Already a Beekeeper ?
If you keep bees in Gwent, there are a number of advantages in joining Gwent Beekeepers’ Association. The national beekeeping associations and the National Bee Unit can also help you with your beekeeping.
National beekeeping associations
Gwent Beekeepers’ Association (GBKA) is a member of one national organisation, the British Beekeepers Association.. This is funded primarily by a capitation charge levied on its member associations. All full members of GBKA automatically acquire membership of BBKA and enjoy the benefits of this “umbrella” organisation. BBKA provides services to beekeepers either directly or through its member associations and represents the interests of beekeepers at national and international levels. Its website is a valuable resource, providing information on all aspects of beekeeping. All full members of GBKA receive a bimonthly newsletter published by BBKA. In addition, members benefit from automatic third party and product liability insurance. Each year in April, BBKA hosts a conference and trade show at its headquarters at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG.
The Welsh Beekeepers Association operates in a similar fashion to BBKA. While it is possible to join WBKA as an individual, the majority of its membership derives from 19 Welsh beekeeping associations. WBKA provides similar benefits to BBKA and holds an annual conference and trade show at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground in Builth Wells. This conference is normally held on the last Saturday of March.
National Bee Unit
The National Bee Unit (NBU) is responsible for delivering a bee health programme on behalf of DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government. It is based at Sand Hutton, just outside York. The NBU’s website has a wealth of information on pests and diseases, publications, current research areas and legislation. It includes interactive maps, advisory leaflets and key contacts.
The NBU employs a team of Bee Inspectors who support beekeepers by monitoring hives for the presence of notifiable diseases. The Inspectors are backed up by laboratory staff who can confirm the presence of disease and who also carry out a certain amount of research. The NBU manages a database of beekeepers in England and Wales called Beebase. Beekeepers registered on Beebase can request a free apiary inspection from their local Bee Inspector and receive information and advice on disease recognition and control.
The National Bee Unit is there to help beekeepers, so don’t be put off by the title ‘Inspectors’. If you’ve got a problem with your bees that you think may be disease related, give them a ring.
Be a good beekeeper
As a beekeeper, you will be enjoying a fascinating and very old craft, but please remember you have responsibilities too. Beekeeping and honey have long enjoyed a good and “green” image with the general public and all beekeepers should be committed to maintaining this image. We should all aim to adopt good housekeeping practices, take care that our bees do not cause a nuisance, and ensure that the honey and other products we make are of the highest quality. The Association is here to help its members achieve these objectives. It seeks to engage with the public through its website and by means of regular press releases describing its activities.
For your own interests, for the sake of nearby beekeepers and for the sake of the long-term future of the honey bee, you should also monitor for pests and diseases and take action if you suspect they might be present. There is a great deal of useful information about pests and diseases on the National Bee Unit’s website.