Lecture Tour

FIBKA are delighted that Willie Robson has kindly accepted our invitation to undertake a lecture tour in February 2010 and will speak at the following centres:

Topic: "Forty Years of Beekeeping Experience in the Border Country"

Dates & Venues:

• Thursday 18th of February 2010 at 8 p.m
  The Community Centre, Navan, Co Meath (beside the R.C. Church)
  
  
• Friday 19th of February 2010 at 8 p.m.
  The County Offaly Historical Society Hall, Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co Offaly
  
  
• Monday 22nd of February 2010 at 8.p.m.
  The Tipperary Institute, Nenagh Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary
  
  
• Tuesday 23rd of February 2010 at 8.p.m.
  Ramada Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo which is on the right hand side as one approaches Ballina from Foxford.
  
  

Willie runs Chain Bridge Honey Farm, which is a flourishing family business. His father, Beekeeping advisor William Selby Robson started the business in 1948. In 1962, his son, also William but known as Willie, took up beekeeping with the aim of expanding his father's enterprise, not only by increasing the number of hives, but also the diversity of products.

In 1971 William Robson Snr retired and helped Willie establish a viable honey farm. In 1973 Daphne Robson joined the business, preparing honey for sale and delivering it to the shops.

The honey house was gradually extended to include workshops and, in 1991, a very comprehensive visitor centre. Around this time many new products were introduced using the vast amounts of beeswax produced.

Hive numbers rose gradually as the seasons allowed from 500 to nearly 2,000 at present (with 2,500 the future target). These are located within a 40-mile radius of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The farm currently employs 15 people including Willie and Daphne and their three children, Stephen, Heather and Frances.

The bees at Chain Bridge Honey Farm (apis mellifera, brown bees indigenous to northern Europe) can produce up to 50 tonnes of honey in a good season.

The bees begin their honey-making year in fields of oil seed rape. Besides this crop the bees can forage on hawthorn, willowherb, borage and phacelia. Towards the end of July the bees are transported to the heather moors.