Spring Convention Research Poster Awards

BBKA Spring Convention Research Poster Awards      Thanks to sponsorship from the C.B. Dennis British Beekeeper's Research Trust, and to mark 150 years of the BBKA in 2024, applications are invited for Convention Research Poster Awards.  The intention of these awards is to enable researchers who would not otherwise present at the Convention to do so.  Accepted posters will be displayed 12th – 13th April and presented on Friday 12th, at the Convention at Harper Adams University, Shropshire, TF10 8NB.  Following the poster presentations, the author judged to have given the best poster and presentation, will be awarded a prize certificate and one year’s complimentary membership of the BBKA.   Applications are invited from UK based researchers for awards up to £400 maximum each.  The research presented should relate to honey bees and /or beekeeping. Four awards are expected to be made.   To apply: Applications must be r...

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Asian Hornet Briefing

Asian Hornet – Special Briefing for Beekeepers – update for 2024 Tuesday 16th January 2024, 7.00pm via Zoom This follow up briefing by Andrew Durham will cover: The situation as at the end of 2023 The effect on beekeeping The prospect for 2024 and beyond A report on the first year in operation of the new French National Plan for fighting the hornet Please use the following Zoom link to join the briefing: https://ift.tt/YIscqLE  Meeting ID: 847 6717 8392 Passcode: 162837

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Plan your BBKA Spring Convention

Planning for 2024 BBKA Spring Convention 2024 is the 150th anniversary of the founding of the British Beekeepers Association. There’s no better place to come and celebrate this than the BBKA’s Spring Convention! The planning for the Spring Convention starts long before Spring, and whilst some speakers and workshops have yet to be finalised, it’s going to be a really special event. If you’re feeling a bit “Zoomed out” then come along and participate in some real-world beekeeping activities. The Spring Convention has real-life speakers, workshops and seminars! The BBKA Spring Convention is held at Harper Adams University   near Newport, in Shropshire. The dates for 2024 are 12th - 14th April.  The one day Trade Show will be on Saturday 13th April. Many traders have special offers available to pre-order, as well as having new items of kit available to examine at the Show. The event is held across the campus in several buildings, with l...

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Oakgrove School

November 2023 Oakgrove School, based in Milton Keynes, have been awarded 'Beacon School' status and they are delighted that educating their pupils on the enjoyment and importance of bees in the environment has been recognised by the BBKA.    BBKA President, Anne Rowberry, recently visited the school for a student-led tour of its apiary and to present the school with its Beacon School certificate. The school currently has 22 hives and runs a twice weekly Bee Club.  They also share their knowledge and best practice with other schools in the area and with the local community helping to demonstrate the value of beekeeping.  They sell some of their honey each year to help fund new equipment for the Bee Club. We came up with the idea of a beekeeping club in 2020.  I was chatting with the Deputy Head, Nic Irwin - Morris, about bees and mentioned I would love to become a beekeeper.  She asked why I wasn’t and I told her it was because I had nowher...

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BBKA National Honey Day

The British Beekeepers' Association celebrate National Honey Day on 21st October each year. We would like to invite you to share in this day when we will be encouraging everyone to buy a jar of local honey, produced by bees here in the UK.  Not only do we want to ensure people are aware of all the benefits honey provides but we are seeking to celebrate the pleasure of eating honey. Honey has been enjoyed all over the world for centuries, it was found in the Egyptian tombs and is often depicted being collected by bees in ancient cave drawings. During this day of celebration, you could encourage friends and family to share photos on social media: you and your jars of local honey! The things you do with your honey. Perhaps you eat it on toast or in porridge? Perhaps you bake with honey or make mead? Do you make cosmetics containing honey? Use the hashtags #NationalHoneyDay, #LocalHoney, #Beekeeping But we are concerned that consumers are able to buy a jar label...

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Asian Hornets' eating habits

"Each established Asian hornet nest has been estimated to eat around 11kg of pollinators and other invertebrates per year." [https://www.farnhamherald.com/environment/farnham-beekeepers-issue-urgent-asian-hornet-warning-after-sightings-641095]

If a honeybee typically turns the scales at around 100mg, then 11kg = 110,000 bees, approximately two colonies.

Apico

APICO is a laid-back beekeeping sim game about breeding, collecting, & conserving bees! Set in a series of lush environments, APICO uniquely combines resource gathering, biology, and beekeeping minigames, taking ideas from a mix of real-life and fantasy apiculture & floriculture.

Yes, really. https://whitethorngames.com/apico

Government aid announced for beekeepers affected by wildfire

In Portugal. I had not realised the fires were so bad.
Full article: https://www.portugalresident.com/government-aid-announced-for-beekeepers-affected-by-wildfire/

Peter Hewitt

A tribute to Peter Hewitt, a most respected beekeeper, exhibitor, speaker and so much more (28.9.1923 – 10.9.2023). Peter died at home, peacefully in his sleep, in the early morning of 10th September, just 18 days short of his 100th birthday. Born in an impoverished area of Birkenhead, Merseyside, Peter suffered from rickets in childhood, an unlikely beginning for such a long life. Although money was tight, he was a bright pupil and achieved a Leverhulme Scholarship to the local grammar school. This gained him access to the education provided, but the cost of extra-curricular activities was beyond the means of his family. With regard to the grammar school system, he described himself as “in it, but not of it.”. On leaving school, Peter began an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker at the Cammell Laird Shipyard. Here he had his first encounter with the craft of beekeeping, when an older workmate asked him to construct some wooden boxes. On completion, Peter discovered ...

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Sustainability in Beekeeping

 At the 2023 ADM a proposition was passed requiring the BBKA to “seek to encourage the development of sustainability in all aspects of beekeeping”. It has been a challenge to define what sustainability is as it means different things to different people.  The BBKA has, therefore, kept the brief as wide as possible. An Area Association Discussion Forum was organised to talk about the different aspects of sustainability in beekeeping that might be considered.  These are just some of the topics which were discussed: ·         Car-free beekeeping ·         Queens ·         Feeding ·         Frames & Foundation ·         Hive Density ·         Equipment · &nbsp...

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Beekeeping at the Scottish Parliament

Neat magazine story here: https://uk.style.yahoo.com/meet-18-old-beekeeper-looks-104658017.html 

As a full-time cynic, (a) it's curious that Eilidh chooses to wear leather gauntlets, which says to me that she's less than confident, and (b) may I suggest a quick wash of the bee-suits might be a good plan.

Sentinel apiary

A sweet story, no less: https://uk.style.yahoo.com/sweet-chemist-emilys-250-000-180000188.html

Buried in the story: “The site is registered as an Enhanced Sentinel Apiary. This means that the National Bee Unit checks it for exotic pests and diseases,” explained Emily.

“It was requested for this monitoring due to its proximity to the ports. They are looking for any exotic pests and diseases arriving by boat which might attack the bees or affect their health. The idea is that anything would be spotted early and contained.”

Emily (whose last name is secret, it seems) is at The Wilton Centre, https://www.ukspa.org.uk/wilton-centre/

Are Disabilities Barriers to Beekeeping?

Living with a disability makes you rethink many aspects of life, including whether you are able to become a beekeeper, as Zec Richardson explains. All photos are courtesy of Zec Richardson. I first took an interest in beekeeping around about 1994. One summer, every lunchtime at work, I would sit outside behind the aircraft hangar where some bees had nested in an old hut that had a hole in the door. I sat close by and some of the bees would land on me before going into the hive. It was then that I became interested in bees. My wife had always said that if we had a garden over 70 feet long, I could then have a hive as she is not the most confident with bees, wasps or anything that flies near her. When we moved into the property we are living in now, the garden was 100 feet long, but she laughed and said: “no chance”, before I had said anything. So, it was a shock when one day, out of the blue she turned to me and said: “Okay you can have a hive!” Weigh...

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The inevitable UK rise of Asian Hornets (V velutina)

Neat report here: https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/asian-hornets-confirmed-london-first-092449212.html

The Best Ukrainian Beehive of Vasyl Priyatelenko, Beekeeper of Ukraine. At Apiary, Kyiv, Ukraine.

 

Asian Hornet Week 2023 - Special Briefings for Beekeepers

Due to unprecedented demand, and restricted meeting numbers, we are sadly not able to accommodate everyone via Zoom for these briefings.  Therefore, we will also be live streaming the briefings to YouTube to enable as many people as possible to attend. The YouTube link will be available from 7.00pm on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th September. YouTube link will be here. In light of the increased number of Asian Hornet nests in mainland UK in 2023, we have arranged a special Zoom briefing for beekeepers during Asian Hornet Week, split over two nights. Our speaker will be the Cambridgeshire Beekeeper, Andrew Durham, a regular contributor to the BBKA News on the Asian Hornet and who for over 9 years has been studying the Asian Hornet situation in France with regard to its effect on beekeeping.  Drawing on his own research and on a wide range of authoritative and regularly updated sources, from local beekeeping groups to national beekeeping organisations, and from local ad...

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Becoming a Beekeeper

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 will also be able to assign you a mentor who wi...

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Find Beekeeping Near You

There are over 270 area associations and branches who serve their local community with support and education.   The majority offer beekeeping experiences and training courses, support local events and sell honey.  Whether you are in Northumberland or the Isle of Wight there is a network of support. They will all be able to help you on your way to becoming a successful beekeeper. *   Find out what's on offer in your area using our interactive map *   Enter you postcode in the box below and click on 'Find nearest beekeeping association' to find your nearest BBKA branch *   Clicking the 'bee' will show you further information including the website address for your local beekeeper's association Before using the map, please ensure you have enabled essential cookies otherwise it will not work correctly. For Scotland please see the Scottish Beekeepers' Association For Wales please see the Welsh Beekeepers' Association Honeybee I...

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Royal Lancaster Hotel, London - plus Bees Abroad

The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, keeps bees, and partners with Bees Abroad. Check out the "Bee Our Guest" offer from the hotel, https://www.royallancaster.com/promotions/bee-our-guest/

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/top-london-hotel-almost-million-161558617.html

Ivry-B hive adds to the long list of types: Langstroth, WBC, National, Top-Bar, Dadant, Warré, Smith, Flow...

The only thing is, feral colonies live for the most part in vertical cavities, such as hollow trees. For structural strength of the comb, bees naturally build comb with honey at the top, then pollen and brood. The extended horizontal pattern of the Ivry-B seems to go against that general principle.

Does my swarm look big in this?

Looks like a *lot* of bees in Glasgie: https://www.thenational.scot/news/23619113.63rd-1st-glasgow-restaurant-forced-close-huge-bee-swarm/ 

Brazen bee burlgary

See here on Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/status/1687108268584529920 

August In the Apiary 2023

Karl Colyer The queen’s egg-laying rate will be reducing as the days start to shorten and forage generally tends to become less available. Followed closely behind this is a steady dwindling of bee numbers in the colony. August is one of the last months where there may be some flexibility and options for your bees and beekeeping management. Depending upon what forage is available and for how long, it does allow some preparations for next year to happen during this month. Timing your honey harvest For most beekeepers, there should be some honey surplus available to the beekeeper. How much you choose to take influences when you should take it and any supplementary actions needed to ensure there are adequate stores to get the bees through the winter. If you are at all unsure about how much honey to crop, you can be considerate to the bees and leave the first box of honey for them and the rest is for the beekeeper. This somewhat conservative approach negates the need to feed th...

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Ron Hoskins

With great sadness I have to announce the death of Ronald A Hoskins (Ron) on 2 July 2023. A pioneer Master Beekeeper who was known across the world for his work on not only trying to teach the British but also Swiss Scientific Beekeepers about treatment free beekeeping (how it isn’t necessary to use chemicals to fight the influx of the Varroa Mite but by letting the bees do it themselves). He travelled to other countries as far away as Australia, New Zealand & Norway working with various scientists. It is regretful that Ron received very limited recognition of his life's work from some of those scientists and some other beekeepers who eventually changed their minds and are now using his method of treatment free. Ron travelled across Britain giving talks on his work for some time hoping that his success in Varroa control would be picked up and used by as many beekeepers as possible without chemical intervention. I had the privileg...

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July In the Apiary 2023

Karl Colyer Your colony is at its maximum size this month and the rate of egg-laying from the queen will now start to decline in line with the season. July is a good month to take stock of your beekeeping. Your colonies should be populous but not need feeding. Almost all your equipment should be in use and if you are short of anything, make a note of it for next year. Amending any issues with colonies in July can help them to successfully prepare for winter. Honey harvest preparations For most beekeepers, July enjoys a good nectar flow. It may be sensible to consider extracting some honey now so that supers can be recycled and refilled. Try to note which supers are removed from which hive – this helps to minimise disease transfer and it helps keep the supers in balance with the productivity of individual colonies. If you remove supers from the apiary to extract the honey at home, do remember that honey is food so avoid placing supers on the ground or onto dusty or dirty su...

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The average bee is one hundred times brainier than me

Bees are astonishingly good at making decisions – and our computer model explains how that’s possible

Published: June 27, 2023 8.00am BST https://theconversation.com/bees-are-astonishingly-good-at-making-decisions-and-our-computer-model-explains-how-thats-possible-208189

Well, hype-headline to one side, the article includes a note about a bee's "tiny yet remarkable brain."

A honeybee brain possesses around 1 million neurons, which gives a neurons-to-mass ratio of 1,000,000n:0.0001kg, normalised to 10,000,000,000:1.

Human brains comprise around 10,000,000,000 neurons; and as an example, I am around 100kg. Presuming I have the average number of brain neurons (optimistic, but run with it), my neurons-to-mass ratio is 100,000,000:1.

On that measure, the average bee is one hundred times brainier than me.

US honeybees suffer second deadliest season on record

Alarming news: US honeybees suffer second deadliest season on record

Nearly 50% of US bee colonies died off last year, although efforts have helped the overall bee population remain ‘relatively stable’ 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/23/us-honeybees-second-deadliest-season

Swarm collection

Miel - Fleurs Sauvage

Purchased for €10 in Le Touquet. The reverse label says "Récolté en Espagne, conditionné en France." Tastes very sugary.

 

How's that?

Cricket Ireland forced to call out beekeeper after unexpected swarm delays domestic clash

https://wisden.com/stories/news-stories/cricket-ireland-call-out-beekeeper-unexpected-swarm-delays-domestic-clash-ire

UAE beekeepers are adapting to climate change

Nice piece here https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uae-beekeepers-adapting-climate-change-195914193.html 

“With temperatures that could reach 50 degrees (122 Fahrenheit), 45 degrees (113 Fahrenheit), bees can't survive in these hot temperatures. We can overcome this by placing the bees under large canopies, we also make sure there are water sprinklers around. Also, we were able to develop a strain of bees that can survive the heat in the UAE. Through genetic manipulation, we were able to choose certain genes in the bees that allow the queen bee to live in hot temperatures. We chose the genes in the bee that allow for the queen bee to survive in high temperatures.”

Beekeeper wears 'bee helmet' to promote honey

Asian Hornet Sighting - Canterbury, Kent

From BeeBase https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/about-us/beekeeping-news/asian-hornet-sighting-canterbury-kent/

Asian Hornet Sighting - Canterbury, Kent

On Sunday 28th May a bee farmer, whilst doing a routine apiary inspection near Canterbury, Kent, recognised an Asian hornet that had been attracted to the colonies and knocked it down. The NBU has collected the specimen which will be analysed by scientists and follow up activities will take place to raise awareness.

Please report sightings of Vespa velutina using the ‘Asian hornet Watch’ app for iPhone and Android, or the online reporting form.

https://risc.brc.ac.uk/alert.php?species=asian_hornet

Putting hornets on the genomic map

Hornets, specifically Vespa velutina, possess a remarkable sense of smell, which enables them to find and adapt to new prey, which in turn explains the rapid, invasive spread to new environments.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31932-x

Backpacking bees

 

Tiny backpack for bees can track their position and temperature

A sensor around a millimetre in size has been tested to monitor a honeybee flying around some flowers. It could also work for medical monitoring inside a person's body

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376605-tiny-backpack-for-bees-can-track-their-position-and-temperature/

Bees; sentient, but not as we know it

Yes, bees are sentient - and so are slugs, fish, monkeys, dogs and people. 

Being sentient comes in degrees. Generally, I accept that other people are sentient because they are likely to be somewhat similar to me; their me-like behaviour persuades me that they are sentient.

That's the case we make for dogs. Exhibiting happiness, guilt, and hunger create a persuasive case that dogs are sentient. Monkeys, probably the same though perhaps a little less, mainly because we know less about their behaviour. 

As for fish and slugs, we have so little in common with them that we tend not to think of them as sentient. It might be reasonable to say "Sentient, but not as we know it."

Which leads to a sliding scale, and bees are on it: they are sentient, but not as we know it.

https://guildford-dragon.com/beekeepers-notes-knowing-bees-are-sentient-changes-how-we-must-treat-them/

Asian hornet

Bees, flowers, and beer

This year's Manchester Flower Festival offers the opportunity to "try beekeeping," and mix cocktails featuring honey produced from the Printworks' own bees.

What's odd is that the article [https://secretmanchester.com/manchester-printworks-honeyworks/] fails to mention the long association of bees with Manchester. 

Guerlain celebrates World Bee Day with third annual fund-raising campaign

Well I never! 

LVMH-owned beauty and fragrance house Guerlain is celebrating World Bee Day with its third annual fundraising campaign to support its bee conservation programme.

Between 20 May (World Bee Day) and 22 May (International Day of Biological Diversity), the brand is donating 20% of global sales to support the initiative.

https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/guerlain-celebrates-world-bee-day-with-third-annual-fund-raising-campaign/

Ukraine

Here's a nice piece:

The relationship between Wales and Ukraine has got even sweeter with the launch of a new honey that encapsulates the essence of both countries.

Wainwright’s Ukranian Sunflower honey is the result of a collaboration between Ceredigion-based Wainwright’s Bee Farm and Ukrainian producer Honey Brothers.

Read more here: https://businessnewswales.com/new-honey-cultivates-collaboration-between-wales-ukraine/

Funereal Bees or Coronation Bees?

Some piffle in The Mail about the bees at Buck House and Clarence House: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/royal-beekeeper-places-charles-bees-under-security-for-coronation/

The photo appears to show the hives with funeral sashes, presumably for the death of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

Bandwagon Beekeeping

"A Shropshire councillor and hobbyist beekeeper has released jars of honey for sale to mark King Charles's coronation."

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/much-wenlock/2023/05/04/councillor-beekeeper-unveils-coronation-honey/

Find a local Swarm Collector

Enter your postcode below and then click on the red markers which appear nearest the 'bee' for details of your local swarm collector. If you can't find a swarm collector local to you on this map please get in touch with your local beekeeping association. Please note that swarm collectors from south of the Thames cannot assist with swarms across the water in Essex. Our volunteer beekeepers can only assist in cases of swarms of honey bees. Before using the map please ensure you have enabled essential cookies otherwise it will not work correctly. For Scotland please see Scottish Beekeepers Association For Wales please also see Welsh Beekeepers Association To support the work of the BBKA please DONATE HERE

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Beekeeping Age, says Tik Tok

So we are told, “beekeeping age” refers to attractive men around 40 or 50 years old, intended as a compliment. Given that I am waaaaaay past my beekeeping age, and the source of this wonderment is Tik Tok, this new learning amazes me.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/does-mean-someone-beekeeping-age-182314219.html

Anyway, I always refer to beekeeping age as the number of hives each year multiplied by the number of years. For example, if you keep three hives for two years and then four hives for the next three years, your beekeeping age is 3x2 + 4x3 = 18. For me, that makes sense. A commercial beekeeper like Stewart Spinks with several hundred hives is likely to learn and know more than a hobbyist with three hives, so Stewart's beekeeping age is perhaps 200x10, ie 2,000. And that, of course, is his actual age, too.

https://www.norfolk-honey.co.uk/

Politicians and their Pets

Well, I'm not sure I would count my bees as "pets"... Here's a piece on a councillor in Speyside, Juli Harris: https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,councillor-juli-harris-beekeeping-and-me

Beekeeping in Portugal

Apparently beekeepers in the Algarve region of Portugal produce more than 1,000 tonnes of honey every year. As a massive fan of all things Portuguese, all I can say is "Maravilhosa" (feminine, on the grounds that the queen and her worker bees are of the female persuasion).

Story here: https://www.portugalresident.com/beekeeping-continues-to-motivate-algarve-entrepreneurs/

Edward (Ted) Chatley

The Twickenham and Thames Valley Beekeepers' Association (TTVBKA) has announced the sad passing of Edward (Ted) Chatley, who was a central figure in the association for more than 40 years. Ted gave years of selfless dedication to the Equipment Trading Scheme and was always ready to give advice to other beekeepers.  Ted stars in the TTVBKA's award-winning centenary film and appeared on more Honey Show shields than anyone in the association’s history. He kept bees since 1974 and won the trophy for best extracting comb more than 14 times! Ted will be greatly missed and leaves a large hole in the fabric of the beekeeping community.

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Decline in wild bee species

 

Decline in wild bee species richness associated with honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) abundance in an urban ecosystem

Worth reading: https://peerj.com/articles/14699/

Another Beckham's Bees story

Here's the man. Good work, fella!

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/david-beckhams-footballer-beekeeper-trajectory-152700178.html

Sticky situation: Spanish beekeepers bathe themselves in honey to demand help for ‘dying’ sector

Watch the sticky video here -- https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/sticky-situation-spanish-beekeepers-bathe-themselves-in-honey-to-demand-help-for-dying-sector/vi-AA1750N1

I sympathise with the difficulties, but am not sure about the wish for subsidies. 

I want one of these

 If I knew who to credit, I would

Ulster Beekeepers' Association

The Ulster Beekeepers' Association will hold the Annual Conference in CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, Antrim on Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18.

The theme is 'Building Sustainable Beekeeping', and the keynote speaker will be Professor Juliana Rangel, of Texas A and M University.

Tickets can be booked via: https://buytickets.at/ulsterbeekeepersassociation.

Yemen

 

Beekeeping in Yemen dates back to the 10th century, producing many varieties of delicious honey.

But conflict in the country has affected beekeepers & beekeeping.

🎥Thanks to a @FAO-@WorldBank project, beekeepers like Salim are producing honey again.#BeeEngaged #SaveTheBees pic.twitter.com/WOUo11sysG

— Food and Agriculture Organization (@FAO) January 22, 2023

Spring Convention Trade Show

Not for Profit Exhibition Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd  & Trade Show  Saturday 22nd The Trade Show will be open on Saturday 22nd this year with all main suppliers and leading companies represented. Trade Show Exhibition Saturday 08.30 - 16.30 Trade Show Only day tickets, are available at £6 on Saturday at reception in the Faccenda building. All on the day payments by card please. (See Pp 44-47 of the Full Programme)  On both Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April, attendees are welcome to browse the Not for Profit exhibition, including the main BBKA stand, in the Regional Food Academy foyer. Then on Saturday 22nd only, 08.30 – 16.30 you can add to your beekeeping kit in the Commercial Trade Show, in the Sports Hall and Students Union. Thanks to our traders, advertisers and sponsors we are able to keep the cost of Convention tickets competitive. There will be time before and between lectures to buy what you need and to see wha...

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Sunflowers Linked to Reduced Varroa Mite Infestations in Honey Bees

 https://entomologytoday.org/2023/01/10/sunflowers-reduced-varroa-infestations-honey-bees/

Researchers

If you have a research proposal that you believe would be of interest to the BBKA then please contact us by email to request an application form: bbka@bbka.org.uk Please be aware that we need at least 6 – 8 weeks to appraise all requests.  It is important, therefore, to allow sufficient time for all applications to be considered as there will not be an instant reply to any submissions. Unfortunately, we are not able to fund research in overseas areas or offer any funding to overseas researchers.  Also, we are not able to fund or assist with new equipment for beekeeping, new feed or treatment products or support commercial products. All requests for funding are submitted to the Research Committee which comprises elected BBKA Trustees.  If the Research Committee, in conjunction with an expert panel, believes the application is valid and of interest it will then go to the BBKA Executive Committee for final approval of funding. We are also approached by researcher...

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Previous Research Projects

Projects which the BBKA has supported in the past and which have now been completed are listed here:   Professor Juliet Osborne and Dr Peter Kennedy, University of Exeter:  Prey Spectrum of Asian Hornets. This project looked specifically at the prey of the hornet, a really interesting topic about which little is currently known.  Previous work mostly used microscopic remains of species which did not give a true picture.  The aim was to use next-generation DNA barcoding using the COI gene to identify the prey species accurately.  They worked with partners in France, Jersey and Spain who collected samples from hornet nests which were then brought back for studying. Further information is available here. Prof Steve Martin, University of Salford:  Understand the evolution of natural Varroa tolerance mechanisms in the UK beekeeping population. Click here to read the BBKA News article published in October 2021 Dr R Vinkenoog, Northumbria U...

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Area Associations

A number of BBKA Associations undertake research in separately managed projects or sometimes as part of a main BBKA project. It is recognised that some Associations have both the necessary expertise and the enthusiasm to carry out or support research into beekeeping.  The BBKA can help and if more information is required then please contact us by email: bbka@bbka.org.uk In the current climate of rising costs and continuing restrictions on research budgets the BBKA is pleased to welcome funds from any Associations who wish to support beekeeping research.  Any funds donated for research will be ringfenced from general funds and only used for research.

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January In the Apiary 2023

                                                                                                                             Karl Colyer A new year for you and for your bees. Karl will share reminders, tips and ideas each month to help your bees and your beekeeping. Hi Everybody. I am just an ordinary beekeeper who is conscious of the cost of beekeeping, excited by the wonder of nature and lives a busy life, as we all do, so I am always looking for simple and effective ways to keep my bees happy and productive, and my beekeeping sustainable. Resources for your bees Food stores in your hive(s) should still be abundant at this time of year, but do not be tempted to ope...

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The Beekeeper of Aleppo world premiere reveals cast

The Beekeeper of Aleppo debuts at Nottingham Playhouse (3 to 25 February), before heading to Liverpool Playhouse (1 to 11 March), Salisbury Playhouse (21 to 25 March), New Theatre Cardiff (28 March to 1 April), Theatre Severn Shrewsbury (4 to 8 April), Gaiety Theatre Dublin (11 to 15 April), The Lowry Salford (18 to 22 April), Theatre Royal Glasgow (25 to 29 April), Richmond Theatre (2 to 6 May), Theatre Royal Norwich (9 to 13 May), Cambridge Arts Theatre (16 to 20 May), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (23 to 27 May), Leeds Playouse (31 May to 3 June), Theatre Royal Newcastle Upon Tyne (6 to 10 June), Birmingham Rep (13 to 17 June), Theatre Royal Plymouth (20 to 24 June) and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford (27 June to 1 July).

Details https://www.whatsonstage.com/nottingham-theatre/news/the-beekeeper-of-aleppo-world-premiere-cast_58097.html

Beeswax from Scottish Parliament's hives is used to seal every Act

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/environment/scottish-parliament-holyroods-bee-population-has-grown-to-more-than-half-a-million-3967376

Holyrood’s bee population has grown to more than half a million bees since 2014 when the parliament became the first legislature in the UK to have beehives. There are now 11 beehives onsite. Honey from the hives is often on sale in the Scottish Parliament gift shop. And the beeswax, a by-product of beekeeping, is used to seal every act passed by the Scottish Parliament and to fill the Great Seal of Scotland.

Ian McLean

Ian passed away in December 2022.  He was a true stalwart of Ormskirk & Croston, the Association and NBU.  He will be sadly missed by all.   For those who hadn't the privilege of knowing Ian, he was recently awarded his BBKA '50 years of Beekeeping' certificate at Ormskirk & Croston's AGM and here is the accompanying citation: Ian started beekeeping in 1972 and shortly afterwards enrolled on the first BBKA Correspondence Course. This culminated in being awarded the Wax Chandlers Prize for the best senior candidate in 1980. He joined the Exam Board of which he was Moderator for about 9 years, and in 1984 gained the NDB. As a BBKA examiner he examined many beekeepers at varying levels over the years. Around 1990 he was seconded by IBRA to GTZ, the German overseas aid agency teaching beekeeping in Pakistan. When the funding for this ceased in 1992 he returned to the UK to hear that varroa had been found in Devon and subsequently was employed by M...

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Entomologists have found that honey bee lifespans are 50% shorter than in the 1970s

Entomologists from the University of Manitoba have found that for individual honey bees kept in a controlled laboratory environment, honey bee lifespans are 50% shorter than in the 1970s. When scientists modelled the effect of today’s shorter lifespans, the results corresponded with concerning factors, including increased colony loss and reduced honey production.

PS My life is definitely shorter now than it was in the 1970s.

Bee listening devices

This gizmo is designed to listen to pollinator activity, for beekeepers to monitor activity with a view to interventions.

Find out more here https://www.agrisound.io/ and look at the kit here https://www.arnia.co/shop

High Life

On top of the world at Manchester Cathedral.

https://ilovemanchester.com/volition-beekeepers-manchester-cathedral

Years ago I was invited to keep bees on the top of a building, and took a tour of the roof. Apart from the aircon units, phone masts, and assorted aerials, it all looked good, with a well-protected central area. The hang-up: six flights of external stairs. Not for me!

It's not just honey, it's Marks & Spencer honey

 

From https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/perthshire-queen-bee-breeder-helps-create-marks-spencer-honey-3905259

Norman Chapman

1924 to 2022 Dad was born and raised in Beckenham, Kent, the youngest of five. His older brother was killed during the war; he had three older sisters. When he was 12 years old, he watched from his bedroom window as the Crystal Palace burned down.  From school he had a tool making apprenticeship, then was called up to the RAF during the second world war but demobbed before completing navigator training.  He then studied as an electronics engineer.  His background supported his interest in adapting and developing all the gadgets he needed for his beekeeping, and resulted in him collecting the ideas, tips and tricks together for his first book “Constructive Beekeeping” which I edited and published. He commented that it was the sort of book he wished he’d had when starting beekeeping. After the end of the war, two of his sisters had a double wedding where he met his wife, Joan, my mother.  She and Connie, one of Dad’s sisters had been poste...

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Strictly Waggle Dance: bye-bye James Bye

 

The drone was thrown out. Nothing new, eh?

Find Beekeeping Near You

There are over 270 area associations and branches who serve their local community with support and education.   The majority offer beekeeping experiences and training courses, support local events and sell honey.  Whether you are in Northumberland or the Isle of Wight there is a network of support. They will all be able to help you on your way to becoming a successful beekeeper. *   Find out what's on offer in your area using our interactive map *   Click the icon in the top right corner of the map for a full page view - it'll make finding your local branch much easier. *   In busy areas, zoom in by double clicking on your local area. *   Clicking the 'bee' will show you the website address for your local beekeeper's association. Before using the map, please ensure you have enabled essential cookies otherwise it will not work correctly. For Scotland please see the Scottish Beekeepers' Association For Wales please see the We...

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The Truth about Honey

The Truth about Honey? Honey is a pure and natural product with health giving properties, however there is a growing issue worldwide with honey adulteration. This means that honey fraud is now the 3rd biggest food fraud in the world. This talk lifts the lid on the how, why and wherefore of honey fraud and the way that it impacts on the livelihoods of beekeepers around the world Lynne Ingram NDB has kept bees for over 30 years, and runs 15 – 20 colonies in Somerset. She is a Master Beekeeper, has recently gained the National Diploma in Beekeeping, and is an examiner for the BBKA modules and practical assessments. Lynne is heavily involved in educating beekeepers in Somerset, running study groups, and curating the popular Somerset Lockdown Lecture series. She is the chair of the Honey Authentic Network (HAN) UK, and a member of the BBKA Honey Adulteration Working Party.  Lynne will also be doing further talks for various Associations over the next few months. You will rec...

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It's that hornet again: Rayleigh, Essex

 

From https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2022-09-28/warning-after-asian-hornet-spotted-in-uk, Wednesday 28 September 2022 at 5:35pm

Becoming a Beekeeper

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. Where do I start? Contact your local BBKA Association for advice, tuition and support 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 honeybees.  Your local association will also be able to assign you a mentor who will be able to help as you start to keep bees for yourself. There are over 270 area associations and branches who serve their local area with support and education.  To find your neares...

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David Beckham's sticky stuff

 

Towards the end, spot the Flow hive

The Truth about Honey

The Truth about Honey? Honey is a pure and natural product with health giving properties, however there is a growing issue worldwide with honey adulteration. This means that honey fraud is now the 3rd biggest food fraud in the world. This talk lifts the lid on the how, why and wherefore of honey fraud and the way that it impacts on the livelihoods of beekeepers around the world Lynne Ingram NDB has kept bees for over 30 years, and runs 15 – 20 colonies in Somerset. She is a Master Beekeeper, has recently gained the National Diploma in Beekeeping, and is an examiner for the BBKA modules and practical assessments. Lynne is heavily involved in educating beekeepers in Somerset, running study groups, and curating the popular Somerset Lockdown Lecture series. She is the chair of the Honey Authentic Network (HAN) UK, and a member of the BBKA Honey Adulteration Working Party. You will recieve the 'Zoom' webinar registration link in a confirmation email. This webinar is free but w...

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BBKA National Honey Day

The British Beekeepers' Association are celebrating the first National Honey Day on Friday 21st October 2022. We would like to invite you to share in this day when we will be encouraging everyone to buy a jar of local honey, produced by bees here in the UK.  Not only do we want to ensure people are aware of all the benefits honey provides but we are seeking to celebrate the pleasure of eating honey. Honey has been enjoyed all over the world for centuries, it was found in the Egyptian tombs and is often depicted being collected by bees in ancient cave drawings. During this day of celebration, you could encourage friends and family to share photos on social media: You and your jars of Local honey! The things you do with your honey. Perhaps you eat it on toast or in porridge? Perhaps you bake with honey or make mead? Do you make cosmetics containing honey? Use the hashtags #NationalHoneyDay, #LocalHoney, #Beekeeping But we are concerned that consumers are able to bu...

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The Truth about Honey

The Truth about Honey? Honey is a pure and natural product with health giving properties, however there is a growing issue worldwide with honey adulteration. This means that honey fraud is now the 3rd biggest food fraud in the world. This talk lifts the lid on the how, why and wherefore of honey fraud and the way that it impacts on the livelihoods of beekeepers around the world Lynne Ingram NDB has kept bees for over 30 years, and runs 15 – 20 colonies in Somerset. She is a Master Beekeeper, has recently gained the National Diploma in Beekeeping, and is an examiner for the BBKA modules and practical assessments. Lynne is heavily involved in educating beekeepers in Somerset, running study groups, and curating the popular Somerset Lockdown Lecture series. She is the chair of the Honey Authentic Network (HAN) UK, and a member of the BBKA Honey Adulteration Working Party. You will recieve the 'Zoom' webinar registration link in a confirmation email. This webinar is free but w...

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Bill Turnbull -broadcaster& beekeeper

Bill Turnbull 1956-2022 Photo:Nickholt.com Bill Turnbull sadly passed-away on Wednesday 31 August, succumbing to prostate cancer. Much has been written and said about Bill in terms of his achievements as a BBC journalist, TV presenter and lately as a disk-jockey presenter for Classic FM. He was notably the BBC’s Washington correspondent for five years before returning to the UK, subsequently taking up the role of lead presenter on BBC Breakfast show. All have noted his generous nature, skill as an interrogator and ever-present sense of humour. He was of course also well known as a beekeeper and it was with no small help from Bill that the BBKA campaign for increased bee health research funding that the public and politicians were made aware of the importance of honeybees, not just in producing honey but more so their vital role in pollination. I was privileged to work with Bill producing several short pieces on beekeeping which were transmitted through BBC Breakfast and ot...

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The Truth about Honey

The Truth about Honey? Honey is a pure and natural product with health giving properties, however there is a growing issue worldwide with honey adulteration. This means that honey fraud is now the 3rd biggest food fraud in the world. This talk lifts the lid on the how, why and wherefore of honey fraud and the way that it impacts on the livelihoods of beekeepers around the world Lynne Ingram NDB has kept bees for over 30 years, and runs 15 – 20 colonies in Somerset. She is a Master Beekeeper, has recently gained the National Diploma in Beekeeping, and is an examiner for the BBKA modules and practical assessments. Lynne is heavily involved in educating beekeepers in Somerset, running study groups, and curating the popular Somerset Lockdown Lecture series. She is the chair of the Honey Authentic Network (HAN) UK, and a member of the BBKA Honey Adulteration Working Party. You will recieve the 'Zoom' webinar registration link in a confirmation email. This webinar is free but w...

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Introduction

PowerPoint Presentation on honey bees and their importance as pollinators.               Viewing honey bees in an observation hive            Looking at beekeeping equipment - trying on bee suits and holding a smoker and hive tool           Learning about the different parts and putting together a hive       Tasting different types of honey and looking at different hive products           Click here for 'Inside a Beehive' extension activity. Click here for additional extension activities.

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Bee kind

On the Isle of Mull

 

Remembering

"The telling of the bees is a traditional European custom in which bees would be told of important events in their keeper's lives, such as births, marriages, or departures and returns in the household." Here we remember our fellow Beekeepers. Karl Showler 1932-2022 The BBKA was saddened to hear about the death of a former past President Karl Showler who passed away at the age of 89 in a Brecon Care Home. Karl was a renowned seller of antiquarian bee books in later life and his god-daughter Christiane took this lovely photo of him in his study where she spent a lot of time talking to him about the articles he was writing. He and his wife, Betty, ran B&K books from their home in Hay-on-Wye.  Karl was a Quaker and took great interest in other religions and churches. He was President of the BBKA for two years from 1989-1990 and kept bees for at least 62 years. Former President Tim Lovett said "Karl was one of the beekeeping Greats and will b...

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Examinations & Assessments

As part of our charitable aims we raise the standards of beekeeping practices through a series of courses and exams. We have a long and well established exam course which is constantly being developed to keep up with new research in the field of beekeeping. Our exams start with a Basic Assessment covering basic skills and knowledge of the craft all the way up to becoming a Master Beekeeper. Please click here for more information.

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Resources

The BBKA have lots of resources available to help you learn about bees in the BBKA shop.Buy The BBKA Guide to beekeeping

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Practical Assessments

Junior Certificate Under 18 and want to test your beekeeping knowledge? Then this could be the one for you The Junior certificate consists of 4 elements 10 minutes of oral questions Present your beekeeping diary  Further information click Basic Assessment To take the Basic Assessment you should have managed at least one colony of bees for a minimum of 12 months The Basic Assessment syllabus can appear daunting at first glance but closer inspection will show that it merely lists the basic things which all beekeepers should know. Basic_Syllabus_2020.pdf General Husbandry Certificate Have you been beekeeping for 5 years and passed your Basic Assessment? Then this is the next practical step This assessment is designed for beekeepers who prefer the practical approach rather than the written examinations.  On the day, your assessment is conducted by two BBKA Assessors and consists of Inspection of the candidates apiary, equipment and honey hand...

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Syllabi for Written Exams

Click here for Syllabi for 2022 Modules 1 - 8 Click here for updated Syllabi for 2023 Modules 1-8 Module 1 - Honey Bee Management Module 2 - Honey Bee Products and Forage Module 3 - Honey Bee Pests, Diseases and Poisoning Module 5 - Honey Bee Biology Module 6 - Honey Bee Behaviour Module 7 - Selection & Breeding of Honey Bees Module 8 - Beekeeping and Honey Bee Management Module 8 must be the last module to be taken, otherwise they can be tackled in any order.After passing modules 1, 2, 3 and one other from 5, 6 and 7 you are awarded the Intermediate Theory Certificate and after passing all modules you are awarded the Advanced Theory Certificate.It is recommended that you have at least 2 years’ experience of beekeeping before sitting a module exam.To apply for the assessment, please contact your local Exam Secretary. They will be able to email you a link to the application form. You can use this to apply and pay online. You will get a r...

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Reading Lists for Written Exams

Module reading lists for the updated 2022 syllabi  (Updated 4th April 2022) Module 1 - Honey Bee Management Module 2 - Honey Bee Products and Forage Module 3 - Honey Bee Pests, Diseases and Poisoning Module 5 - Honey Bee Biology Module 6 - Honey Bee Behaviour Module 7 - Selection & Breeding of Honey Bees Module 8 - Beekeeping and Honey Bee Management These reading lists are intended as a guide for candidates. It is not intended that candidates should read all the books on the list and there are other books available, not listed, which are also suitable reading. Only parts of each book may be relevant to a particular module or assessment. Candidates should therefore pay careful attention to the contents of the syllabus concerned. General information on sources of books is given at the end of each list.

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Karl Showler

1932-2022 The BBKA was saddened to hear about the death of a former past President Karl Showler who passed away at the age of 89 in a Brecon Care Home. Karl was a renowned seller of antiquarian bee books in later life and his god-daughter Christiane took this lovely photo of him in his study where she spent a lot of time talking to him about the articles he was writing. He and his wife, Betty, ran B&K books from their home in Hay-on-Wye. Karl was a Quaker and took great interest in other religions and churches. He was President of the BBKA for two years from 1989-1990 and kept bees for at least 62 years. Former President Tim Lovett said "Karl was one of the beekeeping Greats and will be missed".  Karl entered The Kent Farm Institute in Tunbridge Wells in 1954, which later became Hadlow College, after his army service in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1951-53.  After his study he worked from 1956-1970 for East Malling Research Station in Kent, the UK's larg...

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Geoffrey Hopkinson BEM NDB

1928 - 2022 Geoff passed peacefully away on Sunday 1st May in Stoke Hospital after a short illness (Non-COVID) just a few weeks short of his 94th birthday. The way Geoff got into beekeeping was an interesting anecdote. He was asked to help his uncle move some bees and in moving one of the hives on the back of a flatbed truck the hive came apart. The bees escaped and Geoff was badly stung all over his face and body. He went to bed and when he woke up the next morning, he was a folk hero in the village. The boy who had a hundred stings was alive. The rest, he used to say, was history. He was hooked and he was a beekeeper after that. Geoff did his beekeeping training under the guidance of Ivy Jakes and progressed quickly. He was the youngest person to be awarded the National Diploma in Beekeeping in 1960 at the age of 32. Being part of the beekeeping elite, the NDB, he was at the forefront of beekeeping education. He has been involved in training and examining the beekeeping greats o...

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Edward Hill

A very quiet and private man, Edward started beekeeping as a schoolboy during the war in 1942.  Has been a member of Ormskirk & Croston for all of those 79 years. He was the mainstay of Ormskirk & Croston Branch for many of those years. A committee member for most of the time being serving as Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. He also spent many years as a member of the Lancashire and Northwest Central Council, being the Education Officer, he organised the convention & honey show, representing us nationally on various committees. Most recently, he was our County representative at Beecraft/Wax Chandlers forums. During meetings Edward used to sit quietly and would usually end the discussion with a “pearl” of wisdom. A very practical beekeeper, he never wore a bee suit, always with his famous bowler hat and veil!  In earlier times most of our bees were not so friendly, Edwards’s advice was “give the bees a good smoking through the entrance...

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Sue Scott (Scottie)

Scottie took over the mantle of  after the passing of another beekeeping stalwart, Barbara Roderick. The three-day annual event was the culmination of a year’s hard slog for Scottie in making sure that every little detail was covered – which, of course,  they always were! She relished meeting members of the general public explaining the nuances of beekeeping finishing by thrusting a membership form in their hands with a cheerful “see you soon” parting phrase. Although the show itself was hard work it never failed to conjure up some amusing moments too.   On one such occasion an elderly gentleman and his daughter rocked up making enquiries about beekeeping and the suitability of keeping a number bee hives in their back garden. “Absolutely perfect!” Scottie replied, adding “though you need to make sure they won’t be troublesome for your neighbours”. “How many hives were you thinking about”? she enquir...

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John Annett

John Annett, a beekeeper who had a huge impact on the Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers Association’s development over the last 50 years has just died, aged 98. He joined the HRBKA in 1970, and at various times held most of the posts within the Association.  In 1988 HRBKA affiliated directly with the BBKA, and John will be remembered best from then on as the champion of beekeeping education, both practical and theoretical. Weekly public beekeeping demonstrations in the Harlow Carr and Harewood Gardens were established by John and presented beekeeping to hundreds of visitors every year.  He was strongly in favour of promoting beekeeping to non-beekeepers and as a result, HRBKA has an award-winning stand at 6 multi-day shows in and around Harrogate every year. He was an enthusiastic promoter of the BBKA exams. At one time over 40% percent of HRBKA members were Basic Exam Certificate holders, and Association members accounted for over 50% of all the BBKA Microscopy Certific...

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Bill & Mary Dartnall

Sadly Mary and Bill Dartnall passed away beside each other on Easter Sunday, 12th April 2020, in Southampton General Hospital. They had both tested positive for coronavirus.  Mary was a Past President of the BBKA from 1996 – 97 and an Honorary Member of the BBKA. During her presidency she campaigned for farmers to limit spraying of chemicals to protect bees. Both Mary and Bill were Joint Presidents of Southampton & District Beekeeping Association, a role they thoroughly enjoyed. They had been married for 63 years and their daughter, Rosemary, said "They came as a pair - they were a team. Life wasn't always a bed of roses but they got through it together and they left us together." There will be a Memorial Service for them later in the year.

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August In the Apiary

  Jeremy Quinlan Last month I advised everyone to get ready for the end of the beekeeping year in early August, and now we are there. Unless you go to the heather, when everything has to be delayed, you need to treat for Varroa close to the middle of the month and check that every full colony has at least 20kg of stores and, if they do not, to feed so they do. This can be difficult as many treatment manufacturers advise against treating and feeding at the same time. The timing of the treatment is most important. Feeding Before starting feeding, go through your colonies and assess what weight of stores each has. A National brood frame of fully capped honey will weigh about 2kg, a full super frame about 1kg. Add the weights together and subtract that from 20; that is the amount of additional stores needed. Do not trickle it in, try to feed the whole amount in one go as tiny feeders are a mistake. ‘Stores’ means the honey equivalent and honey is approximately 20% wat...

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John Hendrie

I have been a member of the BBKA Examinations Board for many years having been the Board Secretary from 1991 to 2006 and am currently the Moderator. I achieved my Master Beekeeper certificate in 1986 and have been heavily involved in beekeeping education ever since, running courses and lecturing widely on bees and beekeeping. I am the General Secretary of the National Honey Show and have been on the committee for 35 years and helped with the organisation of the honey show for that time. I am also a Director for Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd so is looking after the interests of beekeepers. I have demonstrated continuity in the various jobs undertaken and enjoy helping beekeepers.Email hereLink trustee for:Alnwick; Tyneside; Newcastle; Hexham; Surrey

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Clare McGettigan

I have been beekeeping since 2010, finally getting to satisfy an interest in bees that I have held since childhood and, of course, they have not disappointed! I hold the Basic Assessment, Bee Health Assessment and passed the Advanced Theory Certificate.   I have and continue to love learning about honeybees and always enjoy being able to train others to ‘share the passion’. Professionally I worked in the Pharmaceutical Market Research sector for more than 30 years in many roles including Global Marketing Director and Software Development Director. I was fortunate enough to take early retirement and can now use skills I developed in my working career to support the BBKA and, in particular, it’s education and communications activities. Email hereLink trustee for:Chesterfield; Rutland; Sedbergh; Sheffield; Derbyshire; Lincolnshire

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Jane Medwell

I learnt beekeeping from my mother in the 1970s, when the activity was rather different. In 1999 I set up my own apiary in Warwickshire and joined WLBKA. I have found learning about changes and developments in beekeeping an ongoing enjoyment. In my early years of beekeeping, I kept around 40 hives and learnt a good deal about keeping bees on a larger scale. However, I realised that my interests are in the study of beekeeping rather than honey production.  Since 2010 I have reduced my hive numbers to a maximum of a dozen in two or three apiaries near my home. This has allowed me to experiment with methods of queen rearing and do more training and education activities at branch, county, and national levels.I have been a Master Beekeeper since 2013. I remain committed to keeping my knowledge relevant and am currently studying for the BBKA microscopy certificate and NDB. My professional experience is as an Associate Professor in Education with a special interest in primary and i...

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Jenny Morgan

  I spent all of my working life in education. I am a Physics graduate and went into teaching after completing my teaching qualifications. I spent a short time working in secondary schools in Oxfordshire before moving to Botswana where I worked in local schools in Gaborone and Francistown before being recruited to work at the University of Botswana lecturing on B.Ed. and B.Ed. Nursing courses. After 9 years in Botswana I returned to the UK and continued to teach, becoming Head of Science and also working for University of Reading on their science teacher training course. On my return to the UK when my daughters were older I became a volunteer canoe coach and a DoE leader. As a result of these activities I lead a gold DoE expedition to Canada. My beekeeping began when my daughter kept asking for a hand with her bees. As I learned more I decided I would do an introductory course and get some bees and I have not looked back - I am hooked. I have spent a lot of time and energy tryi...

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