Help BBKA raise funds for our new schools learning Apiary which will be a live resource for learning about the environment and pollinators YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVWzifzgfRE Filmed by fridaysky : www.fridaysky.co.uk   Our offices in Stoneleigh provide the perfect location for our new visitor centre as we are in the heart of England and can welcome visitors from all over the UK. Children will come with their school classes and learn about bees and mini-beasts and food security and have a live bee display with one of our beekeepers. Lots of children get ‘bitten by the bug’ this way and with their interest in beekeeping awakened, will return to it in later years. It’s imperative we train a new generation too as the average age of a beekeeper in the UK is 65. What your donations have paid for The paths around the area have been laid out and the base of the cabin has been installed. The building is expected to go up shortly.&nbs...

Asian Hornet Week 2021 6-10 September We are asking everyone to be vigilant in looking out for this alien species, the Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina. This hornet could decimate our pollinators including our honey bees, it is important to have everyone actively looking for it. Follow the BBKA on social media and share the Asian hornet week posts to help raise awareness Twitter Facebook Instagram  Autumn is the time for trapping as wasps and hornets lose their sources of floral nectar and find hives full of honey very attractive. We are asking beekeepers to put an hour aside every day to watch for hornets hawking their hives during Asian Hornet Week.  Asian hornet press release We have also prepared a press release you can send to local radio stations and newspapers: asianhornetweek2021pr.pdf   A brilliant article from APHA Science blog by Peter Davies.  The threat of the Asian hornet The blog covers the background, the threat they pose...

Friday 9 April 2021 The BBKA is issuing a warning to beekeepers to check their bees for starvation and European Foulbrood during this cold snap.  Emergency feeding may be needed. It would be advisable to check the food levels by opening the hive and making a very quick observation of their store levels. It is also important to check that hives have small entrances as Foulbrood is about in some areas and small colonies or those suffering disease may not be able to defend themselves from infected intruders if they have a large opening to defend.  Strong colonies may try to rob weaker ones and thus contract the infections. It is probably not possible to inspect the colonies as it is still too cold, but the best defence is to ensure they all have food. You can make a careful inspection of their brood to check for infections when it is warm enough.  Key points to remember are: • The colony may still have stores available which are at the other end of the brood cha...

Friday 9 April 2021 Defra and the Welsh Government are asking beekeepers and bee farmers to do a survey about training that can help them implement effective biosecurity and maintain good standards of husbandry.  How can training and information sources for beekeepers and bee farmers be improved? Have your say by taking a survey.   Defra and the Welsh Government want to ensure that beekeepers and bee farmers have access to training and information that can help them implement effective biosecurity and maintain good standards of husbandry, so as to minimise pest and disease risks and improve the sustainability of honeybee populations.    A short questionnaire is available for current beekeepers, people who have recently stopped keeping bees as well as bee farmers to give their views and opinions on the type, accessibility and range of training and information available and ...