Norwich Community Bees Update

With the weather being so poor during April and May, we had to wait a while, but finally the bees started to swarm, and we were able to welcome a new colony into our Norwich Community Bees hive up at the Norwich Farmshare site at Postwick.

Dan, Bee, Suzanne and I recently headed over to the site to see how they were settling in and add some additional frames. It was the first time I'd suited up and got up close and personal with a hive, and I was quite nervous, but as soon as we opened the hive, you could just hear that the bees were getting on fine, and they were really calm while we checked them out and added the frames.

It was a fantastic experience, and I can't wait to go back and see how they're getting on. Watching them flying in and out of the hive and listening to the buzzing is so peaceful, you could quite imagine bringing a deckchair and a nice bottle of wine and making an afternoon of it!

If you're interested in knowing more about Norwich Community Bees, visit our website or drop us a line at norwichcommunitybees@hotmail.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you!

Pic: Jon (l) and Dan (r) adding frames to the hive.

Bee Cause campaign and public meeting - 27 June

Leading gardeners, campaigners and beekeepers speak out for action to tackle bee decline

As part of a campaign to protect the bee, Friends of the Earth is calling on David Cameron to produce a National Bee Action Plan to tackle bee decline. It says that the PM should suspend those pesticides linked with bee deaths, make changes to the way impacts on bee health are assessed and include targets for reducing use of pesticides.

A public meeting calling for action will take place on Wednesday, 27 June at the Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich at 7:30pm (doors open 6:30pm). Speakers include Bob Flowerdew, broadcaster, author and President of the Norfolk Organic Group, Paul Metcalf, Easton College and President of Norfolk Beekeepers Association and Linda Laxton, Founder, British Wildflower Plants Co., Norfolk. Chair for the evening is Chris Skinner, Norfolk farmer, BBC broadcaster and conservationist. Bee and honey related stalls will be on site. Admission is free.

Pesticide use rose by 6.5% between 2005 and 2010, increasing the risk to bee populations according to new research released last month by Friends of the Earth. Bees are critical to Britain's food supply and economy, but numbers of some species have fallen dramatically in recent years. Three British bumblebees have become extinct, solitary bees have declined and managed honeybee colonies fell by 53% between 1985 and 2005. Loss of lowland meadows and hedges and the destruction of local wildlife sites have removed vital sources of food and nesting sites for bees.

For more information: email: foenorwich@hotmail.com Tel: 07864 674014

Norwich Community Bees - 29 April

It's just over a year since we first came up with the idea of starting the community beekeeping scheme that became Norwich Community Bees. We spent last summer getting things started, sourcing kit, getting the group bank account set up, putting the hive together and finally, at the end of summer, we managed to get a swarm installed. It was such an exciting event!

Sadly, so very sadly, our first colony died over the winter. Bees are having a hard time at the moment, it's not uncommon to lose a hive. However, onwards and upwards. we're still hugely enthusiastic about what we're doing here, and so, clearly, is the group. We have our first meeting of 2012 planned for Sunday 29th April, up at the Norwich Farmshare site, when we'll be sorting out everything in preparation for a new swarm and making up frames.

We're always keen to welcome to new members - membership for 2012 is only £20 and for that you'll get an equal share in whatever honey our lovely bees produce, as well as the opportunity to get involved in making hives and looking after the bees themselves. Membership also makes a great gift!

You can find more information on our website at www.norwichcommunitybees.blogspot.com or you can mail us at norwichcommunitybees@hotmail.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you!

Pic: www.treehugger.com (Creative Commons)

Norwich Community Bees - getting ready for 2012

Norwich Community Bees continues to go from strength to strength; we had our first meeting of 2012 at the beginning of February, and we’ve got plenty of plans for the year ahead.

We have one hive, up at the Norwich Farmshare site in Postwick, and we’ll have our first group hive visit towards the end of March (exact date depends on the weather). The group is also keen to build up the numbers, and we're planning to build a Top Bar Hive (or two) before the swarming season in April.

Food for our bees is very much on our minds; at the last meeting we talked about the work the Bungay Community Beekeepers are doing to provide bee corridors of wild flowers and wondered if we could do something similar.

Membership of Norwich Community Bees is just £20 for 2012 – if you would like to join, or simply find out more, drop us a note at norwichcommunitybees@hotmail.co.uk or visit the website at www.norwichcommunitybees.blogspot.com.

Jon Curran

Pic by Amelie Curran

Norwich Community Bees - Buzzing with Excitement

The Norwich Community Bee scheme is officially up and running - our first bees arrived at the Norwich Farmshare site on 23rd September. Erik, Bee, Elena and Tierney were there to see it happen, and it was a proud moment when the hive was moved into position and the bees were liberated from their temporary travelling home.

It's been a long journey from the initial idea to finally getting the bees on site, but we're so excited to be a proper community beekeeping scheme at last! And it has really been a community effort, so a big thank you to everyone who's joined in the planning and doing, contributed their ideas, enthusiasm and skills. This is only just the beginning!

For more information on Norwich Community Bees, visit our website. Jon Curran