Welcome to the MUBKA website!
The club meets at 8.00pm on the 2nd friday of every month at Loughry College in Cookstown
If you have ever been interested in keeping bees or you are curious to see what goes on inside a hive, get in touch via the
contact us page
NewsListen to the work done at the bee unit hereQueen rearing using the cupkit system is taking place this
week at the apiary
Pictures from the Hillsborough Garden Show have been added to our events gallery
Spring clean up!
To reduce disease build up in your hive it is good practice to clean up any equipment you use. Hive tools should be cleaned in a solution of soda crystals. Floors and other hive parts should be exchanged for clean items (just scorch with a blow torch). Don't forget to wash your beesuit as well!
You can also sterilise any old frames you intend to use this year using a solution of 80% acetic acid in water. A plastic tub is filled with a couple of pieces of kitchen roll and around 200mls of acid is poured in. The tub is placed on top of the frames and the boxes enclosed in a bin liner for at least one week. A further week is needed to allow the frames to air before they can be used. Take care not to breath in the fumes and wear gloves.
Spring Management and Pollen
Tom Canning spoke on friday 12/02/10 about spring management techniques. Important temperatures were noted such as minimum to open hives (15oC) and temperatures when bees collect nectar (17-18oC).
Pollen is important at this time of year in order to rear brood. If bees have no pollen a substitute can be fed consisting of 3 parts fat free soya flour, 1 part bakers yeast and 1 part skimmed milk powder. A small amount of vitamin C is added and a patty formed by mixing the powder with sugar syrup.
The best pollen though is natures own, the photo on the left shows a honeybee collecting snowdrop pollen a day after Tom's talk. On the right a honeybee collects Gorse pollen.
Save the Honeybees
The recent high publicity surrounding honeybees worldwide is not without cause. Recent losses particularly in America are unprecedented. A range of parasites and disease have largely erradicated the feral honeybee from the UK. More importantly than ever the importance of the honeybee not just for the production of honey but also the pollination industry is being felt.
By supporting your local beekeeping club you can do your part to promote responsible beekeeping in this country.
We Offer 
If you don't have room at home to keep bees we can offer a site at our Loughry Campus (places limited). A full range of facilities are available to members with membership costing only £15 per year (including insurance).
We have a new show tent available for local shows, please use the 'contact us' form to enquire