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The following training courses are now available to book: Advanced Husbandry Assessment Training - 2 day course - Fully Booked - Please email: sharon.brooks@bbka.org.uk to go onto a waiting list
Honey Bee Health - Train the Trainer Course - 1 day course
Queen Rearing Course - Train the Trainer Course - 1 day course
For further details and to book your place click here.
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Useful documents for Asian Hornet Teams:
Asian Hornet Risk Assessment
Protocol for Spring Trapping of AH Queens
Protocol for Asian Hornet Monitoring Traps
BBKA Insurance FAQs
'Asian Hornet Monitoring & Trapping' Guidance leaflet written for the BBKA by Alan Baxter, Sarah Bunker and Chloe Underwood
PDF File
'How to Track Asian Hornets' Instruction leaflet written for the BBKA by Sarah Bunker
PDF File
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A selection of images which can be used on social media.
Hover over any image, right click and choose 'save as'.
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Instagram
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A collection of resources to assist Associations in engaging their local community to prevent the establishment of the Asian hornet in the UK. Includes press release, templates for letters, posters and ID sheets, PowerPoint and safety guidance for the public.
Asian Hornet Features Graphic NNSS ID Sheet NNSS Alert Poster
Right click on image and 'save as'
Risk Assessment Safety Guidance
How to Track Leaflet
Help Letter Template Letter to MPs Template
Email Template Press Release
PowerPoint presentation - this is held on Google Drive due to the file size.
This information is also available on BBKA Learning Online: https://learning.bbka.org.uk/course/view.php?id=69
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Ian Campbell, Newcastle & District BKA and BBKA Social Media Manager
Losses can be high this month. Stores can become depleted if left unchecked, especially with early spring issues of an expanding colony and limited forage. Winter bees are increasingly dying off now and are, hopefully, being replaced. However, a failing queen may mean the hoped-for build-up never happens.
Avoid doing too much too soon
You can remove mouseguards when frosts have passed; some feel they increase the risk of pollen being knocked off returning foragers and they make it harder for dead bees to be removed. Depending on location, leave inspections until April unless you have an urgent reason or the weather is warmer than average – and then keep it brief!
Decide when to move nadired supers
If you put a super under the brood box for the winter (nadiring) and you don’t want the queen laying in it, start to think about the best time to move it.
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I’m not typically a fan of granola or rather the type of granola that’s as sweet as crumbled oat biscuits, but this lightly sweet version, rich with olive oil and crunchy nuts, is divine. I use extra virgin olive oil, giving an earthy flavour but you can easily use a light olive oil if you prefer. You can play around with the choice of nuts, seeds, and spices to suit your tastes too. With only honey as a sweetener, this granola has a looser texture than versions containing a lot of sugar but, if you like your granola to be more ‘clumpy’, gently compress the hot mixture before it cools down and sets.
Makes about 20 servings. Hands on time: 25 minutes Total time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
200g Whole rolled oats 200g Pecans 100g Honey...
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Julian Routh remembered (1948 - 2024)
On 26th January Julian Routh, who was a long-standing member of the Sutton Coldfield & North Birmingham Branch and a valued and multi-talented member of the Warwickshire Association, passed away at home, peacefully and surrounded by his family. He had kept bees since the 1970s, initially at home and later across Sutton Coldfield, was a BBKA Master Beekeeper and former BBKA Trustee.
After retirement from Seven Trent Water where he worked as a chemical engineer, Julian became a National Bee Unit Seasonal Bee Inspector and with his wizard-like beard, was easily recognised by many beekeepers both locally and nationally. He was a regular lecturer on honey bee pests and diseases as well as on other subjects. Julian was an assessor for the BBKA Basic and General Husbandry examinations and the author of several sections of the BBKA 'Course in a Case' educational material. ...
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Asian Hornet Conference: Saturday 17th February 2024
This year’s online conference provided updates from the NBU, Kent and Jersey together with further information as to how beekeepers fit into the fight against the Asian Hornet.
Nigel Semmence: 'An Update from the NBU' Martin Smith; eR2 Project Manager: ‘Communication is the key’ Kirsteen Thorne; BBKA Outreach Officer Alastair Christie: 'An update on Jersey and what BBKA could learn from the Jersey Experience' Jackie Aucott: An update from Kent
Questions and answers from the 2024 Conference:
eR2 Questions NBU Questions BBKA Questions for Defra and the NBU
Watch the recording here:
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUMk2tzaw1E
Asian Hornet – Special Briefing for Beekeepers – update for 2024 by Andrew Durham
This briefing covered:
The situation as at the end of 2023
The effect on beekeeping
The prospect for 2024 and beyond
A report on the first year i...
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STOP PRESS
BBKA Spring Convention 12th -14th April 2024
Tuesday 12th March update: Extra pre-order collection and wax exchange by Abelo and Thorne on Friday 12th April 3.00 - 5.00pm. This is in addition to Saturday 13th April's 8:30am - 4:30pm Trade Show & pre-advertised pre-order pick-up. More details on the Trade Show page.
Monday 11th March update: Final date for buying wristbands to have your programme posted to you is 17th March.
Monday 11th March update: Purchases have now closed for 150 year anniversary merchandise.
Sunday 3rd March update: Additional traders and updated list now available here
Friday 2nd February update: Strong bookings continuing. Although on-site accommodation is sold out, there are plenty of great places to stay, many in nearby Telford. Click here for further details.
Tuesday 30th January update: very busy bookings yesterday resulted in on-site accommodation being full up within about 10 minut...
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The British Beekeepers’ Association is thrilled and delighted to celebrate 150 years on Thursday 16th May 2024! During the year, the BBKA will hang out the flags and ring the bells for bees and beekeepers in multiple ways, with more to come:
A Little 150-Year History The British Beekeepers’ Association - known as the BBKA - was established as a London-based beekeepers ‘club’ in 1874 and within a decade had evolved into a national organisation. By 1943, Ireland, Scotland and Wales had developed their own Associations, while the BBKA represented beekeepers in England and Northern Ireland. After many years with no fixed abode, in 1982 the BBKA moved to offices at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. Today, the BBKA represents around 30,000 beekeepers across the country, and works to support education around honey bees, while actively campaigning to raise awareness of threats to pollinators.
Planting Trees All member Associations and Branches have the opportunity...