North Bersted Village WI
A report from July’s meeting: On a lovely hot summer’s day our members were welcomed by our vice president Mrs Iris Thomson to our ‘Bee’ themed meeting.
She read out the birthday list and all the members sang ‘Happy Birthday ‘.
As there was no correspondence our treasurer Angela Zealand then gave details of how much was raised on our sales and raffle table in June.
She reminded members that our trip to Highclere Castle would be on June 25 and told members where to meet for the coach pickup.
She told members of our anniversary lunch at Jubilee Hall which would start at 1pm on August 8.
Iris then told members about the various articles in the West Sussex News which included an update on the oak trees that were planted earlier this year.
She told members about the Annual Federation Meeting which will be held on October 22 at Worthing Assembly Hall and made sure that we would be providing a flower basket from our WI group.
Iris then introduced our guest speaker Michelle Ernout who had come to talk about her bee keeping and to show
some of the many products that are made from the bees. Michelle explained that she enjoyed speaking to groups such as ours and also to children in school especially to children with special needs. As she began her talk she showed us her beekeeper’s coat and hat with attached netting.
She showed us a hive and went on to explain how they were made up by taking it apart and showing us inside. She explained that hives had been made out of wood for many years and still are but there are also the hives made out of polystyrene as they are much lighter.
She told us that a hive can weight up to 50 lbs when full and because a lot of bee keepers are of the older generation with health problems having a lighter hive makes things much easier. She explained that bees can forage for three miles and that honey bees do not hibernate in the winter.
She told us that because it is dark inside the hive that the bees communicate by chemical signals.
She then demonstrated how to make a variety of candles using waxed paper with a bee pin to decorate and then members asked a variety of questions.
We were then entertained by our ‘Bee Choir’ with their rendition of a bee song with other members joining in with the chorus.
Jackie then thanked Michelle for a very interesting and entertaining talk and everyone enjoyed a nice cup of coffee of tea and biscuits. Julie-ann won the bee making competition and then the raffle was held and lots of great prizes were won by members including the lovely flower arrangement made by Stella.
Everyone was wished a safe journey home and we looked forward to seeing everyone next month.
Our meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month in the Jubilee Hall Chalcraft Lane at 2.45pm where there is plenty of parking a available and we are always happy to welcome new members.