Newbattle Beekeepers Association

Earth Day, on April 22nd, marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. This celebration of eco-consciousness takes place across the globe with over 190 countries taking part.

From parades, to parties, protests to clean-ups and rallies there are many ways to show your support for a sustainable future. Or we can simply take a moment to rethink our daily habits and rituals, and make a small step-change to do a little more. 

View the official Earthday website here

Dr Hannah Sampson says air pollution's impact on bees could have a knock on effect for humans.

Read more by clicking on the link to take you to the BBC website

BBC - Leicestershire

Could the honey bee help in the fight against infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics?

Find out more by clicking on the link bellow:

I called into the Apiary Cottage on Saturday and was able to turn on a light in every room!

There are also power sockets a plenty, all thanks to Ian Evans who organised the installation of the wiring and the fittings. I believe he was ably assisted by Colin MacKenzie and maybe an electrician. It has been a long time in coming but now that we have security of tenure on the cottage we can finally go ahead with the improvements that are planned.

Watch this space for updates!

Synopsis : Where should bait hives be located to capture your own lost swarms? Can you omit the old brood frame and still make the bait hive attractive? Introduction Social media can be seriously misleading for beekeepers. For months now it seems like I’ve been reading about boxes bulging with bees, third supers being added, […]

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Calling all bee-keepers in the making. The Newbattle Abbey 6-week introduction course starts on the 3rd May!

The ancient art of beekeeping

The science of honey bee reproduction and honey production

You will get to view the hives later in the course when the weather is warmer

Book your place

On Wednesday 5th April the National Bee Unit received a credible triaged report of an Asian hornet discovered inside a cauliflower within a weekly vegetable delivery in Northumberland, approximately 20 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne. The cauliflower was produced in France. The NBU responded to the report and a bee inspector collected the hornet later the same day for analysis. This was a single hornet incursion and follow up activities will take place to raise risk awareness with the producer/distributor/seller.

BBKA has completed the set-up phase of the online Learning Platform. Now, every BBKA Member can access study units by using their membership number as a login and creating an account at:

 https://learning.bbka.org.uk/ 

The types of study units are:

·  Units for individual beekeepers (free)

·  Units for the public, to raise awareness (free)

·  Correspondence courses (fee paying)

The first individual study units available are: Hygiene and Disease Inspection and Asian Hornet Awareness. More units will be added through the summer. If you have photos or videos that could be used please send them to:

mailto:photosandvideos@bbka.org.uk

The general public will have access to non-specialist study units about Asian Hornet and Swarming. Future materials will include planting for pollinators. If you can help with this, please contact jane.medwell@bbka.org.uk

Also BBKA News is now stored digitally on the Learning Platform, so you can enjoy reading past issues online.

The 2023 AGM was held at the Bee Academy on Sunday 2 April. A presentation was delivered by Martin Vevers, outgoing Chair and Steve Campbell, outgoing Treasurer highlighting the activities and financial performance over the period January - December 2022. A copy of the full Trustees' Annual Report on which the highlights were based is available to read Here 

Elections were held to appoint the Trustee Management Board for 2023 - 24. Helen Nelson was elected as Chair, Paul Casey as Vice Chair, Valerie Watt as Secretary and Malcolm Evans as Treasurer. 

Martin Vevers stood down as Chair, Rosemary Mackay as Secretary Steve Campbell as Treasurer and Lorraine Aitken as Trustee. Lorraine, Rosemary and Steve did not seek re-election. Martin was elected as a trustee. The other four trustees elected were Ian Evans, David Hennessey, Colin McKenzie and Neil Rutherford. 

The meeting also considered proposed changes to the Constitution as Adopted at the AGM in February 2020 and voted by a large majority to accept the changes proposed.

The meeting concluded with lunch and presentations to the retiring trustees to thank them for their work on behalf of the association.  

Our 2022/23 cohort of Foster Parents will be sitting their Basic Beekeeping Certificate exam in June this year. The 10th is in the diary but still to be confirmed. It will be an informative day with the friendly examiner's and also an opportunity to relax after it is all over with the Bee Academy open all day for light refreshments.