January 2023:

PBKA Mid Winter Social Event

Please join us for our PBKA Mid-Winter Meal on Saturday 6^th January 2024 at Longton VM – Bowling Club, Victory Lane, (off school lane) Longton PR4 5DL. Time:  12 til 3pm.

Cost:  £5 per person (partners welcome) Please confirm your attendance by making payment by BACS to the club bank account.

Account Name: Lancashire & North West Beekeepers Association Preston Branch
Sort Code: 20-69-85 Account Number: 30429783 Ref Xmas 23

Lunch will be a hot buffet with tea/coffee. Please let us know beforehand if you have any dietary requirements. The bar will be open – but drinks are not included in the price!

February:

Wednesday 21st February

CPR training and the use of a defibrillator. Delivered by Chorley’s Angels

7pm to 9pm

St Christopher’s Church Hall, Preston PR2 1QS

March:

Saturday 2nd March

Spring Convention at Archbishop Temple C of E School Preston PR2 8RA

Lectures by Trisha Marlow on Bees Abroad and Forage and Plants. Dave Heaton demonstrating making hornet traps and a hornet update and the Branch AGM, includes lunch and refreshments.

More details soon with price and how to purchase tickets

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Wednesday 20th March via Zoom

Double Brood Chamber working by Dan Basterfield

7.30pm to 9pm

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9062360597?pwd=bDAwNUw3RVlqQXVQWDl6RlZiWU1QUT09&omn=83194138101

Meeting ID: 906 236 0597
Passcode: 8XCRzL

Since the 1980’s, Dan has been running colonies on double brood chambers, having realised early in his beekeeping career that the traditional single deep box offers too little brood space for colonies. Whilst this is common practice in much of the world, in the UK it is viewed with suspicion. Few realise how compressed colonies are in a single National brood box, resulting in excessive swarming. Instead, add more brood space and work with the bees rather than against them. He will discuss general management, swarm control, wintering, and the transition to double brood from a single brood or brood and a half.

April:

Talk: Wednesday 17th April 

7pm to 9pm

at The Intact Centre, 49 Whitby Ave, Ingol, Preston PR2 3YP

Managing Colony Numbers  Martin Smith President of L&NWBKA

Martin is interested in the fact that a lot of beekeepers either end up with less colonies than they would like or struggle to keep their numbers under control, with colonies increasing each year resulting in more than they can handle or wanted in the first place.  This talk will explain how the beekeeper can take control over the number of colonies they have, rather than the bees dictating as often seems to be the case.