NHMS Newsletter: September 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your bees well.
I just wanted to give quick update and thank those of you who have submitted samples so far this year.
It has been a busy (and sticky) August and September; we have now had over 1000 honey samples returned. There has been lots of measuring, weighing and filtering going on in preparation for the molecular stages of the scheme. I hope filtering will be completed by mid-November, allowing DNA extraction to begin. This will take a few months as DNA extractions are done individually. Following this, plant DNA barcode gene amplification, sequencing and bioinformatics is required (see sample workflow attached). We anticipate that you will receive your results in the spring of next year.
Please continue to return your 2021 honey (cut off dates below). However, in this last few days for pack requests please only do so if you have late honey you can collect direct from the comb. Instructions are provided within each sample pack also, https://honey-monitoring.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/nhms-2021-sample-pack-letter.
There are over 500 packs still in circulation and postage costs are high!
Cut off dates for 2021
Sample pack requests: Friday 8th October
Sample packs can be requested at any time however, those after the October cut-off date will not be sent out until the following year.
Sample pack returns: Friday 5th November
Any samples arriving after this date will be archived only. Unused sample packs can be kept and used in any subsequent year.
Questions?
Please visit our FAQs page (https://honey-monitoring.ac.uk/taking-part/faq) or email honey@ceh.ac.uk.
Best wishes,
Anna
Dr Anna Oliver and the NHMS Team
