Welcome
Training – Winter Theory Course
As part of our Beginners training programme, we can confirm that we will be holding our Winter Theory Course at Nell Bank in Ilkley during January, February and March. For more details, see our Learn about Beekeeping page.
Course dates:
Saturday 24th January 2026 10am – 4pm
Saturday 28th February 2026 10am – 4pm
Saturday 21st March 2026 10am – 4pm
read more…Learn to be a Beekeeper 2025/6 – update
The first part of this year’s WBKA beekeeper training program will be a Taster Day. The planned session, which was to have been on either Sat 18th or Sun 19th May, didn’t go ahead, but we still plan to run one this summer. For more information about this and the rest of the program, please see the Learn About Beekeeping page.
WBKA Annual General Meeting and Honey Show 2024
This year’s AGM and Honey show will be held at Ilkley Rugby Club on the evening of Friday 15th November. All members are encouraged to attend and to submit entries to the show. For full details, see the Honey Show page, which includes the AGM Agenda, Class information and Entry Form for the show and some advice on preparing entries.
Asian Hornet Presentation
On 13th April, Carl Prosser, a licensed Asian Hornet tracker, gave a presentation to WBKA members in Skipton. Carl has kindly shared his presentation with us. It mostly discusses the experience of trying to deal with the hornet in Jersey, but it is full of useful information and lessons for anyone facing this threat.
You can CLICK HERE to download a copy of Carl’s presentation.
Asian Hornet
WBKA is part of the UK-wide effort to track and resist the spread of the Asian Hornet, an invasive species which threatens to devastate the UK population of honey bees and other pollinators. A major predator of honeybees, the hornet is also known to eat many other species of pollinators, including flies and wasps.
How to Report a Sighting
The best way to report a possible Asian Hornet sighting is to use the Asian Hornet Watch App, available from the links below.
For more information, including identification and locations of sightings:
- British Beekeepers Association Asian Hornet page
- The GB Non-native Species Secretariat Asian Hornet pages
- BBC – UK bees in danger as Asian hornet sightings rise
A Long-term solution to the Varroa problem
Recent research can now explain how a small number of beekeepers managed to keep bees after stopping Varroa treatment 10 or more years ago. Combining the experience of these beekeepers with the latest research will allow many more beekeepers to manage their bees without the need to control Varroa. This website gives you free access to all the scientific knowledge, advice, and tips from beekeepers willing to share their expertise.
UK Business Leaders call for ban on Cruiser SB Neonic
“Bees and other critical pollinators are being endangered simply to grow slightly cheaper sugar.”
Honey 2023 Show Results
You can see the results of the 2023 Honey Show on the website here. Or you can navigate to them by going to the Events menu.
As well as the results, we also have Gill’s notes on the judging process and tips for submitting your entries. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s show.
Honey Show and AGM documents
This year’s Honey Show and AGM will be held at Ilkley Rugby Club on Friday, 10th November, starting at 7:00pm. The Agenda and other documents can be downloaded using the links below.
Plain Speaking about the Asian Hornet
In the April 2023 BBKA News, Andrew Durham from Cambridgeshire BKA reviews the current situation regarding Asian hornets in France and concludes that…
“When and wherever the Asian hornet gets a foothold over here, it will happen quicker than you think, and it is going to be worse than you think. That much is already clear from what has happened across the Channel over the last eighteen years”
He has prepared some briefing notes, which include information about methods for reducing the impact of the hornets on bee colonies. You can access these by using the links below.
Asian Hornet: The Beekeepers’ Guide – Integrated Control in the Apiary
Asian Hornet Beekeepers Guide – The Hornet & The Honey Bee
Asian Hornet Beekeepers Guide – Integrated Control in the Area Around the Apiary