I will bring spare suits and veils. I have 2 or 3 spare suits and several
veils.
On my previous visit I was struck by how calm his bees were, actually. He
warned they were a bit grumpy "because of the rape" but that didn't seem to
be the case. I asked him what he meant by "because of the rape". He pointed
at some far off trees and explained the bees were currently gathering
nectar from Oil Seed Rape beyond those trees. So they were having to fly a
long way, and fly UP to get over the belt of trees - this was hard work!
And bees get a bit grumpy if they only have one food. It was insights like
this that made me realise there was a lot to learn from this man.
Paul
On Fri, 13 Sep 2019, 11:24 Kerry Dawson, <kerrydawson99@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Paul, Chris and I hope to be there. Do you have a spare suit for Chris
to use, if needed?
*From:* oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> *On
Behalf Of *Oxnatbees
*Sent:* 13 September 2019 09:20
*To:* oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [oxnatbees] Re: Visit to Ron Hoskins apiary this Saturday 2PM
Or £10 if you're feeling flush, well served etc.
My impression is there will be ~10 of us, getting 2 hours' instruction
from someone with 60 years' experience and an international rep, who is
trying to maintain / improve a local strain of bee with special abilities
and educate others. To me, that's worth £10 but for younger folk with
children and stretched budgets £5 is appropriate. I imagine most will
contribute £5 8)
On Fri, 13 Sep 2019, 09:06 Eric Asher, <eric.asher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Suggested donation? £5?
------------------------------
*From:* oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
on behalf of Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* 13 September 2019 08:36
*To:* oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [oxnatbees] Visit to Ron Hoskins apiary this Saturday 2PM
I forgot to say the visit starts at 2PM. I'm guessing it will extend to
4:30PM
Paul
On Tue, 10 Sep 2019, 09:09 Oxnatbees, <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
This is a reminder that we have a group visit to Ron Hoskin's apiary in a
few days.
His website is here: 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
in developing varroa resistant bees.
To summarise their approach: they have parallel interests to us (treatment
free beekeeping), but have approached the problem from a very different
angle, using their skills in conventional bee breeding. Their system works,
but is ignored by the BBKA. I am not sure how stable their bee strain is,
but it is probably safe for us to use (without creating fierce crosses), as
his original stock was from this area.
The weather forecast is sunny, so assume we will be walking among flying
bees, i.e. take a veil (or a full suit if you are paranoid). Last time I
went there were 80 hives but the bees ignored us.
Here are his directions for finding the place:
My apiary and office are within Stanton Country Park, near Stanton
Fitzwarren. north of Swindon on the A361 from Lechlade,
With Highworth behind you head toward Swindon.
Immediately after the first roundabout turn right.
Stanton Park is about 300 metres on the left.
The post-code *SN6 7SF* will get you to this point
Take the long drive into the park to the car park and turn right
Park behind the large barn
Enter the adjacent Information Centre and my office is on the first floor
on the left.
