Andrew Durham is a Cambridgeshire beekeeper who has travelled extensively in France and who spent the last three years researching the Asian Hornet. He has written articles on the Asian Hornet for the BBKA News and given a number of briefings to local beekeeping associations.

The briefing is split into six sections and covers:

The Asian hornet – why it is such a problem for beekeepers, how it predates bees and the bees response. Nests and lifecycle. By the end of this section you will know all about the hornet and the opportunities for control of the hornet over its yearly cycle.

The Invasion of France – I will cover the arrival of the hornet in France, how it has spread across France, and its impact on French beekeepers. The factors affecting its establishment / nest densities. By the end of this section you will have a good understanding of the scale of the problem and what you are likely to encounter if it establishes itself near you.

The Spring Trapping of Foundress Queens. I will give a balanced view of the issues surrounding this very controversial subject in order that you can decide whether or not you should trap in the Spring.

Defences against the hornet. I will cover the full range of defences against the Asian Hornet.

Management of bees under predation. Bees subject to predation by the hornet are under great stress. Absconding colonies, queens off-lay or even killed are a common outcome of hornet predation and colony failure over winter is a real danger. We will look at what beekeepers need to do to help their bees. 

If there is time; we will look at the Collective Fight against the hornet in France, covering organisation, nest location and destruction.

Woburn Abbey courtyard and gardens provides a beautiful setting for a new event in our calendar, the Honey Festival on Sunday 22nd September.  A wide range of stalls will be there to appeal to visiting members of the public, including the ever-popular observation have, skep-making with Ray Smith, and a much-frequented display of local honeys and other edibles for tasting and purchase.  

Last year around 10% of members entered for the Show with over 250 items, and we are expecting the same again this year. 

About the Festival last year Show Secretary Fiona Cook commented: “Woburn Abbey was very happy to have hosted Beds BKA, and we were delighted to be there.  The very friendly, positive atmosphere has received much comment.  It seemed to come about from a combination of the welcoming and very professional staff at Woburn and our own ethos and teamwork as a charity, with so many willing helpers.”

Another ingredient may have been the real interest and willingness to engage with bees and beekeeping on the part of visitors: the public attitude has really changed in a very positive direction.

Kevin is a commercial beefarmer with 78 colonies in apiaries in and around Lavenham. Starting Stour Valley Apiaries 3 years ago, he has grown it from just 6 hives in a very short period and has plans to expand to 120 colonies next year. Kevin’s main interest in honey bees is in Bee Improvement and Queen Rearing which led him to join the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeding Association (BIBBA) where he is now a trustee and works with beekeepers around the U.K. supporting them in their Bee Improvement activities.
Kevin started a Bee Improvement group at Abberton Reservoir in 2017 with the aim of re-establishing the native honey bee into that area. Last year was the first year of producing queens and Kevin is going to talk to us about his experience.
BIBBA were formed in 1964 by Beowulf Cooper and a group of enthusiasts keen to preserve the native honey bee which despite reports to the contrary was found to still exist in significant numbers. The work of BIBBA is mainly carried out by groups of beekeepers around the country and in educational events for all beekeepers. Further information can be found at https://bibba.com/about-us/

Celia has been keeping bees since 1980 and obtained her National Diploma in Beekeeping in 1994. She has written several books including the celebrated “The HoneyBee Around and About” and “The HoneyBee Inside Out” and is active in promoting beekeeping and good practice through articles and talks. One not to miss.

This talk follows on from the Beds BKA AGM.

Free entry food and music festival  with live music, cookery demos, street food, producers’ market and children’s entertainment. See Taste 2019 

Bedford Beekeepers Association welcomes visitors to our stand to learn about bees and beekeeping, gardening for bees and to taste and buy honey. An experienced beekeeper will display a live colony of bees and explain how they live and how they produce honey. Visitors can try their hand at rolling a beeswax candle. This event is a popular, fun, family event. Not to be missed.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Woburn Abbey, ‘The Gardener’s Garden Show’ offers visitors the best location of any show in the UK, taking place within the 42 acres of Abbey Gardens.

Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association is proud to be present at this prestigious event. We welcome visitors to our stand to learn about bees and beekeeping, gardening for bees and to taste and buy honey. An experienced beekeeper will display a live colony of bees and explain how they live and how they produce honey. Visitors can try their hand at rolling a beeswax candle. This event is a superb day out. See you there.