British Beekeepers Association

  • With thanks to the presenters involved and sponsors, particularly The Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for supporting the recordings, the BBKA is delighted to bring you presentations from recent Spring Conventions. These presentations are available on the BBKA YouTube Channel. Please click on the titles below to access individual recordings. Subscribing to the channel is free, and if you subscribe to the channel and 'click the bell' you will receive updates when more videos are uploaded. Back to main Spring Convention Pages 2026 Andrew Abrahams: 50 years of beekeeping in the Hebrides     Richard Rickitt:  Bees, baskets, boles and a bit of Butler    Robert Paxton:  Breeding our way to Varroa-free beekeeping   Marla Spivak:  Pragmatic bee-breeding for beekeepers   'Coming Soon' 2025 Peter Davies: 'NBU field response to Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet'   Dr Jeff Pettis: 'Small Hive Beetle Update' Pro...
  • As the weather turns, this dish brings exactly the kind of warmth and comfort the season calls for. The chicken is baked with a Middle Eastern-inspired spice blend, and honey and walnuts are added for the final 10 minutes. This gives the honey time to glaze and caramelise while the walnuts toast, adding welcome sweetness, crunch, and depth. Butterflying the chicken results in a faster roast and succulent, evenly cooked meat. Alternatively, you could use a whole chicken or leg and thigh pieces, adjusting the cooking time accordingly. This one-pan dish is aromatic yet light – and simple enough for a week night yet impressive enough for company. Go gently with the saffron to avoid it dominating, but it’s well worth including, along with fenugreek (methi). If fenugreek isn’t available, a small pinch of ground fennel seed with a touch of curry powder gives a similar gentle bitterness and warmth. Fenugreek seeds are exceptionally hard, so buy them ground unless you have...
  • The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) is proud to announce the celebration of National Honey Day on 21st October, a nationwide initiative to spotlight the golden goodness of local British honey and the dedicated beekeepers who produce it. This year’s theme is simple and powerful: Buy Local Honey! Whether from a neighbourhood beekeeper, farm shop, market stall or independent retailer, choosing local honey supports British bees, biodiversity, livelihoods and the craft of beekeeping. “We want everyone to experience the joy of tasting the spring and summer through honey. Each jar of local honey tells a unique story - of flowers like hedgerow bramble, clover, heather or lime - and the weather that shaped the season,” said Diane Drinkwater, President of the BBKA. Despite the UK’s rich beekeeping heritage, only around 14 per cent of the honey consumed domestically is produced here. This year has been marked by exceptionally hot an...
  • 'Friends of the Honey Bee' is a BBKA initiative aimed at reaching out to primary schools and other community groups to encourage them to become more bee friendly and aware of the importance of all pollinators. Benefits of becoming a 'Friend of the Honey Bee': FREE to join! Use of the 'Friends of the Honey Bee' logo within school and on school stationery Membership certificate 'Friends of the Honey Bee' stickers A termly newsletter from the BBKA                                  Some suggested activities for 'Friends of the Honey Bee' schools: Planting for bees and pollinators, making the most of available opportunities - you don’t need to have a lot of space to plant some seeds in pots and planters or you can try using recycled materials. Sharing the importance of planting forage for bees and pollinators within your community - can you give a talk to the rest of your school during...
  • This ice cream delivers a strong honey flavour and pops of cinnamon from honey and oat crunch clusters running through it. There are a couple of stages to the recipe, but none are difficult, and the end result is absolutely worth it for the kind of pudding that feels homemade in the best way. Whipped cream and egg whites are folded through a custard base, meaning the ice cream stays soft enough to scoop straight from the freezer. Serves: 8 - 10       Preparation: 50 minutes + freezing Ingredients Honey Oat Clusters 80g Whole rolled oats 80g Honey 40g Butter ¼ tsp Salt 2-3 tsp  Ground cinnamon  Ice Cream 5 Eggs, medium, separated 150g Honey 375ml Double cream ¼ tsp Salt 1 tsp Vanilla extract or paste Tip: Use sweet cinnamon (cassia), for a more aromatic cinnamon flavour  Method To make the oat clusters, melt the butter in a pan on low heat, then stir in 80g honey, ¼ tsp salt, and 2–3 tsp of...