330 November 2022 - Gryffe Advertizer

Aut Supe ptt Scaeg Hut
1st to 30th November as per opening hours at RSPB Lochwinnoch
Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch PA12 4JF
£3 plus normal entry fees for non-members
Are you a super wildlife
spotter? Do you have
the skills to find the
hidden items along
our trail and spot the
actual wildlife as well?
Pop into the visitor
centre to collect your
goodie bag and take part in this fun challenge for kids of all ages!
Kilca & Distict Beepe
Associatin
Autumn is moving into winter. The winter preparations for the colony
begin in autumn when the Queen reduces her laying and honey is
stored in the brood chamber instead. As the temperature drops, gaps
in the hive boxes are filled with propolis to keep out draughts and
the bees cluster into a ball for warmth. From now on beekeepers will
disturb the hives as little as possible to help conserve the heat that
honeybees generate inside. Many hives have an open mesh floor so
that there will be enough air flow to avoid condensation. It is damp
rather than cold that causes problems for overwintering honeybee
colonies. Where hives have a solid floor the inner crown board is
often raised just a few millimetres to allow for airflow. Meanwhile
the beekeeper has been careful to insulate the hives well, reduce the
entrance size and add guards over it to keep out invading rodents. A
mouse seeking a warm home can do damage inside the hive before
it is overcome. Hives are securely strapped together, often combined
with a weight added to the top as belt and braces for the high winds
and gales we often get at this time of year.
This early in the
colder seasons,
the bees should
have plenty of
stores, but to be
on the safe side
a large slab of
sugar-based
fondant can be
added so that
beekeepers
can rest
assured that the supply will be sufficient. Through the winter months
hives are checked regularly for any sign of weather damage without
opening them and “hefted” by being gently lifted. The weight is a
good indication of plentiful stores inside and that the bees are not
going hungry.
If you are interested in beekeeping for yourself, please contact our
secretary via kilbarchanbees@outlook.com who can provide more
details about our association and how to join. We have a Facebook
page which is reserved for members and beekeeping friends, however
you can follow us on Twitter via @KilbarchanBees and Instagram via
kilbarchanbeekeepers
Photo above shows a clustered colony accessing sugar fondant supplied by the beekeeper
during winter
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How Wilif & Wodads
Sunday 2nd October – Planting 300 daffodil bulbs for next spring
Friends and volunteers of HWW have had a busy summer keeping all the
troughs and planters in the village looking their best and we are hopeful of
planting more bulbs, on grass embankments throughout the village, next year.
There are planters at the four main entrances to the village filled with flowers
and the areas looked after by HWW are consistently being improved.
The areas looked after include the Rhombus garden, opposite the Boarding
House, the wooded area behind the Rhombus, the Isthmus and the Triangle
in the centre of the village
This year we have installed more seating and benches throughout the village
and these have been well used by locals, walkers and cyclists stopping for a
rest.
Our next meeting is our AGM on Tuesday 8th November at 7.30pm,
in Howwood Village Hall where anyone wishing to find out more about
volunteering for HWW will be made very welcome.
November 2022 39