BBKA News
BBKA News
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Training
Training -
BBKA Resources
BBKA Resources -
Winter Survival Survey shows Higher Losses winter 2019
1 July 2020 The latest survey from the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) shows higher losses of 17.3% of colonies compared to last year when losses were 9%. But the losses are under the average measured across all the surveys we have carried out so far which is 18.2%. Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey. We had around 2,600 replies online which is 10% of our membership. The highest survival rate was in the South West ( 10.2% losses) and the worst was the South East ( 21.7% losses). You can find more information in the latest edition of BBKA News which is available in the Members Area of the website: https://bbkanews.com/issues The survey, and results of all the questions, will be placed on our website later. -ends- -
Posh Bee Research 2020 update
30 June 2020 PoshBee scientists, who are backed by the BBKA, have issued their second newsletter which shows some of the technical innovations they have made in order to study the effects of chemicals on honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees. The first is a clear plastic box they can place over bumblebee nests to ensure safe handling of the bees and to allow photographs to be taken of what is happening in the bumblebee nest. The second innovation is a trap fitted onto the entrance of a honeybee hive to catch dead bees when they are dragged out by the workers which will allow more accurate counting of deaths. The third is etching serial numbers lasered onto every frame they put in a honeybee hive which allows easy identification both in the field and lab. You can find out more about these inventions and how they are being used here: http://poshbee.eu/show/2802_tech_innovations -ends- -
Past Spring Convention Programmes
The BBKA Spring Convention Programmes The Spring Convention has been held every year since 1977 Regrettably the 2020 Spring Convention was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. 2021's Spring Convention will be 16-18 April. Mark this on your calendar now! The Convention Committee are busy investigating options including the much loved Harper Adams Convention and/or an online event, so that we are prepared for whatever the future brings. The (cancelled) 2020 programme is available below to download and we have included the past few years too, so you can really get a flavour of what the BBKA's Spring Convention is all about. Spring Convention 2020 Programme Spring Convention 2019 Programme Spring Convention 2018 Programme -
Queen Rearing Courses are a Hit
7th June 2020 The BBKA introduced Queen Rearing Courses last year to encourage people to breed their own queens. Now surveys have shown high satisfaction with the knowledge they gained. All photos by Rachel Hills The reason for doing this is to encourage beekeepers to buy bees that are locally adapted to their area, which are successful and avoid the risk of bringing diseases into the country and into their apiaries. The most recent example of this is Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV) which has appeared in many areas of the country and is associated with the importation of bees. Funding was granted by Defra and late last summer 5 two-day courses with 10 beekeepers were run at four locations. Each course was taught by two Master Beekeepers, the lead tutor was Sean Stephenson. The 62 beekeepers were shown the two simple and successful methods of getting a new queen - grafting and the Miller Method, although other methods were also briefly discussed. Eac... -
Unconfirmed sighting of Asian Hornet on UK Mainland
Wednesday 3rd June, 2020 A small nest of hornets in an outbuilding in Monmouthshire has been destroyed but Defra have not confirmed that it was an Asian Hornet nest. Beekeepers in the area are keeping an eye out for Asian Hornets. This is the picture of the nest and hornet emerging before it was destroyed. All beekeepers are asked to be vigilant for hornets and keep looking for nests in sheds and trees on their walks outside. -ends- -
Honeybee Swarms
A honeybee colony swarming is a natural process. It's the colony reproducing by the old queen leaving with some of the bees. They leave their hive and find somewhere to hang in a cluster until the scout bees decide on their new home. If you think you've got a swarm please use our Swarm Collector map to find a local beekeeper to come and remove the honeybees. The photos below have been shared by our members to show you some of the beautiful examples of swarms that you might see. Sometimes the swarm really stands out! And sometimes not! This swarm (photos by Joe Smith from Darlington) was almost hidden Swarms have less to land on in towns! This is not a normal bin collection! Here's a swarm on a bin being collected! Sometimes they land on a wall Or a gate post Or on a bridge Sometimes they're huge! This photo from a member of NSBKA was he biggest swarm (and the easiest to collect) that the experienced beekeeper called o... -
Questions for beekeepers
Questions for beekeepers This page will have new questions added regularly. The questions are for beekeepers and will help provide feedback on topics and issues for those involved in beekeeping. Bookmark the page and return every month! Sacbrood is a relatively common disease during the first half of the brood-rearing season and can often go unnoticed, affecting only a small percentage of the brood. It does not usually cause severe colony loss. Initially during an infection, the virus particles replicate in the developing larva, which appear to develop normally until after being capped over. Typical symptoms include: The infected larva then turns from its usual pearly white to a pale yellow colour; The larva will eventually die and begin to dry out, turning a dark brown to black colour, giving rise to the characteristic ‘Chinese slippers’ or ‘gondola-shaped’ scales; As the larvae die, the workers will uncap the cells to expose the... -
Be a kindness at always
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