Membership Stats

Reigate Beekeepers Membership Numbers

During the war in 1942 our membership rose to 242, because beekeeping enabled people to supplement their sugar ration.
Membership numbers subsequently reduced, but in 2011 partly due to the public media interest in the plight of the honey bee we again welcomed our 200^th member.
Our current number of fully paid up members is approximately 180.

Our membership covers a wide geographic area across a large part of south east Surrey, taking in the approximate boundaries of Dorking, Mole Valley, Leatherhead/Ashstead, Reigate & Banstead, and Tandridge District Councils.

Members also come from as far a field as Crawley, Horsham, Epsom, Horley, Caterham, Warlingham, Nutfield, Wescott, Abinger, Capel, Newdigate, and Godstone.

Reigate Beekeepers Members’ Hives

The approximate total of the number of hives in members’ apiaries is up to 745.
The average number of hives managed by an individual member is 3.
The range of the number of hives varies from 1 to a maximum of 30.

If you want to know more details please contact Sue Hickson who has the information, and a canny tool to let you know about apiaries and hives within certain distances from your home.

Reigate Beekeepers Members’ Beekeeping Qualifications

Amongst our newer to beekeeping members, each year many take an pass the BBKA Practical Assessment Basic Certificate each year.
A number of Members hold the BBKA General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry.
A number of Members hold the BBKA Advanced Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry.

We have three members who are ‘Master Beekeepers’ Celia Perry, Bob Maurer and Adam Leitch.

We have one member with the highest qualification of National Beekeeping Diploma: Adam Leitch.

Bob Maurer is the author of the book ‘Practical Microscopy for Beekeepers’ now available on Amazon with a 5 Star review, and he also wrote an Beekeeping Introduction for Beginners published as a booklet by BeeCraft.

Adam Leitch wrote the Monthly Beginners articles in BeeCraft throughout 2016.