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bbka.org.uk
British Beekeepers Association
@bbka.org.uk
This is the page for the British Beekeepers' Association, a national charity supporting bees and beekeepers.

https://www.bbka.org.uk/
Under 2 weeks until 2026 BBKA Spring Convention tickets go on sale on 25.1.26 @ 8pm
Full programme and other information available @ www.bbka.org.uk/pages/catego...
January 13, 2026 at 1:14 PM
The BBKA Forum is available for a wide range of friendly chat and questions about beekeeping

www.bbkaforum.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 12:45 PM
How serious an issue has international honey fraud become and how concerned should consumers in the UK be?

www.bbc.co.uk/food/program...
Programmes
Sheila Dillon investigates the scale of global honey fraud.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 9:35 AM
The small hive beetle, one of the most devastating pests of the honey bee Apis mellifera has the capability to destroy an entire colony within weeks including by causing slime-out of honey bee colonies due to the fermentation of honey by its symbiotic yeast.

www.entsocnsw.org.au/wp-content/u...
January 13, 2026 at 5:11 AM
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has responded to concerns over the packaged bee trade & its response plans to the potential arrival of the tropilaelaps mite that might pile Canada’s varroa mite problems.

www.producer.com/news/canadia...

Photo Crown copyright ©️ courtesy APHA
Canadian Food Inspection Agency defends bee replacement stance | The Western Producer
A string of hard years for the beekeeping sector has helped push tensions over packaged bee imports from the U.S. into the limelight.
www.producer.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:04 AM
In the Ilgaz district of Çankırı, a 1-kilogram jar of raw honey was sold for 11,118 euros at an auction organized to provide scholarships for university students, earning the title of the world's most expensive honey.

en.haberler.com/the-honey-so...
The honey sold in Ilgaz has entered the Guinness World Records as the most expensive honey in the world.
In the Ilgaz district of Çankırı, a 1-kilogram jar of raw honey was sold for 11,118 euros at an auction organized to provide scholarships for university students, earning the title of the world's most...
en.haberler.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:50 AM
What are the top 3 equipment items you run out of most commonly in a season?
January 12, 2026 at 6:18 AM
Honey bees can be at risk of starvation at any time of year. It is important to regularly monitor hives to assess food stores and recognise signs of imminent starvation so it can be rectified.
This fact sheet provides information on preventinh starvation

www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/...
January 11, 2026 at 9:32 AM
"This paper shows how climate change is increasing the risk of temporal mismatches between plants and pollinators worldwide, which can have serious negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem health.”

naturalhistory.si.edu/research/bot...
Climate change is altering plant and pollinator relationships
naturalhistory.si.edu
January 11, 2026 at 7:27 AM
Yellow-legged Asian hornet conference - South West Beekeepers’ Forum

Jan 24 - Bridgewater, Somerset
Come together, prepare ourselves & find useful ways of working together.

Annabel Lewis (NBU) - Dominique Soete - Dr Peter Kennedy - Dr Sarah Bunker

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yellow-leg...
Yellow-legged Asian hornet conference
The South West Beekeepers Forum
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Now you have acquired many colonies, how many sheds have you got to store everything in?
A repurposed Wendy house counts as well 🙂
January 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM
The BBKA's 66th Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM) will be held today, Saturday 10th January 2026 from 9.30am

Supporting ADM documents can be found on the Member Hub in the BBKA Admin & Compliance section
January 10, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Tropilaelaps is a genus of mites whose members can affect western honey bee colonies. In this video, Dr. Ellis discusses Tropilaelaps biology and the threat these mites pose to honey bee health.

youtu.be/cmzJJNleHek?...
Tropilaelaps | Beekeeping Academy | Ep. 75
YouTube video by UFhoneybeelab
youtu.be
January 10, 2026 at 4:52 AM
Since parting ways, both honeybees and humans have independently developed effective, but different, means of communication and cooperation within complex societies.

theconversation.com/can-we-use-b...
Can we use bees as a model of intelligent alien life to develop interstellar communication?
Humans and bees can both work with mathematics. Could aliens do the same?
theconversation.com
January 10, 2026 at 4:47 AM
What is the maximum number of hives you said you'd have when you started beekeeping compared to the number you actually have now?

We won't share information with your significant others, but can't promise they won't be checking up 🙂
January 10, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Apiary and hive hygiene can reduce the impact of disease and help minimise the risk of disease transmission between colonies and apiaries.
Hygienic practices should incorporate regular cleaning of hives, equipment and clothing, with regular comb replacement.

www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/...
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 AM
The significant threat posed by the invasive Asian hornet to Luxembourg's bee populations and biodiversity was detailed by ministers in response to a recent parliamentary question

today.rtl.lu/news/luxembo...
January 9, 2026 at 8:53 AM
While bees are impacted by climate change and deforestation, researchers say there’s a gap in studies about how bees are also impacted by mining activities in the lithium belt, which feeds renewable energy technologies meant to mitigate climate change.

news.mongabay.com/2026/01/beek...
Beekeepers in Brazil worry lithium mining puts their bees in jeopardy
ARAÇUAÍ & BELÉM, Brazil — When Aécio Luiz was younger, finding wild beehives was routine in his rural Afro-Brazilian community of Córrego Narciso. A farmer turned beekeeper, he recalls their buzzing w...
news.mongabay.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Yellow-legged hornet queen sightings in Auckland have now reached 41 according to Biosecurity New Zealand who are urging Aucklanders to continue to be on the lookout

28 of the 41 queen hornets were found with either developed nests. 

www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/...
January 9, 2026 at 7:18 AM
The BBKA has just received a reply from MP Mary Creagh CBE (Coventry East) to an earlier letter to the previous Defra Minister of State, Defra, regarding yellow-legged Asian hornets
January 8, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Checking and replacing fondant is one of very few activities that can benefit a colony at this time of year.
Hefting your hive to gauge stores may also be useful
January 8, 2026 at 12:28 PM
This guideline summarises key
points involved in keeping healthy bees and provides resources to help learn
more on each topic.

www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/...
January 8, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Planning your 2026 BBKA Spring Convention.
Programme now available to help select workshops & seminars in advance of bookings opening on Sunday 25th January @ 8pm
Thanks to the team for getting the programme ready ahead of schedule

www.bbka.org.uk/planning-you...
January 8, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Back copies of BBKA News can be found online on the BBKA Member Hub
memberhub.bbka.org.uk

Also available on the BBKA News Archive site
bbkanews.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:07 AM
The States of Guernsey has advertised for an Invasive Non-Native Species Policy and Co-ordination Officer, tasked with leading the island’s response to harmful species that threaten biodiversity, the economy and public wellbeing.

www.bailiwickexpress.com/news-ge/guer...
Guernsey seeking new invasive species tsar to head off hornet threat - Bailiwick Express News Guernsey
From springtime hornet traps to border biosecurity checks, Guernsey’s battle against invasive species has become a year-round effort – and the States is now looking for a new officer to take charge of...
www.bailiwickexpress.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:59 AM