Welcome to the WBKA web site
There are some one hundred and twenty members in the association scattered around the stunning Wharfedale region, from Horton in Ribblesdale to Arthington. The Association is a member of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), the Yorkshire Beekeepers Association (YBKA) and the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association (BIBBA).
WBKA is a registered charity (No. 506891) and which promotes beekeeping through education and training for the benefit of the environment and mankind. Members of the Association give talks, lectures and demonstrations to a wide range of groups including: children and young people, people with disabilities and special needs, special interest societies and other charities and voluntary bodies.
The WBKA always welcomes new members and there are many different ways that you can to get involved or support bees.
Here's how to get involved.
This Month
This month in the apiary...
News
Bee Health Day at Bradford University - Saturday 27 May
This year's topics will include The Asian Hornet, Comb Changing Techniques, Controlling Varroa across the year, Practical comb workshop, Microscope Diagnosis of Nosema and Forage and Bee Health.
Visit the event web site for more information and booking.
Lower Wharfedale local group meeting rescheduled
The next meeting will be held on 23rd May and not the 30th as originally planned
Association meeting - Thursday 30 March
Will Askew "Biopesticides - an alternative to chemical pesticides" at the Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton, 8pm. See the Events page for more information.
YBKA Spring Conference - Saturday 25 March
This year's spring conference is entitled "Carry on Beekeeping" see the YBKA web site for more details.
Low food stores - the National Bee Unit has raised this alert:
In some regions of the UK beekeepers have reported excessive use of food stores due to the un-seasonally warm weather. It would be advisable that you check your colonies have adequate stores and add supplements if required. the weather being quite variable, fondant is the best option not liquid feed.
WBKA Events 2017
The schedule of events for 2017 is now available on the Events page. It will also be published in this Decembers' Combings.
A PDF of the schedule, which replaces the members card is available for download here.
YBKA Spring Conference
The 2017 Spring Conference will be held on Saturday 25th March, more details to follow...
Do our bees need less "mangement"?
A new research paper concludes that management pratices which work against natural selection are at best ineffective and at worst harmful to the long term health of bee colonies. Download the pre-publication paper here.
Training - Beginners' Course
Our next beginners course will run on wednesday nights from 1st March to 5th April 2017 at Skipton Auction Mart (BD23 1UD), with follow-up practical classes in June. For more information or to book a place please contact Jill via the Contact page.
Minutes of WBKA AGM 2015
As the minutes from the 2015 AGM were not available at this years' meeting they can be downloaded from the website here.
Honeybees causing a buzz in Bolton Abbey
Visitors to the Devonshire Arms Hotel at Bolton Abbey are reaping the benefits of the hotel's very own bees according to the Craven Herald.
New bee-centric beekeeping journal launched.
The first edition of Natural Bee Husbandry, The Internatonal Journal for Bee-Centered Beekeeping has been published and is available as a one-off free download here.
You may subscribe to subsequent editions here.
Training - BBKA Basic Beekeeping Certificate
We are planning training for 2017, so if you are interested in joining the course for the BBKA Basic Beekeeping Certificate please let Jill know before the end of September; we will make a decision in October whether or not to run this course in 2017 based on the number of expressions of interest. The course consists of 4 evening classes, a practical session and an assessment. You will need to have kept your own bees for at least 12 months prior to taking the assessment in summer 2017.
You can contact Jill using the Contact page.
Asian Hornet seen in Gloucestershire
The National Bee Unit, in Sand Hutton, has contacted the bee keeping community to warn them after the Asian Hornet was spotted in Gloucestershire...more
Pesticide manufacturers' own tests reveal serious harm to honeybees.
Two major companies failed to publish results of studies which show insecticide harm to honeybees...more
WBKA Honey Show Entry Form
The entry form for this year's Honey Show has been sent out with the September issue of Combings. You may also download a copy of the form here.
WBKA Honey Show, AGM and Social
This year the Honey Show/AGM and Social will be a combined event at Ilkley Rugby Club on October 14th. For more details, look out for the next edition of Combings which will be published in early September.
Birds and humans work together to hunt for honey
see the full article on the BBC Science and Environment site.
Website update
The website has been updated to make it easier to use on tablets and smartphones. If you have any comments/suggestions please conatct Laurence via the Contact page.
Bees in your Bird Box?
This is quite common in the spring and summer. Its probably bumblebees, not honey bees. For more information see the BBCT web site.
Beekeepers use ancient techniques to conserve wild honey bees
Log hives which simulate natural nest sites are being used to conserve wild bee populations in the south of England ...more
Neonicotinoid contamination of wild flowers a major issue
A new Soil Association briefing shows that contamination of wild flowers is a major source of neonicotinoid exposure in honey bees and other pollinators. ...more
Swarm Officers
The list of those members who have kindly volunteered to be Swarm Officers this year is now available on the Swarms page.
Spread of bee disease 'largely manmade'
The global trade in bees is driving a pandemic that threatens hives and wild bees, UK scientists say.
WBKA members are welcome to attend Airedale BKA events
entitled 'The Pursuit of Apiness' will be held at the Manor Academy in York on Saturday March 19.
The 2016 North of England Beekeepers' Convention
"Better Beekeeping", will be held on Saturday April 16, 2016 at the Beacon, Newcastle upon Tyne.
WBKA Events 2016
The schedule of events for 2016 is now available on the Events page. It will also be published in this months' Combings.
Scottish dark bees could aid fight against varroa
Dark bees surviving in the Highlands could play a key role in a fight against diseases fatal to the insects. more...
Bees found farming fungus for first time to feed larvae
A species of Brazilian bee encourages fungal growth in the nest to feed the brood. Maybe honey bees do too? more..