273 June 2017 - Gryffe Advertizer

@GryffeAds www.advertizer.co.uk june 2017
Kilbarchan & District Beekeepers
The herbaceous plants are coming into their own at this time of year and
the likes of alliums, cornfl owers, foxgloves, globe thistles, lavenders and
flowering herbs are examples of plants that sustain growing colonies of
honey bees. Sycamore and horse chestnut trees will have been providing
pollinators valuable nectar sources in May to early June. To do your part
in supporting wildlife, leave areas of you garden to allow the growth of
wildfl owers, maybe an area of lawn free from mowing, so clover, daisies
and dandelions can grow to feed honey bees and other pollinating insects.
In June beekeepers continue to monitor the hives for signs from the bees
that may be looking to swarm and take appropriate action to manage /
prevent this. The colonies are growing substantially and honey production
begins, weather and nectar sources permitting.
How to Identify and Deal with a Honey Bee Swarm
First, check if what you have are bees or wasps (this may sound obvious,
but it is an easy and frequent mistake to make). Wasps and honey bees
are about the same size, but wasps have alternating black and bright yellow
body stripes. Honey bees are brown, with paler brown or dirty yellow bands
on the body. Bumblebees are more rounded and ‘hairy’. See below pictures
to help with identifi cation.
Bumble Bee Honey Bee Wasp
If you do think you have Honey Bees, and the bees
have only appeared within the last few days, or are
clustered in the open hanging from a branch of a tree
or bush, then you have a newly arrived swarm (see
picture of a swarm clustered.)
While a local beekeeper will do their best to be helpful,
there are situations when they can’t - particularly when
bees are lodged in a chimney or wall space or very high and inaccessible
– or when removing the bee colony successfully can be time-consuming,
difficult and success cannot be assured. The removal of a free-hanging
swarm in the open is usually much simpler however, and you are more
likely to fi nd a local beekeeper who is prepared to come and remove it for
you. They will not deal with wasps, solitary or other bees such as mining or
mason bees or bumblebees. Also, do please bear in mind that beekeepers
are not a free pest control service, or one that can always be with you
in short notice, although they will try where possible. In some situations
you may still have to call in a pest control company to deal with a wellestablished
colony or one difficult or dangerous to reach.
Details of Local Beekeepers willing to be called to assess and try assist in
swarm removal are available via the Renfrewshire Council Website http://
www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ just search on ‘swarms’. We are also waiting
for Inverclyde Council to also upload this information to their website –
hopefully this will have been done by the time the article is in print.
Please do not contact the K&DBA Secretary about a possible swarm.
Apiary Visit
The associations 1st
Apiary Visit of the year
took place Sunday 7th
May, which was a very
nice day. We were
joined by one of the
Scottish Government
Bee Inspectors, who
assessed the health
of the hives and also
updated members on
the current threat of the Asian Hornet migrating to the UK and possibly
Scotland. This was an opportunity for experienced, novice and potential bee
keepers to go through hives as a group and deal with common honeybee
management techniques essential in the summer months. There was a
fantastic turnout and the group consisted of experienced and people new
to beekeeping, hoping to gain knowledge and the possibility of having bees
of their own in the future.
If you are interested in beekeeping for yourself or the whole family, anyone is
welcome. Contact Helena Jackson, the Kilbarchan & District Beekeepers
Association Secretary via e-mail Helena.Jackson72@sky.com if you would like to
know more! Alternatively you can follow K&DBA on Twitter @KilbarchanBees for
general information about beekeeping and the association.
Rock Group Rhodies
Just over the old railway line boundary wall at the east end of Main Street,
roughly opposite Lintwhite Crescent, is an embankment of grass-covered,
rocky ground. Early last month, our volunteers planted a group of
rhododendrons there. This was thanks to the donation of £150 from
a number of local
residents, members of
The Bracken Book Club,
who donated the funds to
mark a special birthday
of one of their members.
The rhodies are a
mixed bunch but are all
specifically cultivated
to grow no more than
about 1.5 metres (5’)
high. They will add
quite a bit of colour to
the surroundings.
And just across the
road, in the garden area
behind the bus shelter, we planted a small tree, (an Amelanchier, for those
who’d like to know). This will be an eye-catching feature in due course, as
it flowers white in spring and summer, and turns red and gold in autumn. It
should grow to about 8 metres (26’) tall, but that’ll take up to 20 years.
Also, we’ve re-launched our JustGiving fund-raising page that we ran from
June to August/September last year. It was a success then and it is a simple
and secure way for those with internet access to contribute to our efforts.
Any amount from £2 upwards can be donated with ease and donors can,
if they wish, remain anonymous. You can find out more about this on our
Facebook page (facebook.com/brighterbridgeofweir) and on our website
(www.brighterbridgeofweir.org). Our website also has more information
about us, what we’ve done and what we‘re planning to do, and includes a
photo gallery and contact details.
Lastly, we’re looking forward to Gala Day on Saturday 10th when we’ll be
at Houston Road Park as usual, with our Strawberries and Cream stall and
prize-winning opportunities. Hope to see you there!
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