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The BBKA are putting on a series of Zoom talks for beekeepers which will also be recorded and made available on YouTube for those unable to watch live. All talks start at 7pm unless stated otherwise.
Next Talk:
'Running Study Groups': Tuesday 17th December 2024, 7pm The next BBKA lecture will focus on running study groups using the newly launched free module study section on BBKA Learning Online. These materials have been developed for use by all our members on the back of the work done for the correspondence courses. We will show you how to use the courses during the presentation.
David Bonner recently ran a Module 1 study group and Diane Drinkwater ran a Module 3 group (all exam results awaited). They will discuss their experiences and share tips on how to successfully run study groups that you can adapt for use for both in-person and virtual study groups. There is more than one way to get the most out of group study and we want people to share...
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The following training courses are now available to book:
Microscopy Beginners Course: Saturday 8th February 2025, one day course Microscopy Beginners Course: Sunday 9th February 2025, one day course Microscopy Intermediate Course: Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th February 2025, two day course
For further details and to book your place click here.
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Looking Up…..
With the yellow-legged ‘Asian’ hornet season now at a close, there’s much to ponder on. The nest tally for 2024 stands at 24 - compare that to last year’s total of 72 nests and you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve got off lightly. No doubt the challenging weather during the spring and early summer played a part in the lower numbers. Perhaps the mammoth efforts of the National Bee Unit, BBKA members and AHT Teams, and the wider public, are now starting to pay off in the fight to prevent this invasive predator from becoming established. Or have some nests been missed, despite those efforts and increased public awareness?
Clearly a number of variables could be at play here. But whatever the reality, there’s a danger that the perception this is somehow over already might start to take hold, in the absence of an increase on last year’s tally.
So how to keep a winged intruder most associated with the b...
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Gloriously festive, this ice cream honey bombe is the perfect Christmassy pudding. The ice cream, or parfait, is easy to make and produces a soft aerated dessert. Whipped cream and a honey-based meringue are folded together with crunchy toasted nuts and sweet, sherry-soaked, fruits. The result keeps to the traditional flavours of a rich Christmas pudding but is a lighter end to the meal.
Servings: Makes enough for 8 people
Preparation: Day 1 - soak the fruit (24 hours), Day 2 - 30 min preparation + freezing, Day 3 - 10 min for decoration
Ingredients
50g Sultanas 50g Currants 50g Dried sour cherries or cranberries 50g Dried citrus peel, chopped 100ml Sherry (or other spirit) 60g &nb...
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If you are interested in taking up the fascinating hobby of beekeeping you will no doubt have lots of questions and here we aim to provide some of the answers to help you find out exactly what might be involved.
Keeping bees healthy and productive requires knowledge and skill. Beekeeping is made much easier by belonging to a local BBKA Association where you will be given advice, tuition and support.
Where do I start?
Contact your local BBKA Association for advice and consider becoming a member. Most associations run ‘Taster Days’ which are ideal for obtaining a basic understanding of bees and what is involved in beekeeping. This can be followed by an ‘Introduction to Beekeeping’ course where you can learn some of the theory required to be a good beekeeper and gain valuable practical experience before you make any investment in equipment and honey bees. Your local association may also be able to assign you a mentor who wil...
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In 2024 all member Associations and Branches have been given the opportunity to plant sesquicentennial trees in their apiaries, funded by the BBKA as part of the 150 year celebrations. Honey bees, bumblebees and many other species depend on trees for food, and the BBKA trees will last well into the future - even another 150 years!
Laddingford BKA planted a lime tree in their apiary to commemorate the BBKA 150th anniversary.
Stratford-on-Avon BKA are setting up a new Training Apiary from scratch following major land clearance. They have planted a Sorbus Huphensis Tree (Rowan). They chose a variety that carries berries as opposed to fruit that would probably draw in wasps, and of course the bees will appreciate the early blooms. It will cast only dappled shade so will be ideal.
Frome BKA in Somerset purchased some mixed British hedging to act as a barrier for the Club Apiary from members of the public. They he...
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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.
Further information including a timeline can be found here.
Planting T...
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ADM 2024/02: BBKA to take action on the matter of adulterated honey that does not rely on the actions of central Government. Prepare costings of action programme and bring findings and costings to 2025 ADM.( Refer to ADM pack for full wording).
BBKA continues to work with the Honey Authenticity Network UK (HAN UK) who are co-operating with international colleagues to raise awareness of the issue of honey adulteration.
A further report is due to the 2025 ADM.
ADM 2022/02, 03, 04: The BBKA to ask the Government to investigate the situation around imported fake and adulterated honey. What action is being taken to ensure that consumers are made fully aware that any product sold in the UK as 'pure honey' could in fact contain added ingredients that are not itemised on the label.
Petitions: The BBKA sponsored two petitions (Autumn 2022 and Winter 2023) calling on the Government to change the honey labelling rules so consumers can easily recognise all countries of origin o...
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Hello and welcome to the first BBKA 'Reaching Out' blog! Let’s start by explaining why this blog has been created.
It’s been more than nine months now since the outreach officer role was introduced, in large part to help raise awareness on a national scale of the increasing numbers of Yellow-legged Asian hornets (YLH) and to offer support and assistance to the AHT teams and BBKA members in their efforts to support the NBU on the ground and spread the word throughout their communities.
And what a nine months it has been. Busy, fascinating, engaging…at times frustrating and maddening too…but never boring! Over the course of those nine months, I have connected with hundreds of people across a number of fields of interest and expertise.
But that has posed a dilemma: how to best to communicate to you all the work that is being undertaken in this area, and the stakeholders we are managing to engage with? With so many proactive members work...
