BROAD brimmed hats with netting, baggy long-sleeved shirts and gloves were some of the protective items worn by members of Bulahdelah Men’s Shed Beehive Club at a field day held last week.

Displays and demonstrations on all aspects of beekeeping were part of the event which took place locally at the home of Sue and Chris Harvey.

Local beekeeper Gary Haynes exposed the inside workings of an active hive and explained the intricacies of the bee community life cycle.

A flow through hive was demonstrated by Gayle Allen who also showed how honey is gathered from the hive on demand using taps and a tube.

Mr Haynes said one of the major objectives of the Beehive Club is for hive owners to understand the diseases and pests that pose a threat to the bee industry.

“The group were asked to examine the bee frames to identify any infestations of pests or bacterial disease and fortunately, none were found on this occasion,” Mr Haynes said.

While many people assume beekeepers are regularly stung, Chris Harvey spoke about his recent experience of gathering a swarm of bees from a tree.

“Although he was covered in a mass of the surplus bees that failed to fall into the box, none of the bees stung him,” Mr Haynes said.

“Spring swarms are known to be non-aggressive and normally comprise of bees that are full of honey.”

Mr Haynes told News Of The Area the swarms are usually calm and easy to handle at this time of the year.

“This is not the case with autumn or winter swarms, which should be avoided if possible,” he said.

The successful and informative day concluded with a pick the weight of a honey frame guessing competition.

Mr Haynes said as far as he is aware, this was the first time an amateur beekeepers field day had been held in Bulahdelah.

For information about Bulahdelah Men’s Shed Bee Hive Club contact Chris Harvey on 02 4997 4949 or email: citizenrv@activ8.net.au

 

By Daniel SAHYOUN