April 2021
Dear Members,
Beekeeping is often more art than science. It is important with beekeeping not to do things by rote, but to pay attention to the weather, the forage available, and the condition of your bees.
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Newsletters
March 2021
Dear Members,
Well, here we are at the beginning of the Beekeeping season and hasn’t the weather given us a surprise early Spring in February! However, as you know, our British weather is remarkably changeable and Climate Change has exacerbated this, so now is the time to be especially vigilant in caring for your bees.
February 2021
Dear Members,
February means snowdrops emerging and it also heralds our AGM. While snowdrops are greeted with enthusiasm the same cannot always be said for the AGM.
But, do consider participating as keeping our Association working effectively is the way in which we promote beekeeping to the general public, and inform them about bees and beekeeping, also importantly it is the way we can continue to educate and support new beekeepers.
January 2021
Dear Members,
As the New Year beckons I am sure we all fervently hope that 2021 is a better year than 2020 when, hopefully, Covid retreats enough for us to resume our normal activities.
December 2020
Dear Members,
As the festive season approaches, hopefully those among you who make mead will raise a glass without needing to wait for a sting, as Brother Adam (of Buckfast bees) recommended. The old beekeepers used to give their bees a Christmas present of fondant, but hopefully you ensured your bees were well fed in the Autumn as they are best not disturbed at the moment!
BeeBase
Beebase News Web feed-
Seasonal Bee Inspector (SBI) Vacancies
19 April 2021The National Bee Unit currently has a number of Seasonal Bee Inspector (SBI) vacancies advertised in the following areas South Kent & East Sussex, South West Devon and South East Wales
If you are interested in applying for the job, full details can be found on Civil Service Jobs.
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Reporting Varroa
12 April 2021Amendments to the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) Order 2006, the Bees Diseases and Pest Control (Scotland) Order 2007 and the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) Order 2006 come into force on the 21st of April 2021 requiring all beekeepers and/or officials in GB to report the presence of Varroa in any of the hives that they manage. This amendment will allow Great Britain to comply with the Animal Health Law which is necessary for future working relationships with the European Union.
To make this simple, a tick box will be introduced to BeeBase, the voluntary register for beekeepers managed by the National Bee Unit. This will be the easiest way to report Varroa but an alternative mechanism will be provided for those who do not wish to register on the BeeBase system. Details of this alternative system will be provided after 21st April. If Scottish Beekeepers wish to, they can report varroa by contacting the Scottish Bee Health Inspectors (BeesMailbox@gov.scot).
Although Varroa is known to be widespread, it continues to be one of the most serious pests faced by beekeepers. Reporting Varroa will contribute to the overall pest and disease surveillance work of the National Bee Unit and the Scottish Bee Health Inspectorate. We are grateful for your assistance with this new simple measure.
No action will be required until after 21st April. -
2020 Hive Count
29 March 2021More than 10,000 beekeepers, a record number, updated their details on BeeBase during this year's hive count. There are currently more than 44,000 beekeepers registered on BeeBase, meaning that around 23% participated.
This year’s hive count produced a figure of 260,268 colonies in the UK. This is slightly lower than the 2019 figure of 263,896. It is necessary to make a number of assumptions in the calculation, and so the figure is classed as an experimental statistic.
The Hive Count provides a very useful indication of the number of managed colonies in the UK, and helps to ensure that BeeBase records are kept up to date. Information about numbers and location of hives is very important for National Bee Unit inspectors in terms of preparing and planning for outbreaks of disease and exotic pests.
Thank you very much to everyone who has taken time to ensure that their BeeBase information is up to date.