Beekeepers Association

THE winter of 2015/16 was basically mild and wet with little really cold wintry weather until comparatively recently. However, it has turned out to be a bad one for bees with a number of local beekeepers reporting heavy losses of colonies. The work of the Aberystwyth Bee-keepers Association has continued over the winter and the April meet-ing was held on Tuesday, 19 April, in the Waunfawr Community Hall. The meeting was on the control of Nosema. This is a disease which is caused by Nosema apis - a micro-sporidian - a small, unicellular parasite recently reclassified as a fungus that mainly affects honey bees. It is the most common and widespread of adult honey bee diseases. Around 20 members turned out to listen to the Association’s master beekeeper, Lynfa Davies, demonstrating how “shook swarms and” bailey comb changes” were done to help control it. Whilst she was demonstrating the techniques, Rob Davies and Richard Spencer were preparing bees that members brought to the meeting so that they could look through microscopes to find out if they had Nosema. The evening ended with Phil Springham showing the group his modified floor that does not allow wasps in and makes it easier for defence and the box insulation that he has developed to protect his hives from the wind and rain that he fre-quently experiences where he lives up in Brynafan above Trawscoed. Further information on the asso-ciation and its activities is available from Ann Ovens on 01970 832359.

Horticultural Society

THE society’s principal fund-raising event of the year, the annual plant sale, was held in the Llanfarian Village Hall on the afternoon of Saturday, 23 April, and was a great success with a good selection of local plants and seedlings raised by CHS members on sale in the hall. Particularly noteworthy was two boxes full of Aeoneum arboreum------a plant which grows vigorously on the Scilly Islands but which is a lovely conservatory plant in Wales. These had been specially potted up for the sale by a lady who brought a plant back with her after a visit to the islands some years ago.Tea and homemade cakes were also on sale and a good sum was raised for the society’s funds. The spring 2016 edition of Spade-work was also available, reporting details of the society’s recent activities and giving details of the remaining five trips of the season. The next of these is an all-day trip on Wednesday, 18 May, to the Cowbridge Physic Garden and the acclaimed National Trust garden in the Vale of Glamorgan - Dyffryn Gardens. Seats are still available for this trip and anyone interested on taking part can get further information from the secretary, David Hughes on 01974 241458.

Rotary club

THE volunteer co-ordinator for Sight Cymru, Jane Guest was this week’s speaker.The charity Sight Cymru, formerly Sight Support, has been supporting people with sight loss since 1865 but only recently has come to Ceredigion. Jane said that people of 40-plus can expect to suffer some sight loss. Exercise, no smoking and reasonable alcohol consumption will reduce the chances. The speaker outlined the main causes of sight impairment- Age Related Macular Degeneration or AMD, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and dry eye. Jane passed round glasses which replicated the effects of the above for members to appreciate those conditions. She said that the conditions can be picked up early so regular eye checkups are critical. Ceredigion has an aging population and sight loss can result in be-ing stranded in the home, inability to drive resulting in social exclusion. This can lead to depression, lack of confidence perhaps lack of employment and the increasing risk of accidents in the home. Sight Cymru can provide access to a range of services including help with entitled benefits, emotional support, use of a resource centre and assistance with computing and access to the talking book service.Jane appealed for volunteers to expand the home befriending service including via the telephone particularly for rural clients.During question time, Dr Alan Axford suggested that the Hospice at Home Volunteers could play a part in the service and Jane agreed that some liaison would be advan-tageous. Iori Jones thanked the speaker for her talk adding that many were unaware of the charity which was vital to those with sight impairment.

Bridge clubs

RESULTS on 15 April: 1, Mike Jones and Keith Bellamy; 2, Yuan Shen and Tianhua Chan; 3, Betty Brookes and Elenid Thomas; joint 4, Marga-ret Ellis and Vicky Edwards/Pamela Woodhouse and Jo Davies.On 17 April: 1, Alun Richards and Ian Finlay; 2, Joyce Blair and Jean Harrison.On 22 April: 1, Margaret James and Mike Jones; 2, Jeff Thomas and Kim Marsh; joint 3, Pamela Woodhouse and Jo Davies/Margaret Hathaway and Pat Roe.On 24 April: 1, Mike Jones and Kim Marsh; 2, Pamela Wood-house and Elenid Thomas; 3, Betty Brooke’s and Margaret James.On 26 April: 1, Gabor Galleri and John Holmes; 2, Jo Davies and Elenid Thomas; 3, Gwynant Edwards and Jeff Thomas; 4, Pamela Woodhouse and Margaret James.On 29 April: 1, Dai Hayes and Keith Bellamy; 2, Margaret James and Margaret Hathaway; 3, Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas; Joint 4, Mar-garet Ellis and Vicky Edwards/Mair jenkins and Andrew Loat.

Côr Meibion

THE choir joined with Côr Maelgwn on 28 February to present a concert in Llandudno. This was arranged by invitation of Maelgwyn’s conductor Tristan Lewis who was conducting his last concert with the choir. The choir travelled to Mwnt near Cardigan at the beginning of April to sing in the historic church there. This was as part of a project for the University of South Wales Department of Photography in Newport. It was an enjoyable day but the weather could have been better. Eisteddfod Morlan was held on 27 April in Aberystwyth and Côr Meibion Aberystwyth entered the choir competition along with several other choirs. The two songs performed were Ar Lan y Môr and A Llawenydd Cenwch. The choir is receiving an increasing number of invitations to sing at weddings. And in June the choir are invited to sing at the annual Noson Caws, Gwin a Chân at St Peter’s church Elerch, Bontgoch.