical knowledge will ensure that this course provides health and safety advice which is particularly relevant for beekeepers. |
| Stephen Hewitt | Stephen Hewitt grew up in Penrith and has studied the insects of the county for some 40 years. He is an honorary Research Associate at National Museums Scotland (NMS) – specialising in Diptera and other terrestrial insects of riverine and upland habitats. He was previously Research Fellow in Entomology at NMS and prior to that was Keeper of Natural Sciences at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle for many years. |
| Health and Safety Around the Apiary: led by Dr. Julia Pigott 24th February 2024 10.30.-12.30. at Temple Sowerby Primary School (CA10 1RZ) |
This workshop will provide guidance and practical activities to help to keep you and others safe when beekeeping and offer a forum to plan management of apiary meetings safely.
Julia is a Seasonal Bee Inspector, a First Aider and retired GP. Her combined experience of beekeeping, many visits to different apiaries and her medical knowledge will ensure that this course provides health and safety advice which is particularly relevant for beekeepers.
The session will take place in the school hall where participants will be able to use the PE mats to provide comfort for the exercises that involve lying down.
Due to the size of the hall and the number of mats available, places will be limited. To avoid disappointment please reserve your place asap but by 17th February at the latest.
This course is available to all members of Cumbria Beekeepers Association.
Cost £10.
To reserve a place contact: Margaret Riches 01768 894404
Margaret will confirm that a place has been reserved for you. The payment to Penrith Beekeepers Association will then be due. You will be provided with the BACs details or where to send your cheque. Further details about the session will also be supplied.
Cancellation: Unless PBKA cancels this course, refunds for cancelled places cannot be made after 17th February
Additional information:
Whitehaven Beekeepers Association are holding two workshops which you are invited to attend:
Saturday 2nd December 2023 : ‘Xmas Gifts from the Hive’
Saturday 17th February 2024 : ‘ Pollen Microscopy Day’
See Events Calendar for further details about these opportunities and how to reserve place/s.