A new year is upon us, and we are back in action. All our branches are open as usual, as well as our head office and phone lines. We have been getting dates in the diary for 2024 - check out our "Upcoming Events" section at the bottom of the newsletter for a full list.

The Winter Sale will be running until the end of January.

There are second quality hive parts, frames, feeding, clothing, tools, labels, candle making equipment, and much more, at bargain prices!

We have also added assembled National roofs, Konigin extraction equipment, National rhombus and Canadian clearer boards to the sale.

We are offering free delivery on all sale orders over £100 to mainland UK and orders over £150 to Northern Ireland.

Sale orders do take a little longer to depatch so place bear with us during this busy time. 

Special Offer

15% off selected labels

We are offering 15% off selected labels on the roll. The offer will include: Centenary, L1 Large, L1 Small, L11, L22, L26, L27, L28, L29, L50 Portrait, L50 Landscape, Large STH & Yellow Polish.

Make sure you use the discount code LABELS15 when ordering to get your 15% off.

Special Offer

Unique Honey Labels & Bespoke Tamper Labels

Really make your honey stand out with your own unique labels. We are also offering a lower price of £10 (usually £25.40) for origination fees on any of our unique or bespoke labels. With these labels you can add your own image to our honey labels, and tamper labels! The origination fee is a one-off charge for the first time you order unique labels.

or email harriet@thorne.co.uk for more information.

Equipment Focus

Adapta Eke

Developed by our MD Paul Smith,here at our factory in Rand, Lincolnshire, this is a multi-purpose eke. The eke has a variety of ledges which hold different boards depending on what manipulation you are carrying out with your bees at the time. Each of the ledges are colour coded for ease of use. 

The blue ledge will take a travelling screen or clear polycarbonate viewing window with rubber seal.

By removing the shaped galvanised closure (held in place by magnets) a 90x15mm entrance is formed. Through here it is possible to fit most makes of vaporiser. Vaporising oxalic acid treatments from above is becoming more and more popular. The fumes readily disperse through the hive, and you can see what you are doing through the viewing window, therefore negating the risk of setting the hive alight!

N.B. Always wear protective clothing, mask, goggles, and gloves when vaporising oxalic acid treatments.

The green ledge will take your choice of plywood clearer board with either....

- Two Porter Escapes

- Canadian Cone Escapes

- Rhombus Escape

- Circular Escape

or it can also take...

- Mesh Rhombus Board

The Mesh Rhombus Board will keep honey supers warm to assist with uncapping and extraction, with heat rising directly from the brood nest through the galvanised mesh.

The red ledge will take the Mesh Feeder Board. Working on the same principle as the Mesh Rhombus Board, any syrup feeder placed on this board will benefit from the heat generated by the brood nest and be more appealing and accessible to the bees. Any fondant will be kept warm and pliable.

Check out this video showing how to use the Adapta Eke.

The Adapta Eke can also be an upper entrance, useful if there are several supers on the hive and by adding a queen excluder it can be used for a Bailey comb change. It is 70mm deep so can also be used as a feeder eke or Apiguard Rim.

Ask the Expert

Bees around other animals

Many people keep bees and pets or livestock in harmony without problem, so it is possible; it just requires a little thought before plonking a beehive into your garden or paddock. Relying upon the temperament of your ‘nice bees’ is not smart and could land you in trouble. Even the gentlest of bees can become aggressive at certain times in the year for example when the oil seed rape finishes flowering or when the colony becomes queenless.

It comes down to how much space you have really. If you have acres and acres of land where your bees are situated at the other side from your animals, they are probably far enough away to cause absolutely no problems. If that is not the case and your bees are likely to be close to your pets or livestock, considerations must be made to minimise the impact of the bees upon them and vice versa.

Dogs

Dogs are naturally inquisitive and may very well get stung when they first take a sniff at your new hive. They don’t like to be stung twice though! Every dog owner will know the panic when their dog starts snapping at bees but luckily once they have been stung, they are not in a hurry to do it again. It is a natural reaction for a dog’s face to swell from a bee sting and can simply be treated with a cold compress. Like us, dogs can suffer from severe bee allergies so it is important to protect them as much as you can and call the vet as soon as possible if your dog starts to have difficulty breathing, passes out, starts vomiting etc.

The safest thing to do is position the bees away from where your dog wanders and if possible, fence the bees off and face them towards a fence or hedge to force them to fly upwards. Tethered dogs are most at risk so, if possible, leave them untethered so they can escape the bees at a moment’s notice – if not, keep the bees well away from where the dog is tethered.

Cats

Cats are a little harder to protect, unless they are house cats of course! They tend to wander wherever they want which means they might not be as well protected as dogs even if you fence off the area you keep your bees. The advantage they have over dogs in a garden scenario however is that they can not only go wherever they want, but they can also scarper really quickly, up and over fences, under bushes, into trees which may prove helpful when trying to outrun angry bees.

Other small pets that live outdoors

Animals like rabbits or guinea pigs should, like cats and dogs, be kept away from bees, especially as they are likely to be housed in cages or runs which don’t allow them to run too far away. Smaller animals like these will not fare as well as larger animals if stung.

Cattle and horses

Whilst you probably shouldn’t put beehives into a paddock with cattle or horses, they do have some other coping mechanisms that dogs and cats don’t have. Both types of animals are used to biting insects and can run pretty fast out of the way of angry bees, as long as they have enough room to do so. Their tails are also a natural insect deterrent which can help to swipe away any bees showing an interest. Bees are unlikely to seriously harm an animal the size of a horse or cow but they will irritate them and make them unhappy.

It is best to keep the bees in a different place, not only so they don’t disturb the horses or cows but also, so they don’t get their own hives kicked over. Badgers are often the culprits of collapsed hives so anything larger than a badger has the potential to wreak havoc.

Sheep and goats

Much like cattle and horses, it is best to hive your bees away from sheep and goats. The main reason being that they are likely to knock the hives over by scratching on them. Any inquisitive kids or lambs are also at risk of a bee attack if they start to jump on the hives. Bees don’t like to be disturbed!

Chickens and ducks

Chickens and ducks are a good choice when it comes to pairing bees with another animal. They don’t really seem to be bothered by each other which means they can be kept fairly close together. Bees can sting the birds on a part of their body that hasn’t got feathers on, but it is unlikely to happen unless they are really insistent on getting into the bees’ honey. You might think that birds would eat bees but really, they only eat the grubs if thrown out by the bees.

Obviously, any pets you keep inside the house will be fine, as long as you keep your bees outside that is!

December

December can be a bit of a variable month in terms of jobs to do in the apiary. This is partly down to how much we have got done in November, (which this year was plenty!) and then of course it comes down to the weather.

This month has been rather wet and windy here at Rand, both of which bees do not enjoy! It has made walking around the apiary a bit sludgy, as you can see from the sodden ground in the picture here: Unfortunately, there is not a lot we can do about that but there are other things we can do to help get our little friends through the winter months.

One of these is to heft the hives. Hefting is the term we give to lifting the hive from various sides to determine how much food we think the bees have left. If it is light, we will more than likely feed them and if not, we’ll leave them until our next visit. If a hive is incredibly light, we may take a quick peek inside just to check that the bees are still there; there is no point feeding something that has already perished. Hefting is something that we actually do a lot of year-round as it gives us a more accurate idea of how heavy a hive can and should be. There is not much point in hefting hives solely in winter as we would have nothing to compare the weight to. Obviously, considerations have to be made for the difference in number of bees, brood etc. in December compared with in May for example.

Another check we do at this time of year is to look for any signs of mouse damage. These little guys are very cute but unwanted inside our hives! From past experience they can really do a lot of damage to the internal components of a hive, particularly frames which they will chew huge holes through. They can also sometimes make their way into the roof space – how they do this I do not know! Obviously at this time of year they are just looking for somewhere warm to curl up and the inside of a beehive is the perfect spot, however, your bees and your hive will not thank you for letting them live there. So, this month we just double checked in the roof space of each hive and had a quick look around the outside too for droppings, nibble marks and of course, tiny little nests! Thankfully, nothing to report just yet but I am aware we are nowhere near the end of winter yet.

Last month we mentioned about doing oxalic acid treatment, however, the temperatures here did not stay low enough for what we would consider viable, so we have postponed this slightly to make sure that when we do it, we are getting the best results possible i.e. the biggest mite drop we can going into spring. Next month I imagine will be much the same, however the turn of the year always makes us feel like spring is just around the corner and we start feeling the pressure to get everything ship shape for the oncoming season!

January is an excellent time of year to plan your entries for the 2024 show, especially the composite entries like Class 16 and the shop window display, which lend themselves to team collaborations by eg local associations. Details from the 2023 Schedule of classes, still on the website:

Class 16: Decorative Exhibit to Display Honey together with pure Beeswax or Mead or both.
(In addition to decorative material, coloured Beeswax and any size or shape jar may be used). Quantity of Honey staged to be at least 7.25kg (16 lb). Base size not to exceed 1000mm x 1000mm. Maximum height 1500mm from the tabletop. Dimensions must be stated on the entry form.

Joyce Nisbet’s 2023 Class 16 exhibit honouring the royal visit to the show.

Harrow Beekeepers’ 2023 Class 83 first prize-winning shop window display.

Class 83: A Shop Window Display. Honey (extracted & comb), Beeswax Candles and Blocks. This is a Class for Associations and Groups, not individuals. Honey and candles to be
labelled with the exhibitor’s own labels. (Mead is not permitted). Decorative materials are
acceptable. The area allocated for each display is 600mm(d) x 1200mm(w) x 1600mm(h).
To be judged for quality and sales appeal.

Be sure to check the rules.  It’s a great shame, as sometimes happens, after all your superb efforts, to be disqualified on a technicality.

There are new classes every year, so be sure to check out the 2024 Schedule when finalised in the spring.

We’ve had a couple more of the 2023 lectures released since the first, Nigel Semmence talking about the Asian hornet in the UK.  As a special treat, the first of Michael Palmer’s lectures, "Seasonal Management of Double Nuclei" was released on Boxing Day. Michael talks about the seasonal management of his nuclei from creation to summer management and swarm control. Also included are queen evaluation in nucleus colonies, varroa control, and winter preparations.

Michael Palmer lecturing on his Seasonal Management of Double Nuclei.​​​​​​​

Andrew Abrahams lecture on the Colonsay Black Bee Reserve.

The first January lecture released Friday 5th January is Andrew Abraham's lecture from the Show, "The Colonsay Black Bee Reserve". Colonsay is a remote Hebridean island with harsh and often difficult conditions. Andrew outlines his management system, developed over 40 years, aiming at improvement, but also the stability and the long-term maintenance of this unique gene pool.

We’ll be bringing you more across the winter, starting with the next in mid-January.

Of course our lecture convener is now working on the programme for lectures at the 2024 show, so there’s plenty to look forward to this year.

Look forward to seeing you again, Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th October 2024 at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey, UK.

Bees for Development Empower Women in Uganda

In Uganda, beekeeping is predominantly practised by men resulting in gender barriers preventing women from having equal access to beekeeping opportunities. Bees for Development has partnered with TUNADO to empower women and change this; to train 100 women in beekeeping and link them to reliable honey markets. Training is being provided through TUNADO’s apiary masters/mistresses and passed on to the women beekeeping groups through Bee Champions, a mentorship programme.

Beekeeping provides a valuable income with little financial input. Honey bee colonies are a free natural resource and beehives can be made from local materials, making it accessible to all. As an example, our participants are trained in weaving their own hives, emphasizing the sustainability and accessibility of beekeeping. Explore HERE the inspiring story of Akello Rose, a remarkable woman beekeeper from Pakele, Uganda. Akello funds her children's education with the income she generates from beekeeping. Her journey highlights the positive impact beekeeping can have on individuals and communities and how Bees for Development with TUNDAO are Making Life Better With Bees. You can help support this work HERE, thank you.

Bees for Development – 30 Years of work with Bees and People

Bees for Development are excited to share with you their new Impact Report - detailing 30 years of dedicated work and transformative change. HERE within the pages of the Impact Report, you'll find a wide range of compelling evidence that provides great testament to the power of bees. Beekeeping helps to alleviate poverty, provides good nutrition and medicine, helps to address social inclusion, and encourages people to protect forests and prevent fires. This latest Report highlights the work of resilience, innovation, and positive change that have shaped Bees for Development over the past 30 years. Here's to 30 years of impact and many more to come! To learn more about Bees for Development visit HERE.

Bees for Development - The Beekeeping Show 2024

Bees for Development are excited to be attending The Beekeeping Show for the first time on Saturday 24 February. Join us there to immerse yourself in all things beekeeping, and we’ll be there sharing stories of our work with bees and people from around the world. Head to The Beekeeping Show website for tickets. Hope to see you there!

Book Review

‘Honey Bee Biology’

by Brian R. Johnson

"The most comprehensive and up-to-date general reference book on honey bee biology.” (Tom Seeley, Cornell University)

Princeton University Press (1st Edition 2023) Hardback, 482 pages, £38

Reviewed by Ann Chilcott from The Beelistener

Brian R. Johnson is an associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis. He is an expert in the behaviour, genetics, and evolution of honey bees. During his graduate studies at Cornell University, Johnson was mentored by Professor Thomas D. Seeley who endorses this masterpiece and credits the author in the Foreword of Honey Bee Biology.

The publication of Honey Bee Biology is timely since it is over 30 years since the release of Mark Winston’s The Biology of the Honey Bee, which served as the main reference book for many students till now. Winston’s book remains relevant, but it is out of date in the areas of genetics, bee behaviour, nutrition, toxicology, pollination, and immunity. So much more new research informs biology today and is encapsulated within Johnson’s Honey Bee Biology.

Honey Bee Biology contains 19 chapters. There are 481 pages containing the assimilated and updated scientific research results of several hundred years of honey bee science. This is a work of love and dedication. The broad and encompassing literature reviews are reflected in 123 pages of references. There are 8 plates with 16 colour photos, 101 black and white illustrations, and 16 tables. This is a splendidly illustrated definitive reference book. It is written in a friendly easy-to-read style.

Johnson has written primarily for scientists and he makes this clear at the outset. However, he knows that beekeepers have been waiting for an updated biology book, and many of the chapters are written such a way that makes the information understandable by readers without a scientific background. These include chapters covering anatomy and physiology, taxonomy, reproduction, chemical communication, nesting biology, parasites and pathology, tropical bees, pollination, and pesticides.

Nearly every chapter reveals something of interest to the beekeeper, though this book is unlikely to be read from cover to cover. Rather, it is a book for dipping in to for specific information. It will be used as a reference by beekeepers researching topics when writing articles. The BBKA (British Beekeepers’ Association) Exam Board members will delight in its accurate, new information that will inform the updating of their syllabus and examination questions. For example, there is an excellent table of honey bee mechanical signals on page 228, and the descriptive glossary of dances on page 229. The term “round dance” will be relegated to the realms of history.

We discover that there are no clear data and evidence for 2-heptanone being used as an alarm pheromone; rather it signals avoidance of marked flowers to make forage less attractive to fellow foragers. Readers will also be fascinated to learn why the differences in biology and behaviour between tropical and temperate climate honey bees make African bees less at risk from Varroa than bees in the rest of the world.

In the pollination chapter, Johnson explores why our dependence on honey bee pollination is unlikely to change while we still grow food the way we currently do under largely unsustainable conditions. Honey bees remain the linchpin of pollination in a risky environment.

An amusing account explains why alfalfa is a crop that individual bees will not persevere in pollinating. When a bee visits an alfalfa flower, the spring-loaded stamens are released and hits the bee on the head with a jolt, covering her in pollen. It is not good news for the bee who must spend too much time grooming rather than food collecting so she gives up after a few jolts and this crop is not well pollinated by honey bees.

Evidence documented in Reproduction (chapter 8) shows us why using locally adapted bees is better for the bees. Species managed outside their native range demonstrate maladaptive behaviour and this could account for why so many beekeepers experience afterswarms late in the season. This chapter will intrigue and inform beekeepers interested in queen rearing. Find out why duelling queens spray each other with faeces in some situations.

Honey Bee Biology will become the new definitive textbook for entomology courses, research scientists, science writers, and scientists interested in bees as a model system. Beekeeping teachers and keen students will buy this book as will the curious beekeeper just wanting to learn new things and be a better beekeeper.

Winter Sale - January

Running online and over the phone

Ulster BKA Conference - Friday 16th to Saturday 17th February

Greenmount College, Antrim, BT41 4PS

The Beekeeping Show - Saturday 24th February

Telford International Centre, Telford TF3 4JH

WBKA Spring Convention - Saturday 23rd March

Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground, Builth Wells LD2 3SY

BBKA Spring Convention 2024 - Friday 12th to Saturday 13th April

Harper Adams University, Newport TF10 8NB

National Honey Show - Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th October

Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey, KT10 9AJ

Thornes of Scotland Sale Days - Friday 16th & Saturday 17th August

Newburgh Industrial Estate, Cupar Road, Newburgh, Fife, KY14 6HA

Thornes of Windsor Sale Day - Saturday 7th September

Oakley Green Farm, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4PZ

Thornes of Stockbridge Sale Day - Saturday 21st September

Chilbolton Down Farm, Chilbolton Farm, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6BU

Thornes of Devon Sale Day - Saturday 28th September

Quince Honey Farm, South Molton, Devon, EX36 3RD

Head Office & Factory Open & Sale Day - Saturday 12th October

Beehive Business Park, Rand, Lincolnshire, LN8 5NJ