If you require any further details or have any ideas for future meetings, please contact our events officer.

Winter Programme 2011/2012

We meet once a month; from October to April on a Tuesday evening at 7:30pm in the Abbot Hall Social Centre on Dowker Lane in Kendal. Meetings usually have a beekeeping theme and are followed by tea and biscuits with plenty of time to chat. Non-members are welcome to come along; you may want to contact one of us first so we can be sure to be there to welcome you. There is ample free parking, after 6pm, in Peppercorn Lane car park which is just off Kirkland (map). If you exit the car park towards the park by crossing the footbridge over the Blind Beck, the Abbot Hall Centre is the building immediately on your left.

Oct 15^th 2011

We are invited to the Lancaster & District Beekeepers Annual Honey Show at Hest Bank Village Memorial Hall, Hanging Green Lane, Hest Bank. There are many open classes to enter so have fun! There is a fee of 50 pence per entry and entry forms should be sent to the Show Secretary, Nina Sewell, at 41 Hatlex Lane, Hest Bank, Lancaster, LA2 6EZ.

Oct 15^th & 16^th 2011

We are invited to apple day at Beetham Nurseries. On Sunday the 16^th, Kendal beekeepers are in attendance with an observation hive, information about our association and all things bees. This kind of event cannot be held without support from our members. Any member prepared to help on the day should contact Judith who will organise the rota.

Oct 18^th 2011

This is our annual honey show when members bring along their hive products to be judged. Entries accepted from 18:30. Show schedule. During the judging there will be a video to watch. Please enter as many classes as you can as the show is only as good as the number of entries.

Nov 12^th 2011

Cumbria BKA conference and honey show at Newbiggin Village Hall. Free car parking is available at the hall. Staging from 10am. No entries accepted after the start of the Conference at 11am. There is a £10.00 entrance fee to cover expenses. A schedule is available.

The first talk will be given by Ms. Dinah Sweet and will be about "Simple Queen rearing using local talent!" Dinah is currently President of the Welsh Beekeepers Association and a past Chair of BIBBA. Successful queen rearing is becoming more and more important as evidence from recent seasons suggest that some colony failures can be attributed to poor quality queens.

The second talk will be about Poly hives and other related beekeeping matters, given by Peter Watt. Originally from Scotland now living in Derbyshire, Pete has kept bees since 1989 and looked after up to 80 colonies for ten years. Pete now uses poly hives and is a great exponent of the advantages of polystyrene hives. Pete is a regular contributor to the Beekeeping Forum and has some interesting if controversial views on beekeeping.

Nov 15^th 2011

Tonight we are having a talk on invertebrates by Jo Marsden from the Wildlife Oasis near Milnthorpe. Jo will be bringing with her spiders and insects to make it a hands-on session.

Anyone wanting oxalic acid to treat their bees this winter should let Julia know and she will bring supplies; could you please bring a container for it.

Dec 13^th 2011

Tonight is a beekeeping quiz and a Jacob Join. We will eat first, starting at 7.30-7.45; hopefully our brains will still be in gear when it comes to the quiz.

There is a cooker in the Abbot Hall centre so if anyone wants to bring anything hot this can be used. There is also a good selection of crockery and cutlery so doesn't necessarily have to be finger food. It would be good to have a selection of savory & sweet.

Jan 17^th 2012

This is our annual general meeting when proposals for any changes to our organisation are decided. It is your chance as members to have your say. Please try and attend. After the meeting there will be a Jacobs join supper.

Jan 22^nd 2012

We have been invited to join Sedbergh & District Beekeepers at their meeting in the Barbon Village Hall at 3.30pm. The speaker is John Vendy and he will speak about Natural Beekeeping.

Feb 21^st 2012

This will be a joint meeting with Sedbergh BKA where one of their members, Andrew Royce, will be talking about bee breeding and his move to Sedergh from the South.

Mar 20^th 2012

Doug Jones will be talking about his beekeeping visits to Eastern Europe.

Apr 17^th 2012

A number of talks have been suggested on swarm control and Bailey comb change for this meeting; details to be determined. Anne & Richard Kenyon will be present with their road show. As most of you know they do bring a big collection of equipment but if there is anything in particular you know you want or would be interested to see, it might be a good idea to contact them before the night (see sponsors page).

Summer Programme 2011

From May until September we gather at different apiaries whatever the weather. Meetings have a topic related to beekeeping but most importantly there is always a leisurely Jacob's Join tea. We have protective beekeeping clothing available to lend; if possible contact one of us first so that we can make sure we have the right equipment available to fit you. Coming to an apiary is a good way to gain the opportunity of seeing inside a beehive.

Unless otherwise stated, all apiary visits start at 2:30pm.

May 14^th 2011

Our first apiary visit is with Ron and Judith at Barrows Green, GR 532882. Stuart Beattie will talk about Queen Rearing and give an update on diseases.

From the A65, take the narrow road opposite the Punch Bowl and go up the hill, passing the phone box. Continue past the cream cottage on the left, immediately you get to the brow of the hill, turn sharp right down a concrete road and look out for parking signs. As parking is limited, please share transport if you can. Drinks are provided.

May 28^th - 29^th 2011

Country Fest at the County Showfield, Crooklands. The Country Fest gives a real taste of the countryside, celebrating the quality and diversity of the superb independent food and drink producers and suppliers that abound in Cumbria and the North West. We will have a stand and hopefully the observation hive. If you can spare some time to help please let Judith Bayne know. Judith is hoping to be able to set up a rota so if you have a preference for a day and time include this. Last year all the vouunteers got free entry so were also able to look round the show as well. We can't promise that at the moment but will do our best. It was a most enjoyable weekend last year.

Jun 11^th 2011

Meeting with the Clapham Group. Meet at Growing with Grace Nursery car park on the A65 at Clapham, follow the carrot signs. A bee safari, possibly in two groups depending on numbers; also bio fuel and orchard project. Rachelle will provide drinks.

Jul 9^th/10^th 2011

The Lakeland Rose Show

Schedule for honey classes to follow. Please contact Roger Blocksidge (tel: 01539 734436) if you would like to enter. A table for information leaflets to be available for us that must be stewarded. A rota is required please.

Jul 16^th 2011

A Bee Identification day with Julia and Martin at their bee reserve. Please note this is an earlier start than usual of 1.30 pm when it should be warmer and more flowers will be open. Meet at Helsington church, Brigsteer, where it is a short walk across a field, down a steep hill, to Heather Bank. Wellies are a good idea here, just in case the grass is wet! Please check with Julia if this is going to be difficult.

Aug 13^th 2011

A talk by Richard Wilson on Summer Management and Heather Honey Production at Cowan Bridge Village Hall. Including a visit to the bees at the heather on Leck Fell. From Kirkby Lonsdale, turn left immediately after the village shop in Cowan Bridge and park in the car park at the rear. Sedbergh and District BKA have been invited to join us at this meeting.

Aug 20^th 2011

We are invited by Lancaster BKA to their Bar BQ at Forest Hills, Hazelrigg Lane, Ellel, LA2 0PL. Meeting starts at 2.00 pm. This is a social and possibly an opportunity to see an Omlet hive.

Sep 10^th 2011

A practical meeting to include hive and frame assembly. Also a review of the season and preparations for the Winter. To be held at the home of Peter and Gillian Llewellyn. 1 Greenside House Hincaster.
Directions - Coming from the Crooklands Hotel take the Milnthorpe Road and turn right (signposted Woodhouse) after about a mile opposite Woodlands Nursery. Continue under the railway line and turn right after 100 yards. Go straight over the cross roads (signposted Kendal) and in 100 yards turn right up a private drive signed Aberthorn and Greenside Court. The entrance to 1 Greenside House is under the limestone archway (map).