Gwenynwyr Cymru The Welsh Beekeeper

Chairperson pro tem Message:
Jenny Shaw
I must begin by regretfully informing you that Roy Norris resigned his position as
Chairman of WBKA on 18 th July 2013 ‘with immediate effect’. His decision to resign
came as a complete surprise to the Officers and Trustees of WBKA. This has meant
that I now need to act up to the role of Chairperson to take the WBKA forward. I would
ask everyone to support me as I ease myself into a role for which I thought I would
have three years to prepare.
On a happier note I would like to congratulate our Technical Officer, Wally Shaw on
being awarded the OBE in the recent Queens’ Birthday Honours List. There is an article
about Wally in this edition of the Welsh Beekeeper. He should receive his honour
sometime before the end of January 2014 and the official photograph will appear in a
later edition of this magazine – it is not everyday that he dresses up!
At the 2013 Royal Welsh Show I was delighted to speak on behalf of WBKA at the
launch of both the Welsh Assembly Governments’ Action Plan for Pollinators and Coed
Cadw (Woodland Trust) Trees for Pollinators scheme. Details of the ‘Action Plan for
Pollinators’ has been circulated to all WBKA Associations and the submission from
WBKA to the consultation that led to it can be found on the WBKA website. The Trees
for Pollinators is aimed to encourage landowners and farmers to plant trees and shrubs
for pollinators.
The plight of insect pollinators is to the forefront of the political agenda currently
and the honeybee is the first one that most people think about. The WBKA is being
consulted by many organizations e.g. Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Wildlife Trust,
etc about projects that they would like our advice on and/or our involvement. All this
interest has led to a high level of media coverage over the last few months. We will
keep you informed of all this interest through our website.
The WBKA stand at the Royal Welsh Show was busy throughout with a steady stream
of visitors interested in beekeeping. I would like to thank both our publicity officer,
Lilian Llewelyn and John Rees for the interesting and stimulating display that they put
together. The provision of a range of hive types generated some interesting discussions
with the visitors. Thank you also to the many helpers who ensured that the display
was manned throughout the Show. The Royal Welsh Honey Show was well supported
and it was good to see so many WBKA members willing to give up their time to act
as stewards. As usual Fred Eckton’s liaison with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society
ensured that everything ran smoothly.
Well at long last we have had good weather here on Anglesey for the main nectar flow.
Where beekeepers have strong colonies they now have the best honey crop for several
years. Currently the bees are very defensive indicating that the main flow has come to
an end. I trust that our good fortune here on Ynys Môn is reflected in the area where
you keep your bees.
30 th July 2013
The Welsh Beekeeper #182 6
Autumn 2013