Welcome to the latest news about honeybees!
The government has ignored the advice of its scientific advisors and allowed sugar beet farmers to use a banned bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticide in 2022. BBKA President says this decision will not just kill our bees now, but will affect them and the environment for several years to come . Read more
We have a new Area Association in the BBKA voted for at the Annual Delegate Meeting. Read more
An Asian Hornet nest has been found in a built up area of Portsmouth and dealt with by Bee Inspectors. Read more
NBU inspectors have been able to track hornets back to a nest in Ascot and destroy it. Read more
BREAKING NEWS: DEFRA says that a confirmed sighting of an Asian Hornet has been made in Berkshire. Read more
Cleveland Beekeepers Association has set up a new observation hive in the Discovery Centre at Newham Grange Farm in Middlesbrough. Read more
Bees Needs Week is an annual event coordinated by Defra to raise awareness of bees and other pollinators. Read more
The Veterinary Medicine Directorate is encouraging all members to report unauthorised veterinary products and illegal activity. Read more
"We recognise the serious threat posed by small hive beetle. EU areas affected by this pest are not permitted to export to the UK. Strict controls apply to imports into the UK from other areas" Read more
National bee unit statement - April 2021 - Reporting Varroa Read more
Please Sign our parliamentary petition to stop the importation of honeybees into GB from the EU via Northern Ireland - Read more
Last chance to fill in Defra and the Welsh Government survey asking about training to improve biosecurity and husbandry standards. Read more
The BBKA is issuing a warning to beekeepers to check their bees for starvation and European Foulbrood. Read more
Beekeeping Associations, from all around the UK, are in agreement that the importation of bees from overseas is totally against best practices for the protection of our environment. Read more
Please fill in your form by the end of April to have your results included in the 2021 Winter Survival Survey Read more
Update from the Exam board about Spring 2021 BBKA examinations Read more
Beekeeping Associations from around the UK are warning that import arrangements since Brexit are causing an imminent and serious risk that the exotic bee pest the Small Hive Beetle (SHB) could be introduced to the British Isles. Read more
A forecast from the Rothamstead Research Group says virus yellows in the sugarbeet crop will be very low this year and neonic seed treatment will not be used. Read more
The BBKA discourages the importation of queen bees and packages from outside the UK. Read more
A blog has been published on the Defra website setting out the law as it relates to bee importation following recent stories about a Kent importer who wanted to import bees from Italy and had been told he could not. Read more
Following the clear vote at the ADM, the BBKA Chair, Anne Rowberry, has written to Associations asking them to call on their members to approach their MP's and sign any of the four main petitions expressing concerns about neonics & bees. Read more
More than 25,000 beekeepers voted to demand that the government withdraw the neonic licence for sugar beet and allow no further breaches of the ban. Read more
British Beekeepers Association is sending a letter to associations expressing extreme disappointment in the neonic licence issued by government for sugar beet & is urging all members to express their objections to a public consultation on pesticides. Read more
The National Bee Unit says their inspectors across the UK are reporting some colonies of bees are becoming short of food and need feeding Read more