* Entry Registration remaining OPEN

* New Drop-Off & Pick-Up arrangements

* Show Bench Viewing times announced

The notes below amend Rules 1, 2, 4 & 14 in the 2021 Schedule.

Late Entries are NO LONGER being accepted …

• For late entries, Entry Labels not able to be posted in time will be supplied to the exhibitor for applying when dropping off at Henfold.
• Late entries are accepted at the discretion of the Show Secretary.

Exhibitors to DROP-OFF their exhibits at Henfold …

… during:

• Wednesday 29th Sept evening between 6pm and 7pm … Only with Entry Labels applied.
• Friday 1st Oct evening between 6pm and 8pm.
• Saturday 2nd Oct morning between 8:30am and 9:15am

Exhibits to be PICKED-UP by Exhibitors …

… or their nominated collector during:

• Saturday from 4pm until 5:30pm.

All Members and their families are invited …

… to attend Henfold to view the Show Benches during:

• Saturday 2nd October from 1:30pm until 4pm.

All exhibits will be displayed and judged in the normal manner, initially behind closed doors during the 2nd October, under the watchful eyes of our Show Bench Secretary and Stewards.

From 1:30pm, the pavilion will be open for members and their guests to visit and view the Show Benches. Some sections of the Show Benches may be cordoned off at times whilst any remaining judging of Classes is being undertaken.

Join Vince Gallo at the Henfold Apiary for the Saturday afternoon of 30th October to learn how to make a single-frame queen cage.

A useful mechanism for IPM Varroa control,  as described by Steve Riley at our 2019 December Winter meeting and demonstrated by Vince in presentation RBKA Online No7 during June 2020.

The plan is to hold with Queen Cage session under gazebos outside with workbenches. Vince will take you through the process of you building with materials supplied, firstly, one for the hives at Henfold; and then to refine your skills, so you can build your own.

(Material used may differ from those shown in the photo and video)

The cost is £20 which covers the materials for your own cage.

The session starts at 13:30pm, and should take about 2 hours.

This is being run in the afternoon so that, if you wish, you may also attend the Wax Wrap Workshop in the morning. Pre-booking for the Wax Wrap Workshop is separate and it’s cost is additional if participating.

If you are interested in participating in the Queen Cage Workshop, please email Vince Gallo – vince.gallo@btinternet.com

More details about the  Wax Wrap Workshop HERE.

Join Gill Simpson & Sue Hickson in the Henfold pavilion on Saturday 30^th October and learn how to make wax wraps to use as an alternative to cling film.

We will show you the method we have found to be easiest and pass on our top tips for success.

You will go home with a set of three wax wraps and the recipe so you can make more at home.

Tea, coffee and cake is included in the cost of £20 for the session starting at 10.00am and ending at 12.30pm.

If there is sufficient interest in the wax wrap making , we may run a second session during the afternoon

In addition, during the afternoon, Vince Gallo will also be running a Queen Cage Workshop.

The cost will be £20 and participants will go home with their own Queen Cage.

The plan is to hold with Queen Cage session under gazebos outside with workbenches.

Morning attendees of the Wax Wrap Workshop could stay to attend, but pre-booking for the Queen Cage Workshop and it’s cost is additional if participating.

If you are interested in participating in the Wax Wrap Workshop, please email Gill Simpson – secretary@reigatebeekeepers.org.uk

If you are interested in participating in the Queen Cage Workshop, please email Vince Gallo – vince.gallo@btinternet.com

Show Entry Registration is remaining open.

Late Entries are being accepted … until further notice only.

ENTER NOW or ENTER MORE NOW

The event for 2021 has again been limited to a ‘Honey Show Bench’ only event, as was successfully organised and achieved last year.

At the time when venue booking, planning and promotion of our usual public Beekeeping and Honey Show event needed to commence, uncertainties remained about when and to what extent pandemic constraints on gatherings and social distancing would be lifted. There also remained uncertainty about how quickly we and the public would feel comfortable about being within a potentially crowded hall.

All exhibits will be displayed and judged in the normal manner behind closed doors during the 2nd October, under the watchful eyes of our Show Bench Secretary, Stewards and the lenses of cameras. This year however, hopefully there may be some additional scope for members to more freely visit Henfold and view the Show benches after the judging has been completed, and before entries are collected. Meanwhile, as last year, photos and video footage of the Show Bench, Judging activity and the awarding of certificates for entries will be published on our Members website. 

The 2021 Virtual Honey Show Schedule includes:

♦ 22 Members Classes & 3 Children’s Classes

♦ Rules for all the Classes

♦ Competition Cake and Biscuit Recipes

♦ Entry Labelling instructions.

[Read more…]

Virtual Convention – Booking Open

http://www.bbka.org.uk/Pages/Category/about-spring-convention

The 2021 BBKA Spring Convention, 16-18 April, is a great ‘Virtual’ event to look forward to. The bonus of being virtual is that the Convention will come to you, wherever you are, via your choice of device: computer, tablet or smartphone. Despite all the challenges, we will as usual offer a mix of practical and scientific lectures and presentations, on the topics most requested, directed at a range of beekeeping experience, presented by the very best of speakers.

The Programme –

The electronic Convention programme is available on the BBKA website, with full details of speakers and their talks ….

Download BBKA SC 2021 Presentations Timetable Final.pdf (issued 30th March 2021).

Virtual Trade Show –

Entry to the Virtual Tradeshow (AKA The Marketplace) will be free and this will be everyone’s opportunity to browse the latest beekeeping kit from multiple suppliers, all under one ‘virtual’ roof and to take advantage of special Convention offers!

More Social … –

In addition … the More Social programme gives an opportunity to learn more about current issues in and around beekeeping presented by key influencers.

Download BBKA SC 2021 More Social Details Final.pdf (issued 30th March 2021)

The programme includes the presentation by Julian Routh of the Bees-A-Buzzing Quiz final, a light-hearted team quiz between Association ‘teams’.

The members of the Convention Committee look forward to welcoming you to this year’s Convention, with something for all! For more information, programme updates and participation details, please see BBKA News and the Spring Convention pages www.bbka.org.uk/Pages/Category/about-spring-convention

Joyce Nisbet, BBKA Trustee and Spring Convention Chair: joyce.nisbet@bbka.org.uk

Virtual Convention –

The 2021 BBKA Spring Convention, 16-18 April, is a great ‘Virtual’ event to look forward to. I hope your Association will encourage its members to put the dates in their diaries and be ready to book once the website opens in early April. To help with this, we attach adverts in different sizes and formats that you can choose to circulate or include in any local newsletter. The bonus of being virtual is that the Convention will come to you, wherever you are, via your choice of device: computer, tablet or smartphone. Despite all the challenges, we will as usual offer a mix of practical and scientific lectures and presentations, on the topics most requested, directed at a range of beekeeping experience, presented by the very best of speakers.

The electronic Convention programme will be available on the BBKA website from early March, with full details of speakers and their talks. Entry to the Virtual Tradeshow (AKA The Marketplace) will be free and this will be everyone’s opportunity to browse the latest beekeeping kit from multiple suppliers, all under one ‘virtual’ roof and to take advantage of special Convention offers!

Area Associations Area –

Additionally, we are seeking expressions of interest from BBKA Area Associations wishing to have a free ‘stand’ in an ‘Associations Area’ of the Convention website. This would enable you to provide contact details, a weblink, a brief text overview and up to four photographs of Association activities. Optional video upload for a small additional charge (£80 + VAT per video) will also be possible. Our latest research has revealed significant numbers of new recruits to beekeeping during lockdown, keen to take part in the Convention. The Association Area will be an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of Association membership – and to share ideas. There will also be a prize for the ‘best’ still photograph uploaded in this area. If your Association is interested, please contact Ray Green, conventionstewards@gmail.com for further details, by 19th February.

Buzzing Quizzers –

It is intended to have a light-hearted team quiz at the Convention. Ideally this will be between Association ‘teams’. Julian Routh julian.routh@bbka.org.uk would be pleased to hear from budding (or buzzing) quiz ‘teams’ of three members from Associations. The intention is to hold preliminary virtual heats to identify two teams with the best combination of general and beekeeping knowledge. Places will by necessity be limited, so if you would like to take part, please contact Julian ASAP – and certainly by 19th February.

The members of the Convention Committee look forward to welcoming you to this year’s Convention, with something for all! For more information, programme updates and participation details, please see BBKA News and the Spring Convention pages www.bbka.org.uk/Pages/Category/about-spring-convention

Joyce Nisbet, BBKA Trustee and Spring Convention Chair: joyce.nisbet@bbka.org.uk

Did you miss Pam Hunter’s live talk to us on the 15th July 2020, as part of our own RBKA On-Line Education programme? 

If so, there is an opportunity to catch Pam again as the BBKA host a Zoom talk on ‘Viruses – What are they and what impact do they have on bees and human life?’ 

Attendance on Monday 30th November 7:30 – 8:30pm is free but you do need to pre-register to receive the zoom link (below).

Details from BBKA…

Pam Hunter’s next talk in the current series will take place Monday 30^th November 7.30-8.30pm.

Viruses – What are they and what impact do they have on bees and human life?

Discusses how viruses were first discovered in plants (Tobacco Mosaic virus) long before they could be visualised.  Early days of discovering infective organisms and using microscopes.  Mentions  Robert Hooke, Van Leeuwenhoek and Pasteur.  How viruses such as smallpox, polio, yellow fever, foot and mouth, flu and now Corona SARS 2 have impacted the history of the world.  Are viruses really alive and how do they get into cells?  The impact of viruses on honey bees, including DWV and CBPV.  Is there any treatment for viruses and if not why not?

Pam Hunter is a Master Beekeeper and her background is in biological sciences. She was employed in microbiological research in the pharmaceutical industry for 30 years before becoming a freelance consultant and writer. Pam is Chair of the BBKA Research, Technical and Environmental Committee.

The last of Pam’s talk was fully subscribed so please book early to reserve your place.   Attendance is free but you do need to pre-register to receive the zoom link:

https://www.bbka.org.uk/Event/pam-hunter-talk-on-viruses

Kind regards

Leigh Sidaway, General Manager

Can’t wait, can’t make the date/time, or unable to register?

… then  Click Here to watch and listen to Pam Hunter’s presentation ‘The Mysterious World of Viruses’ – to Reigate Beekeepers on the 15th July 2020.

For the full set of recordings of RBKA Online Education talks

…go to RBKA Online> RBKA Online Recordings 

The next Annual Delegates Meeting (ADM) is being conducted as a virtual meeting, on-line,  during Saturday 16th January 2021.

The ADM is the policy making forum for the BBKA and members are encouraged to have a look at what is proposed.

Details of the ADM can be found on the BBKA website at www.bbka.org.uk/bbka-adm where the Propositions for Consideration by the Delegates are published.

The Propositions can also viewed  directly from here. 

Surrey BKA’s Delegate to the meeting is Bob Maurer.

The Surrey BKA Council will be meeting before the 16th January to discuss and agree upon SBKA’s position on all the Propositions.  [Read more…]

Show Entry Registration remained OPEN until Mid-Day Thursday 17th September 2020.

SCROLL DOWN

for the

SCHEDULE 

Labels for Registered Entries will be posted out to Entrants by 19th September.

Details will also be provided about where and with whom your prepared Entries need to be dropped off (by pre arrangement with them) before the evening of the 25th September. 

All exhibits will be transferred from the drop-off locations to Henfold for display and judging – behind closed doors – during the 26th September, under the watchful eyes of our Show Bench Secretary, Stewards and camera lenses ONLY.

Recordings of the Show Bench, Judging activity and the allocation of certificates, will be available for viewing by members and possibly the pubic. 

The Pavilion has already started to be transformed into a Show Bench display … all that is needed are YOUR entries to grace the eventually fully dressed tables and tiered shelves.

These measures are due to the ongoing restrictions related to public events. It had been decided to cancel the Beekeeping display and public element of our usual ‘Beekeeping & Honey Show’ that was scheduled to be in Dorking again this year and instead, relocate the Honey Show (Bench Exhibits) element only of the event to our Henfold pavilion.

Necessarily, the Henfold site will need to remain CLOSED to all Members, other than those managing the event and designated to bring exhibits from and later return exhibits to the Drop-Off locations.

The 2020 Virtual Honey Show Schedule includes:

♦ 22 Members Classes & 3 Children’s Classes

♦ Rules for all the Classes

♦ Competition Cake and Biscuit Recipes

♦ Entry Labelling instructions.

[Read more…]