The Carlisle Beekeepers Association was established in 1931 to promote beekeeping, bee health, and to help beekeepers through the dissemination of information and the purchase of equipment. Today our aims are much the same as they were then. We currently have around 50 members from north Cumbria and southern Scotland, and hold regular meetings and training courses to help develop beekeeping in the Carlisle area.

Objectives of Carlisle Association

• The improvement of beekeeping in the county.
• Education and training of beekeepers.
• Public relations and education.
• The control of disease and disorders of honeybees.

Meetings & Membership

Carlisle Beekeepers Association has a series of winter meetings in Houghton Village Hall, regular apiary days at the Walby apiary, plus the association attends a variety agricultural and flower shows.

Membership of Carlisle Beekeepers Association is open to anyone subscribing to the aims and constitution of the association.

Walby Apiary

Carlisle Beekeepers Association has a teaching apiary with working examples of all the main types of hive, a meeting room, and a well resourced workshop.

Meetings are held at the apiary every two weeks from early April through to the end of September. The apiary is used for teaching, raising queens and for club meetings.

Association Equipment & Library

Carlisle Beekeepers Association has a a number of extractors and other beekeeping equipment which can be lent out to members. The association also has library of beekeeping books and videos which can again be borrowed by current members.

Carlisle Beekeepers Information Leaflet

Click on the link to download the current information leaflet:

Carlisle Beekeepers Association ~ information leaflet

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Snowdrop ~ Walter McPhee

Chairman's Letter ~ March 2012

Last year I was caught out by thinking there was plenty of time left to get things ready for the spring and summer only to find I had to put things together on the day I needed them. So this year I am a bit more organised and have got my clean frames and foundation ready and all the equipment ready and waiting (hopefully).

As we are approaching the end of February and the beginning of March the weather is hopefully going to improve and as you will be aware the queens will be increasing the size of the brood nest in our hives and as a result using up the stores at an ever increasing rate. This is therefore the time when we should be keeping a close eye on the amount of stores that the hives have left in them and be prepared to top these up with fondant and later, when the weather gets a bit warmer, with syrup.

As we all know the winter has been generally a lot milder than recent years and some hives may have had a larger than normal brood nest in them at the time they were treated with oxalic acid. This could have protected any varroa from the treatment. It would therefore be a good idea to keep a close eye on varroa levels and treat with thymol, hive clean or other treatments, to ensure we don't start the season with a high varroa level in the hive.

It is also a good idea to make sure the hive entrance hasn't become blocked with debris and dead bees.

The year's events got off to a good start with the annual dinner at the end of January and if you were there you will know there was a good turnout. As you may have seen in this year's program we have some interesting meetings coming up in February, March and April. The first being Ian Molyneux talking about Bee Health on 27th February. With the apiary meetings starting on the 21st April.

On March 3 rd Furness Beekeepers are holding their Convention.

You may have seen in the January “Cumbria Bee Times” Joy Rich from Penrith Beekeepers is organising a coach to go to the Spring Convention on Saturday 21 st April. This will leave Penrith bus station at 6.45am and return at about 9.00pm. If Joy can get 40 people the cost will be £12 so if you are interested in going please give Joy a ring on 0176843910 as soon as possible. Cheques being made payable to “Penrith Beekeepers”. This price does not include the entry fee into the Convention which is being left to the individual themselves to buy either in advance or on the door.

In April there is the Bee Auction at Houghton Village Hall where bees and equipment will be for sale on the 14 th details of which can be found at

http://www.northernbeeauctions.co.uk

Look forward to seeing you at these events.

Paul Carruthers