The British Bee Keepers Association must now climb down from the fence and clearly state their opposition to the use of these deadly chemicals on agricultural land, or face even more derision and condemnation from beekeepers and other associations both in the UK and abroad.

A key study, published in a respected scientific journal, demonstrates that neonicotinoids are routinely found in lethal doses in samples of dead bees, in seed planter exhaust, in fields where seeds had been planted and in dandelion flowers growing nearby. This shows clear pathways by which bees are being poisoned and removes any last shred of an excuse for the BBKA to continue to toe the pesticide industry line that these substances are ‘safe if used correctly’.

If you keep bees within flying distance of agricultural land where maize, oilseed-rape (Canola) or other crops are grown using clothianidin-coated seed, YOUR BEES ARE IN DANGER. Likewise, all other pollinating insects – including endangered bumblebees – that live on or near that land will be poisoned, as will the birds and reptiles that feed on them. There is also growing evidence of possible long-term effects on human health.

SUGGESTED ACTION

Read the paper here – http://tinyurl.com/776y97v

PLEASE write to the BBKA and ask them to put their weight behind efforts to ban these deadly toxins from our countryside, while we still have some bees left.

Send an email to bbka@britishbeekeepers.com asking the BBKA to STOP supporting the pesticide industry and to work to have neonicotinoids banned in the UK. (More BBKA email addresses below)

If you are a BBKA member, pass this email around your local association – the more people who understand what is going on, the better. Make sure this issue is discussed and a resolution is passed to BBKA HQ.

If you are a gardener, look out for neonicotinoids in household sprays and compost: the common ones are Imidacloprid, Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam and Fipronil (also found in pet flea treatments). Return all such sprays to the shop and tell the manager why you will not buy them. Make sure your local gardening club / allotment association are aware of the dangers.

Gardeners may also be interested to know that Glyphosate (Roundup) has recently been shown to be much more toxic that Monsanto would like you to believe. In this report, Don Huber, Emeritus Professor at Purdue University and senior scientist on USDA’s National Plant Disease Recovery System, links glyphosate to reduced nutrient availability in plants, increasing plant diseases, the emergence of a new pathogen, animal illness and possible effects on human health.
See http://www.i-sis.org.uk/USDA_scientist_reveals_all.php

EXTRACT FROM THE PURDUE PESTICIDE RESEARCH PAPER

“Our results demonstrate that bees are exposed to these compounds and several other agricultural pesticides in several ways throughout the foraging period. During spring, extremely high levels of clothianidin and thiamethoxam were found in planter exhaust material produced during the planting of treated maize seed. We also found neonicotinoids in the soil of each field we sampled, including unplanted fields. Plants visited by foraging bees (dandelions) growing near these fields were found to contain neonicotinoids as well. This indicates deposition of neonicotinoids on the flowers, uptake by the root system, or both. Dead bees collected near hive entrances during the spring sampling period were found to contain clothianidin as well, although whether exposure was oral (consuming pollen) or by contact (soil/planter dust) is unclear. We also detected the insecticide clothianidin in pollen collected by bees and stored in the hive.”

“These findings clarify some of the mechanisms by which honey bees may be exposed to agricultural pesticides throughout the growing season. These results have implications for a wide range of large-scale annual cropping systems that utilize neonicotinoid seed treatments.”

BBKA EMAIL ADDRESSES

PRESIDENT – Martin Smith – martin.smith@bbka.org.uk
CHAIRMAN – Brian Ripley – brian.ripley@bbka.org.uk
VICE CHAIRMAN – Dr David Aston – david.aston@bbka.org.uk
TREASURER – Michael Sheasby – michael.sheasby@bbka.org.uk
BBKA News and Year Book Editor – Sharon Blake m-s.blake@overstratton.fsnet.co.uk
Examinations Board Secretary – Val Francis valfrancis@blueyonder.co.uk
Public Affairs Director – Tim Lovett tjl@dermapharm.co.uk

TRUSTEES
Dr David Bancalari – david.bancalari@bbka.org.uk
Doug Brown – doug.brown@bbka.org.uk
Chris Deaves – chris.deaves@bbka.org.uk
Brian Dennis – brian.dennis@bbka.org.uk
Dawn Girling – dawn.girling@bbka.org.uk
John Hendrie – john.hendrie@bbka.org.uk
Roger Patterson – roger.patterson@bbka.org.uk
Julian Routh – julian.routh@bbka.org.uk
Michael Young – michael.young@bbka.org.uk

Let’s make 2012 the year that British bee keepers take positive action to clean up our countryside – for the sake of the bees.

These are some thoughts from those who attended the BeeCare event in Brussels on 20th June 2011.

I have often use it and consider it to give great relief, in fact I wouldn’t be without it.   Honey contains a variety of enzymes, proteins and has strong anti-bacterial properties which have been widely known since….well almost before time.

To say it actually cures a sore throat would probably be just a touch too inaccurate but it will help greatly and will do no harm.  However, it is recommended that honey not be fed to infants under the age of one year. This is due to the potential for honey to carry C. botulinum spores which may be harmful to the undeveloped immune systems of infants.

Honey is considered to be one of the best natural remedies for sore throats, coughs and general cold symptoms. Honey has long been used in various natural sore throat remedies.  Even today many commercial preparations for sore throats and coughs are still primarily based on honey. For a simple and natural remedy to a cold or sore throat, take one teaspoon of honey twice a day until cured. If your cold or sore throat persists for longer than 5 days, I recommend you contact your doctor.

Another recipe that I have heard used by several people with some success, although I have never used it myself, is made as follows:
3 tbls of lemon Juice.
4 tbls of Ground Ginger.  (Some recommend using fresh root ginger, mashed)
3 tsps of Honey.
2 tsps of Salt.
1 Pint of boiling water.
Put the boiling water in a measuring jug, add all the other ingredients and stir thoroughly until all is dissolved.  Allow to cool slightly and drink by sipping slowly.
This recipe is also reportedly good for the relief of the symptoms of: Headaches, Migraine, Toothache and Earache etc.  Although as I have mentioned, I have not used it myself.  I would be most interested to hear from anyone who has used it and what effects were experienced.

It is also worthwhile observing your colonies at this time of year.  On warm mild days at midday the entrance should be very active with bees taking quantities of pollen into the hive, this being a good indication that the colony has a laying queen and brood is being produced.  It is also worthwhile to note that also at this time bees will endeavour to clean the hive, so a number of dead bees may be noticed beneath the entrance, you should not be unduly worried by this unless extremely large numbers or weak and crawling bees are seen, then further checks should be made.

If you are in any doubt as to the health of your bees, collect a sample (30 bees approx) and get them checked for adult bee disease.

Well, they say that if you have checked and made sure there was enough stores in the Autumn, feeding should not be necessary.  That is the ideal situation but the fact is that many colonies die out in the Spring due to lack of food.  It may have been an unavoidable mishap, miscalculation, you may have been too busy, the weather may not have been favourable and many different circumstances can result in the bees being low on food.  You will not be alone if you have slipped up.

OK, now is a good time, on a fine day to take a quick peak under the cover-board (don’t go any further in at this point).  You may even heft (lift) the hive to get a feel of the weight, it can give an indication of any food stores available.  Ask yourself, do the bees look happy, (no they won’t have little smiley faces) but they will behave quiet, content, be active and should take very little notice of your presence.  If you feel happy with the situation close up and leave alone.  If however you feel unsure it will not hurt to feed.  At this time of year, certainly in my location, it is far too early (Mid February) and cold to feed syrup and would stress the bees, so I recommend fondant, either purchased or home made.  Place about 1 to 2 kg on top of the frames directly above the bees, you do not need anything to place it on.  Put an empty super or preferably a home made spacer on the hive, deep enough to give space for the fondant, (just tack four pieces of 2″x1″ batten in a hive size square will do fine) replace the cover-board and roof and leave alone.  Check over the next few weeks to monitor etc, add more if required.

Whilst at the hives check there is a supply of water close by, a shallow container full of pebbles is ideal to avoid drowning your bees.

Just click  HERE and check it out!

Enjoy!