Andy Gowdy and Cath Graham recently entertained 350 children at Atherton Community Primary School in Sherburn in Elmet. A series of 6 presentations throughout the day introduced the children to beekeeping and the value of bees to the environment; this was followed by hands-on activities - dressing up in bee suits, participating in honey tasting and, most exciting of all, viewing the bees in the observation hive. The children had been studying bees throughout the week, the LBKA participation was requested to consolidate the facts on bees taught by their teachers and to provide an insight into the activities within a hive. It certainly seemed to excite the children, the level of chatter was de
April traditionally sees the attendees of our Beginners Winter Course returning to the apiary for a series of practical sessions. This year we have been delayed by a week due to cold weather. Fortunately last Wednesday was a wonderful sunny evening and it enabled the delegates to don their suits and start their sessions in the apiary. Everyone listened attentively and participated in the inspections by handling the frames of bees and identifying honey, pollen and brood within the honeycomb. With their enthusiasm fired up the delegates are now eagerly awaiting their next inspection, hopefully on an equally sunny evening next week. Fingers crossed......
It was a cold, damp and misty night but a few brave souls ventured to the apiary for Andy Gowdy's presentation on Apiary hygiene. With a bottle of bleach, a container of Flash, soda crystals and gas canisters with a variety of hoses Andy was able to demonstrate cheap and easy methods of disinfecting a hive and beekeeping equipment. All products available at local stores for a minimal payout. By 7.45pm the light was getting low, the kettle was boiling and the chill was setting in but at least it didn't rain!
On Saturday 7th April Leeds Beekeepers Association joined several other organisations in bringing nature to the city in the cloisters of Kirkstall Abbey at the ‘Nidderdale in the City’ event. LBKA were joined by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Edible Leeds, Upper Nidderdale Moorland Group, Willow weavers, Yorkshire Dales River Trust and various additional natural history associated groups. Other activities on display included a climbing wall, stone sculpture, dry stone walling, felt making, birds of prey handling and wild food foraging - all this with the background entertainment of an invigorating brass band. Leeds Beekeepers used the cut-away hive and an observation hive to educate the public r
As Spring has sprung now it is a good time to start thinking about which areas of beekeeping you want to improve on during the coming year. We have already begun to add masterclasses for the forthcoming year with more to be announced. If there is a topic you would like a masterclass on, or a topic you think you could deliver a masterclass on, please contact Cath Graham (education@leedsbeekeepers.org.uk). 4th April 2018 - Artificial Swarm by the Pagden Method - Chris Barlow 11th April 2018 - Apiary & Colony Hygiene - Andy Gowdy 4th July 2018 - Artificial Swarm by the Demaree Method - Andy Gowdy LBKA members can log in and book their places here.
