Welcome to the WBKA website
Module exams
Closing date for the spring module exams is a little earlier than usual this year (because of preparation for the move to online modules). So, if you are planning to sit an online module in the spring, and haven’t yet submitted your application, you need to do so by the end of January.
You can use the existing application form here but please note that the online modules will actually take place over the weekend of 24 & 25 April (not in March as usual).
Email education@wbka.com if you have any queries.
The Welsh Beekeepers’ Association is a Registered Charity (Registration No 509929). We are an umbrella organisation which provides services for nearly all the local beekeeping associations in Wales. We represent those associations and individual beekeepers by liaising with the Welsh government, the United Kingdom government, and international bodies.
All full members of our affiliated local associations are automatically members of WBKA. Individual membership is also available.
Here you can learn how to start beekeeping, find out how the Welsh Beekeeping Associations can help you, and discover what WBKA is doing to support bees and beekeeping.
Our regular webinars are free and open to all. Our Annual Convention is held each Spring and is the ideal place to meet and talk to beekeepers and beekeeping suppliers. If you can’t find what you need on this web site please contact us!
Please note: We are starting a major overhaul of this website, which will take several months. We apologise if some parts of the site are incomplete. Please bear with us – we will bring you a new, much improved site early in 2021.
Quick links
WBKA WEBINARS
Our next free webinar is at 7.30 pm on Thursday 14th January:
Benefits of Locally Adapted Bees
by Wally Shaw
A topic close to the hearts of many in WBKA, Wally’s talk will explain what locally adapted bees are, how they have developed, and how they relate to our native bee (apis mellifera mellifera).
He will discuss self-sufficiency and the argument for adopting this policy, the advantages of doing so, and how we can breed and make the best use of locally adapted bees, including selection criteria and maintenance of genetic diversity.
Please click on the link above to see more about the webinar and to register
Click here to see details of previous webinars
News for Beekeepers
2021 Convention Due to the continuing uncertainty caused by the pandemic, we have decided to hold the 2021 WBKA Convention as a virtual event. The date is unchanged – Saturday 27 March 2021.
There will be lectures, a trade show, question time, and some other drop in sessions through the day. More information, including details of how to register, will be published over the coming weeks.
Though it is disappointing that we won’t be able to meet face-to-face, we are working to make our first virtual convention a great event and hope you will be able to join us. Save the date – Saturday 27 March 2021
Updated advice for Beekeepers during Covid-19 from the Welsh Government was issued in October and can be found here: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/News/news.cfm#261
The Asian Hornet in the UK The scientific journal Nature has published a detailed report on the sightings of Asian Hornets in the UK from 2016 to 2019 and the follow-up investigations. You can read it here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-76690-2.pdf
Healthy Bee Plan 2030 has recently been published by DEFRA to cover Wales and England for the next 10 years. The Plan is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defra-launches-the-healthy-bees-plan-2030-to-help-protect-honey-bees
More Webinars for the dark days of winter Along with the WBKA, other National Associations are running free webinars that beekeepers may find interesting. You can find past and upcoming webinars here:
Scottish Beekeepers Association: https://bit.ly/3d2OnDs ; BIBBA: https://bibba.com/webinars/
The Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations: https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/federation-of-irish-beekeepers-associations-clg-31215560997
The Ulster Beekeepers Association are holding a series of six webinars in January and February on the theme Key Concepts For Every Bee-Keeper. They have issued a flyer here which includes links for registration on the second page
BBKA Spring Convention videos (Tom Seeley): https://www.bbka.org.uk/spring-convention-videos
The UK National Honey Show in October this year was a virtual event. Over 4,500 registered and some 2,500 attended over the three days. Most were from the UK but some 85 countries were represented. The platform will remain open to those that registered until April 2021. Videos of the lectures are available here: https://www.honeyshow.co.uk/lecture-videos.php
Events and Information
Improving your Beekeeping
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Feeding Bees – a new WBKA booklet
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