BBKA News

BBKA News

  • Resources for Asian Hornet Teams

    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
  • Asian Hornet Social Media Resources

    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        
  • Asian Hornet Communications Package

    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
  • March

      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. ...
  • Toasted Pecan, Olive Oil & Honey Granola

    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...
  • Julian Routh

    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. ...
  • Asian Hornet Events

    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...
  • Spring Convention Stop Press

    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...
  • Celebrating 150 Years!

    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...
  • February

      Ian Campbell, Newcastle & District BKA and BBKA Social Media Manager Not a lot has changed since January except that the queen is likely to be laying again now. The brood area can be small although this can vary with the harshness of the winter and your location. Observe entrances On a warmer day watch entrances for activity; any early pollen going in is a good sign. Hopefully, the first flowers of the year are blooming and will be attracting bees. Mouseguards at hive entrances can become blocked with dead bees; check this each time you visit and clear them as necessary. Leave alone Yes, still! Weather watch The brightness created by snow can fool bees and encourage them to fly out. A board angled at 45° to shade the entrance can limit this problem Review and plan  Review your records. Which colonies did well and which could do with some ‘anger management’? Have a simple game plan in...

The Association's apiary in North Shropshire

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The Association maintains an apiary at an organic farm in North Shropshire. We hold regular meetings at the apiary during the summer, where members old and new can gain experience in handling bees.

Our Vision

visionWe encourage and develop
the art and science of bee keeping


visionWe strive to educate
Through group meetings, practical out apiary events and educational support 

NSBKA

The North Shropshire Beekeepers' Association - to encourage and develop the art and science of bee keeping