Hi Paul,
September planning – Faith and I would like to come to this meeting.
Thanks Brian
From: oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Oxnatbees
Sent: 18 August 2019 15:43
To: oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [oxnatbees] Next OxnatBees meeting
Saturday 14th September, 2 to 4:30PM
This is a "marmite" meeting, you'll either love it or hate it. We are visiting
the apiary of a conventional bee breeder.
Surely this is anathema to everything our group stands for? Well, yes and no.
The breeder is Ron Hoskins, who inspired the search for varroa resistant bees
when 94 of his hives were wiped out by varroa in 1992, and in 1995 he decided
that rather than treat with chemicals, he would breed from 6 survivors. He was
already an expert breeder specialising in trying to preserve the British Black
Bee, but he switched to "whatever works against varroa" and now has about 80
hives of extremely varroa resistant stock and an international reputation
(though the BBKA ignores him!).
His website is here:
www.swindonhoneybeeconservation.org.uk
<http://www.swindonhoneybeeconservation.org.uk>
Although most of our events are free, he has asked that visitors make a
donation to Swindon Honeybee Conservation on the day to support their work.
This is also an opportunity to learn about
* how professional breeders manage a large apiary
* use artificial insemination
* Ron's laboratory where he discovered how bees groom varroa through
patient observation and sampling
* BIBBA and Black Bees
I have visited once before and one of the insights I gained was that Ron is the
source of a lot of things "everyone knows". He's been keeping bees since the
1940's (!) and was the first to notice hygienic behaviours and then measure
them quantitatively. Several researchers have used his data with minimal
credit, and claimed the discoveries as their own. He's a conventional beekeeper
who is very cynical about many conventional practises - but very open minded
and pragmatic.
If you could let me know if you intend coming, it may help planning.
Paul
