NORTH BUCKS BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION PRESENTS:

 BEE SAFARI AROUND MILTON KEYNES

Saturday 14th June 2008 at 10.30 a.m.

Seasonal Bee Inspector, Margaret Holland, will accompany us on our expedition to inspect a variety of apiaries in a range of locations around our home base of Milton Keynes.

We will start at the Museum of Rural Life, Mc Connel Drive, Stacey Bushes. MK12 5EJ 10-30 am

The Museum can be found on McConnell Drive off Millers Way H2.

It was founded in 1973 by a group of enthusiasts who gathered together items from farms & factories which were being closed down to make way for the development of Milton Keynes. The items are housed & displayed at Stacey Hill Farm.

For more information about the Museum : www.mkmuseum.org.uk or call 01908 316228

Ken keeps his bees here in WBC hives so that they are in keeping with the Victorian aspect of the Museum. He has chosen the golden New Zealand bee variety because their docility is suitable for being on a site open to the public. He has also planted fruit trees here to encourage productivity.

The Association Apiary  - Cranfield Road, Newport Pagnell

Tickford Field Farm, North Crawley Road, Newport Pagnell, MK16

From the Museum go back onto Millers Way H2 turning left. At the Bradville Roundabout turn right onto Grafton Street V6. At the Bancroft Roundabout turn left into Monks Way H3/A422. Keep on this, past Newport Pagnell, straight over the Tickford Roundabout & almost immediately left at Renny Lodge Roundabout into Renny Park Road. Continue through the industrial estate until you come to a mini-roundabout, turn right. Continue past the household waste site & just after this on the left is Tickford Field Farm. Proceed down the farm drive until you see the apiary.

Chris and Bob are the apiary managers. The Association has four Nationals & the bees are a crossbreed mixture. With old & new trees, the apiary is in an attractive rural setting. We can eat our packed lunches here.

The Community Orchard - Manor Fields, Behind Irish Centre, Bletchley

(Entrance opposite Dombeys Garden Centre. Just downhill from The Swan, fenny Stratford)

The Community Orchard was created in April 2006 by Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Council. It was funded by them, along with EBMK (Shanks First Fund), Milton Keynes Council & Tesco, it is situated on a derelict allotment site. There is a variety of apple trees here surrounded by ornamental cherry trees. Local school children helped to plant them & have created a little garden. There are new sculptures to admire in the orchard.

Gunter keeps four beehives here. The bees are Carniolan from Germany, they are very well hidden.

12 Larch Grove , where tea will be provided.

From the Community Orchard retrace the lane back to the Watling Street V4, turn left & head back to Fenny Stratford. Be careful there is a speed camera on the canal bridge. At the double mini-roundabout turn left by the church into Aylesbury Street. Continue straight along here, it becomes Manor Road. At the bottom of a slight slope you will see traffic lights , directly after these turn left into Larch Grove. Proceed around Larch Grove until you get to number 12 on your left. The number is on the gatepost.

Libby has kept bees here since she was an NBBKA beginner in 1984. She has three National Hives which were built by her husband from the wood of their Argentinian packing cases!

To round off the Safari there will be tea & time to discuss the day’s events.

Margaret will answer any more questions.

Please bring with you:

·        a clean bee suit

·        a clean hive tool

·        disposable gloves

·        wellington boots

·        drinks & packed lunch

·        camera

It is important that we do not spread disease so hive tools & other equipment will be sterilised as we go along.

If you need to make contact before the safari phone Libby on 01908 375968 or during the safari phone her on 0797 357 1433.