As Christmas approaches and we know that our bees are clustering within fragrant stores of pollen and honey, we look back over the year with gratitude.
Although the severe drought and resultant lack of nectar flow in spring and early summer this year proved challenging to the bees, more benign conditions as the seasons progressed allowed most colonies to fill their larders for winter. Thanks to our policy of taking honey only when times are plentiful, our colonies were not exposed to the risk of starvation many in the country had to face. Winter is a time of deep restfulness for the colony, whose individual members have the great task of preserving the life and warmth of the community until spring. Our thoughts are with our silent bees.
We would like to thank our many friends and supporters for their interest, good wishes and active support - more than seven hundred people attended our courses, talks and events this year. Such enthusiasm for gentler, more bee-centred approaches is very heartening. We feel encouraged to launch into the year 2012 with new resolve.
It is with great pleasure that we announce our Three-part Seminar in Anthroposophical Observation with Rev. Roger Druitt. As people aspiring to refine our attitude to the Bee we are conscious of our great need to deepen our perceptions of Nature and hope that many of you will join the trustees of the NBKT in this endeavour.
Next year we shall be delighted to introduce the world of British bees to a new type of hive - an important step further, we feel, in our search for the quintessence of beekeeping with unconditional love. This will be shown at the Natural Beekeeping Conference in August next year, and if all goes well with happy bees incumbent.
We aim to maintain our level of activity in 2012, offering the usual programme of courses at our home site in Sussex. We will try our best to accommodate requests for our courses elsewhere in the country, but do recommend that you come and meet our beautiful bees at our home apiary at Plaw Hatch Farm in Sussex. Preparations for the second Natural Beekeeping Conference next August are in full swing. Judging by the interest shown already, it promises to be a unique event, with inspiring speakers, innovative workshops and great exchanges of ideas for the new culture of beekeeping which to foster is one of the fundamental aims of the Natural Beekeeping Trust.
If you would like to help our work, please consider becoming a Friend of the Natural Beekeeping Trust, make a gift of “friendship” to someone else, or offer us your talents as one of our fantastic team of hard-working volunteers. Your support of our work is much needed and deeply appreciated.
You might also like to arrange a screening of the marvellous and awe-inspiring bee documentary “Queen of the Sun” in your local community to help others become aware of the bees’ situation today. The film will be shown at Rudolf Steiner House in London on Sunday, 19th February 2012. Details about hosting a screening can be found at www.queenofthesun.com/host .
Here is a selection of the Natural Beekeeping Trust’s offerings for the New Year:
Hives for Bees 28th January 2012
10.00am to 3.30pm
This new course has arisen from the many questions we are asked about “which hive is best?” and the limited time we have on our courses to address this subject. It is designed to help those who are considering beekeeping, and also those who are already in possession of hives and would like to adopt a more bee-friendly way of caring for their bees.
We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the six hive types of which we have examples (Golden Hive, Warre hive, National, Horizontal Top Bar, skep, WBC), with mention of others as required by the participants.
Please bring some lunch to share. Organic refreshments will be provided.
Cost: There is no set fee for this course. Participants are kindly requested to submit a donation to the Natural Beekeeping Trust.
Three-part Seminar in Anthroposophical Observation with Rev Roger Druitt 30th January, 27th February, 26th March 2012
9.30am-5.45pm each dayA course of three sessions aimed at deepening our perceptions of the natural world and in particular the world of bees. This is to be achieved through observation exercises in the realm of plants based on the key to observation offered by Rudolf Steiner in his lectures, namely, to work first on outer forms, then metamorphosis and finally try to grasp the gesture of the being that is being observed. This method involves the use of the human soul and senses as observational tools, yet is completely “scientific”. Each separate day will be devoted to the practice of one of these areas as a kind of disciplinary tool.
(Please note these three sessions form a whole and attendance at all three is strongly encouraged)
Cost: £160 for all three sessions/£75 for each individual session, concessions available.
Suggested preparatory reading: Lectures 4 & 9 of “Spiritual Beings in the Heavenly Bodies and the Kingdoms of Nature” (GA136), Rudolf Steiner; Lecture 2 of “Mystery of the Trinity “ (GA214), Rudolf Steiner
For further information and to book, please contact miranda@naturalbeekeepingtrust.org or telephone Heidi Herrmann 01342-822101.
Introduction to Honeybees and their Care: the Wonder of Colony Life
Saturday 11th February, Sunday 15th April 2012
9.30am to 5.00pmThe Bee Classroom, Ashurst Wood, West Sussex RH19 3RX
Please note that the course format is designed to enable participants to arrive at an informed view of the honeybee colony, the “Bee”, its life, interrelationships with Nature and its needs. It is a perfect preparation for a beekeeping course, and is suitable for anyone with an interest in the honeybee and its way of life.
The course provides a basic introduction to the nature and life expressions of bee colonies and makes the case for sustainable beekeeping practice. The day includes hive visits.
Topics covered: The bee colony as a whole, stages of development of the three castes of bee, evolvement of colony life through the seasons of the year. Essential needs of the colony for maintenance of health and vigour. The colony’s ideal environment. Fundamentals of bee-guardianship/bee-centric husbandry. The basic principles of biodynamic/natural beekeeping are explored with reference to the Guidelines developed by the Natural Beekeeping Trust.
Cost: £65 (£52 for Friends of the Natural Beekeeping Trust). Please bring some lunch to share. Organic refreshments will be provided.
Places are limited and booking is essential.
To reserve your place on the February course, email miranda@naturalbeekeepingtrust.org or telephone 01444 484449.
To reserve your place on the April course, email margie@naturalbeekeepingtrust.org or telephone 01733 704508.
The Theory and Practice of Natural Beekeeping – The Biodynamic Approach
Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th February, Saturday 24th – Sunday 25th March, Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th May 2012
9.30am to 5.00pm each dayThe Bee Classroom, Ashurst Wood, West Sussex RH19 3RX
This two-day course is aimed at giving the beginner sufficient confidence to start with a bee colony of their own. A basic knowledge of colony life is required; prior attendance of the course “Introduction to Honeybees and their Care: the Wonder of Colony Life” is recommended.
Sessions include: history of beekeeping, hive choices, promoting good health and managing ill health, planting for bees, working with the swarming impulse, catching swarms, observation techniques, siting beehives, preparing colonies for winter, critical times of the year, resources for natural beekeeping.
If the weather is kind, there will also be the opportunity for participants to approach colonies in an apiary, observe bee activity and learn to assess the colony mood (please note that opening a hive for observation is not part of the programme, and will only be done when there is no risk of chilling brood). Optional Visit to apiary on biodynamic farm.
Cost: £130 (£104 for Friends of the Natural Beekeeping Trust) to include organic vegetarian lunch and refreshments.
Places are limited and booking is essential.
To reserve your place on the February or March course, email miranda@naturalbeekeepingtrust.org or telephone 01444 484449.
To reserve your place on the May course, email margie@naturalbeekeepingtrust.org or telephone 01733 704508.
Fly, my pretties, fly! The Great Wonder of a Swarm of Bees
Sunday 22 April 2012
9.30am to 5.00pm
The Bee Classroom, Ashurst Wood, West Sussex RH19 3RX
This new course is timed to coincide with the period of the year when honeybee colonies start swarming. It will advise on all aspects of this most exhilarating event of the colony’s annual lifecycle.
Topics covered will include: reasons for swarming, preparations for division within the hive, reading the signs, setting up bait boxes, useful equipment. Introducing swarms to hives. Caring for new colonies.
Advice will also be given on how to handle bees which have already clustered and are hanging from a branch or on a garden fence, as well as methods of removing swarms from difficult locations.
Cost: £65 (£52 for Friends of the Natural Beekeeping Trust). Please bring some lunch to share. Organic refreshments will be provided.
Places are limited and booking is essential.
To reserve your place, email margie@naturalbeekeepingtrust.org or telephone 01733 704508.
Emerson College, Forest Row, Sussex
Please make a note in your diary. More details on our website soon.
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