Queen Raising Workshop
Held By BIBBA East Midlands Group, Thrumpton, Nottinghamshire, June 28th 2003

Report on a typical queen raising workshop

It was easy to find the Village Hall with all the signs and directions and the welcome with refreshments was very hospitable.

The day being split into grafting larvae, preparing honey bee colonies to accept the grafts, preparation and filling of mating nucs and colony assessment was extremely well organised, absorbing, and full of interest.

Personally I found the grafting difficult being rather clumsy with poor depth perception, but finally achieved a graft with some relief. The rest was great fun and the bees so well behaved in spite of frequent manipulation and the weather was warm and pleasant which suited the business in hand admirably.

The keenness of the demonstrators and their obvious belief in their quest for improving the British black bee was refreshing and infectious and their expertise was so apparent, which all in all gave me a very enjoyable day.

I left in the late afternoon with my grafted larva (which I am pleased is progressing very favourably in its nuc) feeling impressed and well satisfied.

Thank you BIBBA East Midlands Group for a well organised and enjoyable day.

George Marsh