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Our annual honey show was held this year on 26th November 2024.

Many thanks to our regular judge Alan Riach who was joined as usual by his wife Cynthia who is a fount of knowledge on how to best prepare exhibits for show.

There was not a particularly high number of entries this year, perhaps reflecting the difficult beekeeping season. However, most classes were at least competitive and all had a high standard of entries.

Results

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OPEN CLASSES

1. Two matching 454g (1lb) jars of light liquid honey.

First: Peter Stevenson, Second: Wilma McLean, Third: Frances Soutter

2. Two matching 454g (1lb) jars of medium liquid honey.

First: David Ferguson, Second: Peter Stevenson

3. Two matching 454g (1lb) jars of dark liquid honey.

Second: David Ferguson

4. Two matching 454g (1lb) jars soft set blossom honey.

First: David Ferguson Second: Peter Stevenson

5. Two matching 454g (1lb) jars ling heather honey.

6. Two matching 454g (1lb) jars ling heather blend honey.

First: David Ferguson Second: Peter Stevenson :

7. One shallow (super) frame of honey (any variety).

First: David Ferguson Second: Wilma McLean Third: Peter Stevenson

8. Two matching comb honey sections/rounds (any variety).

First: Wilma McLean

9. Two matching containers of cut comb (any variety) not less than 200g (7oz).

First: David Ferguson Second: Wilma McLean Third: Richard Leeman

10. One piece beeswax, weight not less than 225g (½ lb).

First: Peter Stevenson Second: David Ferguson

11. Three Matching Beeswax Candles.

First: David Ferguson Second: Peter Stevenson

12. One bottle of mead, volume not less than 70ml.

First: Peter Stevenson Third: David Ferguson

NOVICE CLASSES

13. One piece cut comb honey (minimum weight 200g).

14. One 454g (1lb) jar of honey any variety.

ADDITIONAL CLASSES

15. Photograph 6” x 4” unmounted print on a bee related theme.

First: Peter Stevenson Second: Jenny Litherland Third: David Ferguson

16. Honey cake: to be displayed on a clean white paper plate and enclosed within a clear plastic wrapping.

First: Wilma McLean Second: Frances Soutter Third: Jenny Litherland

John Stoakley Cup: David Ferguson

Andrew Stewart Shield: Peter Stevenson

PBKA president David Ferguson gave us a very interesting talk on using “spare” queen cells to raise new queens. The presentation had lots of good practical advice on his own technique making use of mini nucs.

We had a few technical difficulties on the night so David has kindly revamped the format of the presentation to make it clearer for future reference and it is available here for download (pdf).

The Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association AGM was held over Zoom on Wed 24th March 2021

The meeting was recorded and can be viewed at:-

https://ukri.zoom.us/rec/share/BBuouSSvtiT1kczY-daP8vSB593aZDGYm50GCbaXgMq21Pkzws7icW0FeyvckhC2.S-gBln0fNwX4_YSY

Passcode: .oVK&47W

Draft minutes are available here as well as the secretaries and treasurers reports.

The association has recently purchased a 12 frame electric extractor.

The model is the Konigin 12 Frame Electric Radial Extractor supplied by Thornes.

The instructions for use are available to download here.

Honey Market Stall 1st December

 

Peeblesshire Beekeepers will be at the Peebles Eastgate Market on Saturday 1st December.

We will be selling a selection of honey from the association hives and from other local beekeepers.

All honey on sale is produced from the hills and meadows of Peeblesshire,  cold filtered to retain maximum flavour – a 100% local food product. There will tasting samples available.

The beekeepers themselves will be on hand if you want to know more about how honey is produced and the amazing creatures that create it.

Just on my way into town the other day I noticed this pair of bumbleebees at the side of the road.

I’m pretty sure they are white tailed bumblebees. The male is at the back and he should have some yellow on his face that I think I can just about make out. I didn’t have my good camera with me so these are just snapped by the phone.

They looked locked together and weren’t really moving. My book says that “A pair of bumblebees may remain united for anything up to an hour or more ” (!). So I’m glad I didn’t stay to watch, although I did move them to the edge of the pavement so they didn’t get squished in the act.

A bit different to honeybee mating where it is over in an instant for the male…

Peter.

There was success for PBKA beekeepers in the honey show classes at this years Royal Highland Show.

 

Jim Bell and Peter Stevenson both won prizes in this years competition.

(Peter selfishly only took photos of his own entries – sorry Jim!)

PBKA was contacted about a “swarm” of bees in Rosetta Road Peebles last week.

Several members went to investigate and it was quickly obvious to experienced beekeepers that the bees were not honeybees – but what were they?

David Ferguson described the scene:-

There are probably about 50 to 100 of them hovering about over a section of garden wall 10 to 15 ft long, which is about 5 ft high to the pavement. I saw a couple going in and out of small holes but most were just generally buzzing about. Nearly all were carrying pollen. 

David also took some excellent photos which were forwarded to Buglife.
Jamie from Buglife gave this response:-

Masonry bees are very, very calm and safe to leave around so there is no risk to local residents or children if they’re let be. I’ve not known many people at all to ever be stung by them and those that have are entomologists who are handling them for identification purposes. They’re calm nature is why so many people put up solitary bee homes in gardens to attract them in. If you were unfortunate enough to be stung, it is meant to be far, far less painful or dangerous than that of honeybees.

I’d never say that they definitely won’t sting, but they’re very unlikely to do anything to any passers by at all and they don’t get defensive around their nest areas at all. I would always recommend them being left as they are. They’re window of activity is actually very narrow so it is quite likely that in another few weeks you won’t see them again until either a second brood later in the summer or until 2018, as all they’re doing is filling holes with individual eggs and furnishing them with pollen for food, then sealing them up and leaving them alone.

Buglife also identified the species

There are plenty of jobs needing doing for the association apiary since the new nucs have arrived.

Please contact Mandy if you are free to help out during the week.

Peter will aim to do an association apiary inspection on Saturday weather permitting. More details here.