Oxalic Acid

Written by

BJ Sheriff have recently been contacted by the Home Office Chemical Reporting Team, who deliver parts of the Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy, to request assistance in getting important information about Oxalic Acid (OA) out to the bee keeping industry. Oxalic Acid is a regulated poison under the 1972 Poisons Act. Generic OA, liquid and powder solutions including oxalic acid dihydrate and oxalic acid crystals, come under these restrictions when they are above the 10% concentration threshold.

All authorised Varroa treatments containing OA are exempt from restrictions and can continue to be bought by hobby beekeepers from the usual suppliers.

UK licenced products:

·         API-Bioxal

·         Dany’s BienenWohl Powder and Solution

·         Oxuvar

·         Oxybee

Substances not on the database that are prescribed by a vet through the cascade system (www.gov.uk/guidance/the-cascade-prescribing-unauthorised-medicines) are also exempt from the regulations.

Outside of the specified products, members of the public who want to import, acquire, possess, or use the regulated chemicals must hold an Explosives Precursors and Poisons (EPP) licence issued by the Home Office. From 1 October 2023 businesses supplying regulated explosives precursors or poisons to professional users and other businesses (those who don’t need a licence) need to be compliant and take additional steps to verify the legitimacy of the professional user or business. 

To sell oxalic acid above 10% w/w concentration to a member of the public, in addition to them having an EPP license you must be lawfully conducting a retail pharmacy business, the supply must be made on a premises registered as a pharmacy and the sale must be under the supervision of a pharmacist.

Full details regarding the legislation can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplying-explosives-precursors/supplying-explosives-precursors-and-poison#fulllist

A full list of products on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) Product Information Database can be found here:

www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/ProductInformationDatabase/current/search-results

For disposal of generic OA, licenced OA or other VMD licenced products the Home Office recommends contacting your local council for guidance.

https://www.gov.uk/hazardous-waste-disposal

If you have any questions about oxalic acid and the regulations surrounding its sale, please contact us at:

ChemicalReportingTeam@homeoffice.gov.uk    

Princess of Wales tends bees in BJ Sherriff Apiarist suit

Written by

Royal approval for the BJ Sherriff Apiarist beekeeping suit

It is wonderful to see that our beekeeping suits are fit for royalty. The Princess of Wales, Catherine, was photographed tending her bees at Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate. She wore our BJ Sherriff Apiarist beekeeping suit during the visit.

Kensington Palace released the image on 20 May 2023 to mark World Bee Day, and royal photographer Matt Porteous captured the moment.

We are delighted and honoured that the Princess chose our suit for her hive inspection. We also thank The Telegraph for the mention and for sharing a little background on BJ Sherriff with royal fans around the world.

The Princess of Wales and her love of beekeeping

The Princess of Wales is no stranger to beekeeping. She keeps bees at Anmer Hall, the home she shares with Prince William on the Sandringham Estate, and she has enjoyed the hobby for several years.

In 2021, she visited the Natural History Museum in London and brought a jar of her own Anmer Hall honey for children to try. The visit formed part of the museum’s Urban Nature Project.

Alongside the photograph, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official account posted: “We are buzzing about #WorldBeeDay. Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem, and today is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy.”

Beekeeping also runs in the family. Her brother, James Middleton, has spoken publicly about taking up beekeeping at their former family home. He described it as a meditative practice that helped him manage stress and anxiety.

The royal family’s connection with bees extends even further. Queen Camilla is president of Bees for Development, a charity that trains beekeepers and protects bee habitats in more than 50 countries. She also keeps her own bees at Raymill in Wiltshire.

In addition, Buckingham Palace and Clarence House both keep bees, and palace kitchens use the honey they produce.

About the BJ Sherriff Apiarist beekeeping suit

The BJ Sherriff Apiarist is our original best-selling beekeeping suit. We first designed it in 1968, and we still make every suit by hand in Cornwall, England.

For more than 55 years, beekeepers around the world have trusted the Apiarist. It remains a popular choice for hobby beekeepers with a single hive and professional apiarists managing hundreds.

A beekeeping suit fit for royalty — and everyday beekeepers

The Apiarist is built to last. Its roomy design fits comfortably over regular clothing and includes drop sleeves, a robust central vertical zip, and our unique twin-zip throw-back hood.

Beekeepers can unzip the hood and rest it on the shoulders. They can also remove it completely for laundering.

Designed for comfort and visibility

The ClearView veil is exclusive to BJ Sherriff. The fine black nylon mesh includes hundreds of tiny woven holes for excellent all-round visibility.

As a result, the suit offers strong ventilation and a light, airy feel during long hive inspections.

The average lifespan of a Sherriff Apiarist suit is more than 15 years, which makes it a long-term investment in quality and protection. In addition, the suit conforms to CE BS EN ISO 13688:2015, the European standard for protective clothing.

The Apiarist is available in a range of bee-friendly colours. If you would like to shop the suit worn by the Princess of Wales, you can explore the full range on our Apiarist product pages.

Read more in the Telegraph

Gordon Ramsay, Gino & Fred beekeeping in Greece wearing our Apiarists suits

Written by

Some months ago, we received an exciting request from Gordon Ramsay ’s PA to supply our Apiarist beekeeping suits for an upcoming television filming project in Greece. Naturally, we were delighted to help.

The filming formed part of Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip, the popular travel and food series that follows Gordon Ramsay, Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix as they explore different countries, cultures and cuisines together.

For this particular episode, the trio travelled through the dramatic mountain landscapes of Greece in their famous blue Volkswagen camper van. Their journey took them up the winding roads to the breathtaking region of Meteora, where ancient Orthodox monasteries perch high on towering rock formations.

Gordon Ramsay, with Gino, Fred and Orthodox nuns

At the top of the mountain road, Gordon, Gino and Fred were greeted by three Orthodox nuns who introduced them to the fascinating world of monastic beekeeping. Before getting close to the hives, the presenters suited up in our BJ Sherriff Apiarist beekeeping suits for protection and comfort during the hive inspection.

The Apiarist suit proved ideal for filming in the warm Greek climate. Its lightweight feel, breathable design and excellent visibility allowed the presenters to move comfortably while learning more about the bees and honey production at the monastery.

The episode also gave viewers a glimpse into the importance of bees within traditional food production and rural communities. Meanwhile, the stunning backdrop of Meteora made the experience even more memorable.

We were thrilled to see our handmade beekeeping suits featured during such a unique and entertaining segment. It is always rewarding to know that our suits are trusted not only by professional and hobby beekeepers around the world, but also for international television productions.

The BJ Sherriff Apiarist suit has been handmade in Cornwall, England since 1968 and remains one of the most recognised and trusted beekeeping suits available today.

You can watch the clip from the episode here:

YouTube video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GQiJ3D_7RXE

Your Queens will be lost without one!

Written by

Thank you so much to Mary who has tested our latest innovation – the QueenSafe ™Bag! and loves our new product!

Please see what she has to say about BJ Sherriff’s QueenSafe Bag in our Testimonials.

collapsed

” Wow! The QueenSafe bag arrived today!

Thank you so much.

It’s great.

It lives up to its photo and more.

It’s compact when folded, but very roomy with plenty of space for hands and tools when open.

We like the adjustable sleeve fastenings, the sleeve length is good, and the mesh panel has plenty of space to see what’s happening inside.

It’s lightweight, comfortable, and flexible to wear, the white panel gives good visibility, and the cuffs standing away from the arms give space to work.

I have given it its own bag to prevent it snagging when we take it out.

We love the Your queens will be lost slogan as well.

Mary 25 March 2021 “

The Bee Team 2021 Bee Calendar – Supporting Young Beekeepers

Written by

The young beekeepers from The Bee Team have created this beautifully photographed 2021 bee calendar. Notably, the photographer behind the lens is only eleven years old. As a result, this calendar celebrates both bees and young talent. In fact, we believe she has a bright future in nature photography.

Meanwhile, the young beekeepers look fantastic throughout the calendar. In particular, they proudly wear their Junior Apiarist Sherriff suits, and we think they look absolutely brilliant ♥.

Support Beekeeping Education

Importantly, this calendar supports a primary school young persons’ initiative. The project raises funds for the Bee Team’s educational beekeeping club. Therefore, when you purchase this calendar, you directly support hands-on learning. At the same time, you receive a calendar you can enjoy all year.

About the Calendar

The Bee Team 2021 calendar features 12 beautiful photographs, one for each month. Furthermore, all images were taken in and around the Bee Team apiary and grounds in Kendal, Cumbria.

All photographs were captured by Lily, age 11. Notably, she won Cumbria Wildlife Trust Young Photographer of the Year 2020 in her age category. As a result, this calendar highlights exceptional young talent and a genuine love of nature.

Importantly, all proceeds raised go directly towards caring for the honeybees. In addition, funds support continued education and learning for the children and young people involved with The Bee Team.

Why Buy This Calendar?

  • Supports children’s beekeeping education

  • Features award-winning wildlife photography

  • Raises funds for honeybee care

  • Makes a thoughtful and ethical gift

Additional Information

In addition, you can follow the Bee Team on social media. Find them on Twitter and Instagram: @BeekeepingKids.

Finally, BJ Sherriff are proud to support this initiative. As a bonus, they are offering free shipping on this product.

Product Details

  • Year: 2021

  • Dimensions: 30 × 21 cm

  • Photographer: Lily, age 11

  • Cause: Youth beekeeping education

Asian Hornet Research Project – Exeter University

Written by

BJ Sherriff support Exeter University in their many important research projects – the latest being an important study of the Asian Hornet which we have heard has been discovered in the local village of Fowey, Cornwall not that far from BJ Sherriff’s base camp September 4, 2018

Here is the link to the research paper in Nature’s Communications Biology:  http://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0092-9 (BJ Sherriff’s kind support fully acknowledged).  And also a link to the University’s press release linked to this work:  http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_668720_en.html.  The press office have also produced a brief YouTube video:

“Thank you again for supporting last year’s research effort by donating a beekeeping
suit for Scott Ford, the postgraduate student who assisted with this work
during September’s fieldwork and allowing us to use your Brittany Ferries membership discount. ” Dr Peter Kennedy, Research Fellow, University of Exeter.

Veterans into Bee Farming.

Written by

This year’s beginners beekeeping course run at the Help For Heroes centre at Tidworth included consideration of beekeeping as a source of income.

The course, now in its third year, is run by BFA member and former army officer, John Geden, who owns Sinah Common Honey in Hampshire. John gives his time freely to run the course which is held over a total of four days at the picturesque Tedworth House in the Wiltshire town.

The course comprises three days of theory and one day’s practical training and this year it was attended by 13 students from across all three services. Many have already transitioned into civilian life, but a few are still serving members of our armed forces and several expressed an interest in bee farming.

Margaret Ginman, the BFA general secretary, spoke to the course and explained the difference between keeping bees, and bees keeping you! An explanation of the BFA apprentice scheme stimulated some interesting discussion and future consideration may be given to a bespoke scheme for ex-service personnel linked to funding from military and veterans charities. Margaret spoke of the loneliness suffered by some bee farmers and the efforts that the BFA have made to address this issue by working in partnership with …….

Many bee farmers find unique ways to avoid isolation and John Geden has a novel approach. John said “having been diagnosed with PTSD myself and the resultant periods depression and anxiety that this can cause, I realised that I needed to have people around me, it was part of the bee farming job that my family were most concerned about. So every year I run courses locally for new beekeepers and I extend an open offer to the students to take a day off away from the pressures of their working lives and to spend a day with me. That could be just scorching brood boxes or clearing an apiary site in the winter months to handling bees, raising nucleus or queen rearing during the main season.

Many veterans suffer from long lasting and often life-changing physical and mental injuries and this was very evident within the group of students. Amputees pose some unique challenges when considering protective clothing and the beekeeping programme has been supported over the last three years by UK based bee suit manufacturer BJ Sherriff. Over the course of a year the team at the Falmouth based company worked with Help for Heroes to develop a modular bee suit that can be fitted to a range of prosthetic limbs and afford maximum protection. Director of the company Angela Sherriff said: “It is a great privilege to work with such a worthwhile charity and we now feel that our modular bee-suit will provide maximum protection for prosthetic users who wish to enjoy beekeeping no matter their background”.

The course was specifically written by John and follows the chapters of the BBKA publication Guide to Beekeeping written by Ivor Davis and Roger Cullen Kenyon. The BBKA have also stepped up to support the programme by donating a free copy of the book to each student.

John is always looking for guest speakers; in 2017 Ivor Davis spoke to the course and this year as well as Margaret Ginman, local Seasonal Bee Inspector Adrian Kelly kindly gave his time and came and delivered the bee disease lesson. John said: “It is nice to have other beekeepers come and share their experiences and it also gives the students a break from hearing my voice. I am very grateful to everyone who supports me with this project and if you feel that you have something to offer either as a speaker on the course or if you can mentor one of our students please contact me at: info@sinahcommonhoney.com”

Written by John Geden

BFA Apprenticeship by Cornish Apprentice Shelley Glasspool – *as seen on Countryfile

Written by

My name is Shelley and I am the first new bee keeping apprentice of 2017 in the UK. It was never my intention to become a bee keeper, but  whilst working in my local cafe I decided to ask my boss who is a beekeeper whether I could one day see his bees. Totally unaware of the scale that Jo (my boss) kept bees and also ignorant as to how bees are kept and their complexity, I was completely blown away by what I saw and learnt in just a couple of hours. Later that year Jo invited me to help out for a short period during the late summer. Again, I was astounded by the existence of these fascinating insects and from that moment on I was determined to nag Jo consistently to find a way to make working for him a possibility and surely he did.

Now, I am an Apprentice under the Bee Farmers Assosiation who created and plan the apprenticeship criteria and I will be working alongside Jo Widdicombe for the next three years while he generously gives his time and energy to teach me the skills of bee keeping. I am hugely grateful to both the Assosiation for their dedication to creating and running the apprenticeship scheme and to Jo for his selfless devotion to giving me an opportunity to work in my own village and in a field of work I love. As well, I thank the support and generosity of my sponsors which include Jo Hawkins (my personal sponsor), Rowse (Assosiation sponsor) and B.J. Sherriff who have provided me with my very own, first ever bee suits!

When I was presented with my first bee suit, I genuinely could not get over how important and professional I felt and I now wear it proudly when working around my village. Not only does my suit give me a sense of belonging to the bee community (or “bee world” as I like to call it), but it is totally essential to my work and therefore vital that it is fit for purpose. I can personally say that my suit definitely meets its requirements; it is made from polycotton so is very comfortable to wear, it has elasticated wrist and ankle cuffs to prevent access for bees, there are extra Velcro straps on the wrists and zippers on the ankles to further adjust the tightness which I know will come useful when the elasticity wears and/or if I require different thickness clothing/footwear under my suit; my suit is very easy to clean which makes life easier for my mum (bless her ) in the washing machine by simply un-zipping the non-washable (by machine) hood which is hand-washable; it has multiple deep pockets including hive tool pockets; the veil is surprisingly clear and easy to see through even when I wear my sunglasses!!

Overall my suit is pretty great, but the best part probably has to be the obviously made to measure large pasty pockets which suddenly make sense when I learned B.J. Sherriff were a Cornish company!

I would highly recommend Sherriff suits to any bee keeper, novice or professional! And I can’t wait to try out some other products of theirs.

As seen on Countryfile 10th September 2017

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0959jmz/countryfile-rame-peninsula

BJ Sherriff Kits out Eat Natural Pioneer Beekeepers

Written by

Eat Natural Event

BJ Sherriff had the privilege to kit out the new influx of 27 Eat Natural pioneer beekeepers.

Angela went along to deliver the specially embroidered Apiarist Suits to the keen beekeepers at the Eat Natural event at Lairn’s barn, Oxfordshire.

Along with our bee suit, the pioneer beekeepers also receive a unique beehive made from unwanted Eat Natural delivery pallets as well as a Arnia beehive monitoring system which uses an app to receive up to date data direct from the hive every couple of hours.

We were welcomed by Jane Moseley the event organiser and Ben Fogle who has taken up beekeeping and is an ambassador for the Eat Natural apprentice scheme.

Talks were given about the concept of the specially created hive and monitoring system and under the Spring sunshine we split into teams to see who could assemble a beehive in the fastest time with Ben Fogle giving the prizes.

It was a day for learning, laughing and making new friends. and a good time was had by all!

This photo was the prize giving at the Eat Natural Event with Ben Fogle handing out the prizes of honey hampers.
This photo was the prize giving at the Eat Natural Event with Ben Fogle handing out the prizes of honey hampers.

Angela and Ben Fogle

Out & About With BJ Sherriff

Written by

It’s been a very busy few months for BJ Sherriff, with us attending no less than three top notch conventions since August.

First up was our own annual charity BEE Fayre in August, held in aid of Bees Abroad, Bees for Development, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Bee Kind Appeal.

The fayre saw bee enthusiasts from far and wide descend on the Enys Gardens Estate in St Gluvias, Penryn, for two days of bee-focused activities, talks, demonstrations, workshops and fun.

This year’s BEE Fayre was a huge success and not only raised money for the chosen charities, but also helped raise awareness about bees and their plight.

Next on our events calendar this year was the 85th National Honey Show held at Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey, in October.

It’s the first time that the National Honey Show has been held at Sandown Park and the splendid new venue afforded more space for traders, as well as enabling all of the many activities to be housed under one roof.

The largest, most prestigious honey show of its kind in the world, the National Honey Show promotes the highest quality honey and wax products with international classes, lecture convention, workshops and a beekeeping equipment trade show.

Last, but certainly not least, was the Farm Business Innovation Show at the Birmingham NEC in November.

Featuring 200 seminars and 400 exhibitors over two days, there was a huge amount to get involved with at the show this year.

The Farm Business Innovation Show is the diversification and innovation event for farmers and landowners to make more money from their land.

The annual charity BEE Fayre is back and buzzier than ever!

Written by

 

BJ Sherriff presents two days of activities, talks and fun in aid of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust – Bee Kind Appeal, Bees Abroad and Bees for Development. The annual charity BEE Fayre will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August 2016, from 11am to 5pm.

The two-day event will be held at Enys Gardens, Penryn TR10 9LB and will be a fun day out for all the family. The BEE Fayre will be held primarily in the Enys House and admission will also give you the chance to explore all of the lovely gardens.

At BJ Sherriff we are becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of bees and it would seem that amongst the general public globally the concerns are the same and with this in mind we have organised our charity bee awareness day. With the help of knowledgeable beekeepers, who have volunteered to assist on the day, we are hopeful that many of the public’s questions can be discussed and answered as well as introducing people to the world of bees.

Stands and activities

Over the course of the weekend there is a busy line-up of events planned including talks, demonstrations and workshops all about bees and beekeeping from experts in the field. The Bee Farmers’ Association will discuss beekeeping as a career, the University of Exeter will be talking about studying bee colony survival, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust will highlight the plight of the bumblebee and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust will show the work being done through Cornwall to preserve bee habitat. There will also be traditional skep making demonstrations by Martin Buckle showing you how to craft a basket beehive.

You will also have a unique opportunity to take a close look inside of a virtual beehive, kindly lent to us by the Cornwall Beekeepers Association and Carole Allen.

Stands at the BEE Fayre include BJ Sherriff Beekeeping Clothing and Equipment, Beegifts.com, Cornishbees.com, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Falmouth University BeeSoc, Bee Craft, Northern Bee Books, Nine Maidens Honey and Mead, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Neal’s Yard with Honey Cosmetics range, Plant stall run by Anne Pengelly, Bees Abroad (of which Brian Sherriff is Patron). With more stalls being added all the time. Outside of the manor house you’ll be able to pick up some bee-friendly plants and bulbs for your garden.

Annie’s Kitchen Garden Café will also be open throughout the event for tea, sandwiches and cake from 11am to 5pm and we’ll even see if we can get some Enys Honey cake on the menu!

Children’s Area

On Sunday from midday, the Screech Owl Sanctuary will host an awe-inspiring demonstration of birds of prey. Over the weekend there will be a creativity area for children to spot the BEE Fayre bee, as well as make a candle to take home and dress up as a beekeeper activity. Come along and see our Celebrity Beekeepers Showcase, past and present. Also, there will be the Bee Safari leaving from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust stall throughout the day so plenty for budding young beekeepers to see.

Speakers

We have a jam-packed line up of exciting guest speakers over the course of the BEE Fayre, speaking on a range of topics from ‘Bees as a career’ to ‘Polyhives and the hierarchy of bees’. Our line-up for Saturday and Sunday will be revealed soon – check back here for more details.

If you would like to volunteer on the day to help with the BEE Fayre, please get in touch with Charlotte – bjsherriff.marketing@gmail.com.

Admission is Adults £5, Child 6-16 £3, Seniors £4, Student £2, Children under five go free. Facilities include parking on site, dogs on leads are welcome.

This event has been organised by BJ Sherriff and is in aid of Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Bees Abroad, Cornwall Wildlife Trust – Bee Kind Appeal and Bees for Development.

Update on London Marathon

Written by

Ian Wallace from Quince Honey Farm running the London Marathon in orange BJ Sherriff beekeeping suit

On April 24 2016, Ian Wallace, from  Quince Honey Farm, ran the Virgin London Marathon in aid to raise money for Bees Abroad, a charity which relieves poverty through beekeeping. 

We have been following Ian’s story and to show our support donated one of our high quality beekeeping suits to Ian, so that he could promote beekeeping and the charity during his 26 mile marathon.

Ian said: “On the day, it was perfect running conditions and the bright BJ Sherriff orange coloured suit helped me promote beekeeping and the good it brings to both people and bees.

“The marathon did get really tough towards the end but spectators kept shouting ‘Go on beekeeper’ and ‘Save the bees!’ which kept me going.”

“A fantastic experience.”

Ian finished the London Marathon in 3hrs 33.09 and raised more than £1000 for Bees Abroad.

Bees Abroad is a small UK-registered charity seeking to reduce poverty through beekeeping. Volunteer Project Managers assess and support beekeeping projects in developing countries world wide. They use their expertise, working in the local communities, to develop a viable project which will become self-sustainable.

People can donate money for the Bees Abroad project via Ian’s just giving page. Click to donate.

WIN an afternoon tea with Sophie Allport

Written by

We have teamed-up with Sophie Allport to offer one lucky winner a handpicked hamper filled gorgeous goodies for afternoon tea.

Sophie Allport is a family run business which produces a wide range of homewares and garden accessories.

Enter the competition to win BJ Sherriff’s Bee clock, Bee skep honey pot, Honey cakes, Bee tee towel, Cornfield seeds

and a beautiful Busy Bee teapot and mug from Sophie Allport.

How to enter

For your chance to win our afternoon tea giveaway with Sophie Allport please sign up to our newsletter by completing the form below.

Competition closes midday Wednesday June 1st, 2016

Terms and conditions:

  1. One entry per person. Multiple entries from the same person will result in disqualification. The prize draw winner may be asked to show identification in order to claim their prize.
  2. Prize draw open to UK residents over the age of 18 only.
  3. The closing date for entries is midday on Wednesday June 1st 2016. Any entries received after this time will not be eligible.
  4. The prize draw winner will be selected randomly on 1 June 2016.
  5. The winner will be notified on 1 June 2016 via the email address they provide during the entry process. We will make all reasonable attempts to contact the winner and arrange prize delivery. If we do not receive a response from the prize winner within 14 days we will redraw from the remaining entries.
  6. We will make all reasonable attempts to deliver the prize in a reasonable timeframe but the time and date of delivery will be dependent on the response and availability of the prize winner.
  7. The prize contents are as described on the prize draw page. The prize offerings cannot be exchanged for other items or for a cash alternative.
  8. By submitting your email address you agree to receiving future promotional emails from BJ Sherriff and Sophie Allport. You may unsubscribe from these emails at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link within.
  9. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.