Click the link above to read about our Adopt a Hive sponsorship scheme
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Newsletter
Print our 3-fold newsletter below (print double-sided on A4 paper then triple fold)
Hygienic Behaviour Success 2010
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On 11th May 2011 Chris Packham and the Springwatch film crew visited Ron Hoskins at his Stanton Park apiary to talk to him about his work to eradicate the Varroa mite.
Read more about the filming.
Read the full article here
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The Guardian
"Could a superbee from Swindon save the world?"
Read the full article here
Breeders of Hygienic Queens and Bees
June 2010….The Future
Having achieved major success we are now confident that we are able to selectively breed bees which mostly are able to fend for themselves against the Varroa Mite without mans' chemical interventions.
Swarms not collected and hived will once again survive in the wild to kick-start the revival of British Feral Honeybees, essential for humans and for the survival of wildlife in remote regions where beekeepers do not keep bees.
Next….. Phase 1
As all this development and breeding has taken place in our apiary within Stanton Park, near Swindon, we are conscious that only a limited area of bees has the benefit of receiving genes from our drones (males) when mating in flight with any passing virgin queen.
In order to expand this area we have plans to equip beekeepers around Swindon with Special Nucleus Hives (SNH) containing one of our queens with a few thousand bees, plus a powerful magnifying lens and a dissecting microscope to aid the studying of Varroa mites. Besides encouraging local beekeepers to undertake, and maintain, studying Varroa for signs of bee-hygienic behaviour. All drones bred in these hives will be increasing the 'footprint' of their genes to cover Swindon.
Phase 2
When the SNH becomes too strong the beekeeper will be allowed to keep the bees and frames in a hive they own, to still produce drones, but will return our SNH for re-stocking, with the lens and microscope for placement with new beekeepers outside of Swindon, increasing the footprint further every time.
During following seasons our plans are to continue this very important program over ever wider areas. This essential conservation project is unique In Britain.
Financing Target
We are seeking sponsorship donations to purchase the equipment. It is estimated that the cost of one set - Hive, Frames, Foundation, Lens and Microscope will be around £350
Our target is to obtain at least twenty such sets, (£7000), more if we can raise enough cash.
Any donation. however small, should be made payable to Swindon Honeybee Conservation Group and sent to:
Ron Hoskins, Chairman SHCG
10 Larksfield,
Swindon,
Wilts,
SN3 5AD
