Nairn Beekeepers Association - Association Useful links and interesting reads

It is helpful to join the session a few minutes before it starts to enable you to iron out any issues , especially if you have not used Microsoft TEAMs before

Click on the link in this email invitation above from the device you are using and you may be taken to a virtual waiting room where you will then be admitted to the session.
You may be asked for a password (also included) in the information above.
You will possibly be asked to use the device audio and the device video - please say yes to both.

There is a bit of etiquette associated with meetings to make sure they run as smoothly as possible :

- if you are not speaking, please mute your microphone to limit feedback noise etc.

- if you want to speak you can either hold up your hand on screen or use the virtual hand raising on screen and the meeting leader will invite you to speak

- there is also a chat function so that if you don't feel the need to speak but still want to share ideas or thoughts you can type these into chat feed

Hope that makes sense to those of you who are new to Microsoft TEAMs. It will become obvious once we start the meeting.

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Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Review (14 studies) found honey superior to usual care for improvement of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (improved combined symptom score in 3 studies, cough frequency in 8 studies & cough severity in 5 studies), and could be tried to reduce use of antibiotics.

Source: BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine

Respiratory disorders Infection and infectious diseases Complementary and alternative therapies

Starvation Alert

Bee Inspectors across the UK are reporting that many colonies are in need of food where honey has been harvested and nectar availability is reduced. Where starvation is a risk, replacement food needs to be provided.

Please monitor your colonies throughout the coming months and feed as required to ensure your bees do not starve. A standard full size British National colony needs between 20-25 kg of stores to successfully overwinter. Sugar syrup should be made with 1kg of sugar to 650ml of warm water or a commercially ready-made bee syrup can be given.

For further information, please see the Best Practice Guidance No. 7 - Feeding Bees Sugar

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Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Reminder Amitraz Based Products

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has issued a reminder to beekeepers regarding the safe, effective and legal use of Veterinary Medicines, and in particular the use of Amitraz based products for the treatment of varroa in the UK. Please take the time to read this reminder, which can be downloaded by clicking here .

Matthew Richardson, our Bee Health and Science Officer, has kindly provided more information and links on what to look for when it comes to varroa, the treatments available and the legal requirements when using veterinary medicines. To download this please click here.

Ruth Burkhill on “Planting for Bees”, with information

on what makes a good honey-bee plant, both from a practical and nutritional point of

view and a reminder that pollen from different types of plant can have different

nutritional values. Echium (viper’s bugloss) and phacelia provide some of the best

protein. Examples of other good plants for various seasons:

Early spring: winter aconite (eranthis), snowdrops, crocus.

Spring: horse chestnut, apple, pussy willow.

Summer: phacelia, echium, cotoneaster horizontalis, Limnanthes (poached egg

plant), buddleia (especially buddleia globose), snowberry, borage, clover, nemophila.

Late summer/autumn: helenium, dwarf bedding dahlias, brambles, ivy.

If planting specifically for honeybees:

• Plant in full sun – bees may ignore plants in shade;

• Don’t plant too near hives – bees may regard the area around their hive as

contaminated by cleansing flights;

• Plant broad swathes of same species – this concentrates scent and bees

don’t have to spend time searching for flowers;

• Grow “single” varieties rather than “double”;

• It’s a great way of observing foraging behaviour.

Thank you to Ruth Burkhill for taking these note to share with you.