Beekeeping at Shugborough
There are now two apiaries on the estate. The origional apiary was rather exposed
on the side of a hill and was much disturbed as it was used as a teaching facility.
That apiary is a memorial to the late Chris Horton who was a member of the Association
and well known throughout the UK for his beekeeping. This apiary will be used
very little from now on as the new apiary is much more sheltered and accessable.
 |
The new apiary was opened in 1997. It is located behind the walled garden
was expanded and stocked during 1998. It is hoped that with less disturbancehoney
can be extracted from this site to sell in the farm shop. In April 1999
we had survived the winter with all hives intact and hopefully these will
now build up and become productive stocks. There are National and Modified
Commercial broods with national supers above and at present one M.D. belonging
to me. This is nice as it shows variety to visitors. We now do not run
any W.B.C. on this site.
|
Meetings at the apiary are held every Monday at 7.00p.m. onwards throughout the
active season and although these cater for both beginners and experienced beekeepers
the apiary is used as a teaching facility with the varied programme aimed at the
beginner with practical demonstrations and talks from guest speakers. More people
now seem to be leaving than entering this interesting craft. Varroa seems to be
the main reason although some of our more senior members blame the passage of
time. Guests and visitors are always very welcome. New for 1999 is a system whereby
we give new members a hive with bees and a mentor for their first year. If they
wish to keep the hive it can be relocated at the end of the season for the cost
of replacement or can be left in situ and used the following season for another
new member or by the association for a possible crop.
Autumn is here and the season finished. We did manage to extract a few pounds
of honey from the apiary but not much. Three beginners took advantage of our
starter scheme which appears to be working as we planned and some late beginners
are ready to take over next year. Perhaps we have reversed the downward trend
of deserting beekeepers. So now it's just feed the bees and look forward to
our winter programme.
The apiary is a sad site in winter. Wet soggy grass and no flyers. A few wasps
were about this morning, 23rd September, they can obviously smell the sugar
syrup in the hives. They will soon be gone now though.
