BEEKEEPING has changed down the years and few know that better than six members of Stratford-upon-Avon & District Beekeepers’ Association.
Terry Hitchman, Mike Osborne, Alan Seymour, Keith Arygle, John Sheppard and Ken Edwards have a staggering 300 years plus experience between them of the art of beekeeping. All have at least 40 plus years experience, while Ken has actually been tending the hives for more than 75 years.
They were all awarded BBKA Long Service Award Certificates and Medals at the recent AGM of Stratford-upon-Avon & District Beekeepers’ Association.
They shared tales about earlier beekeeping exploits, techniques and equipment, from taking home a colony of bees in a car with a lit smoker, to never throwing away a net curtain as they were invaluable as veils.
The AGM also saw completion certificates were also presented to Introduction to Beekeeping Course candidates (Beginners) and to those members with more than one year’s experience who gained their BBKA Basic Assessment qualification.
The association has had another busy year with more people keen to take up beekeeping.
But it was also been a challenging year for bees and beekeepers as a result of the weather, with both winter and spring warmer than normal, and autumn wetter than usual.
The association’s planned Beekeeping Taster Day on January 25 is already proving popular.
Visit www.stratfordbeekeepers.org.uk for further details.
