Wirral Beekeepers Czech Expedition 2008

On the 24th of May this year, 51 beekeepers from Wirral, with friends, enjoyed an 8-day holiday to the Czech Republic, which included a visit to the Bee Research station at Dol and to a bee farmer who had 200 hives.

The party, led by Doug & Elaine Jones, set off from Heswall by coach to East Midlands airport to catch their Easyjet flight to Prague. We were joined by other travellers who have become regulars on the annual holidays from as far afield as Harlow, Warwickshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. En route the main party from Heswall stopped off at Trentham Gardens to enjoy lunch and a walk around the shops and gardens.

On arrival at Prague, we were met by Michael Matejcek, the hotel owner, who spoke perfect English, and we were duly escorted to our coach for transfer to the Hotel Vltava at the small village of Rez which sat right next to the river. Although it was rather late when we arrived, the group enjoyed a late buffet-supper and then off to bed.

As always, Elaine had arranged a packed programme of events, including a full day trip to Dresden, Germany, and a guided tour of Colditz castle. We also had a visit to Melnik Chateau, and a wine-tasting in the cellars with the Vintner, followed by lunch in the panoramic restaurant overlooking the confluence of the two rivers the Elbe and the Vltava.

One of the highlights was a visit to the old Spa town of Karlovy Vary, which was once a favourite holiday resort for the Russian elite, before the fall of the Iron Curtain. It was a truly beautiful town and some of the party swam in an open-air spa pool (water temperature 29�C) overlooking the magnificent views, whilst others admired the beautiful buildings, fountains and parks.

Other days out included a visit to the Staropramen Brewery (including a tasting!) and a morning at the Nezbor Crystal glass-blowing factory which dates back hundreds of years. We were intrigued by the lack of health and safety, as glass blowers drank beer and wore sandals when tending the furnace and blowing the glass!

On two occasions we were able to have free time in Prague: a most beautiful city with ancient buildings and magnificent churches. Although the temperatures were in the nineties, some of the party walked through the Jewish quarter and over the famous Charles Bridge which was adorned with statues and religious scenes. Others took an open-top bus tour of the city and visited the palace and castle on the hillside. At the end of the week the group took a boat trip on the river and enjoyed a marvellous buffet lunch whilst being serenaded by a musician playing classical music.

The highlight of the tour was a trip to the Bee-research station at Dol, once a government institution specialising in research into honey-bee health and diseases. The institute is now privately funded, and scientific research is of great importance. The Group were met by Professor Kamler and shown around the complex. Students from Universities were collecting samples of drones for artificial insemination and the party asked questions, duly interpreted by a beekeeper who was 83 years young. In a very hot room, another professor discussed research into Varroa treatments and gave a Power-Point presentation showing technical graphs and findings. The Czech bees are all Carniolan (A. m. carnica), �the grisly bee� - very gentle, and good honey-gatherers.

The other beekeeping day was spent with Peter Chilnar and his family at a beautiful honey farm in the countryside. Peter and his wife and father (also a beekeeper), welcomed the coach party and proudly gave us a tour of his establishment. Peter makes all his own hives - Langstroths. The Czech beekeepers use brood-boxes instead of supers due to the large amounts of honey collected from the rape fields which stretched as far as the eye could see.

The beekeepers milled around the barns, whilst the ladies and non beekeepers sat on the lawns and were treated to lemonade and tastings of different varieties of honey. Peter makes his own nucleus boxes with a lilac polystyrene�all cut and assembled in his huge workshop. Peter�s wife showed the party a photograph album of the family and its beekeeping history showing the development of the honey farm from its first footings and dilapidated outbuildings. The beekeepers then went to the rape fields to see the bees working.

After a week of sightseeing, beekeeping, merrymaking, and so many laughs, the group enjoyed a hog roast on the patio of the hotel and danced the night away to an excellent band. We bade a fond farewell to Michael and his staff, and headed for the airport - another successful trip full of memories and excellent company. Thanks went to Larry Murray who kept us entertained in the evenings with his quizzes and competitions.

Where to next year? Who knows!

Doug & Elaine Jones - Wirral

CHESHIRE BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

Apes curamus et nos curant (We look after bees and they look after us)

Founded 1899

Registered Charity No. 227494

Wirral Beekeepers Czech Expedition 2008

website by TIMMAZ