HONITON SHOW – THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST
The Honiton Show is a lovely rural event with Beekeeping activities being promoted by the combined teams of East Devon and Exeter Beekeeper Associations. Being smaller than the Devon County Show it feels far more intimate with closer contact to the shows and exhibits than at the larger County Show. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended day out. Paul Hammond, Bees and Honey Show Secretary and Exter BKA Member sends an appeal below.
“I am inviting volunteer stewards for the Honiton Show Bees and Honey Marquee which takes place on Thursday 6 August 2026. We need stewards for the various stands and displays including Honey Sales, taste of Honey, live bees, candle rolling for children, entry points, securing the competition stands and the information stands. Stewards will be provided with a free entry ticket to the show and the rotas will enable sufficient opportunities to explore the show itself. There will be car parking in the public car parks adjacent to the show ground. The success of the show depends on the stewards who will be meeting and discussing their experiences and encouraging potential beekeepers. Please send expressions of interest to steward the show to Paul Hammond by email pahammond@virginmedia.com or by messages to 07849685051”
Regards and many thanks Paul, Bees and Honey Show Secretary
Dear Beekeepers,
We are looking forward to the 2026 season and new beekeepers joining our fascinating hobby. Beekeeping Training Courses are run annually and can be found on the website https://exeterbeekeepers.org.uk/coming-events/training/ along with equipment for sale and interesting articles beekeepers have found and sent us.
2026 Apiary Meeting Dates and Activities
Shirley has very kindly created the schedule of dates and activities for the 2026 season – – thank you Shirley!
The apiary will be open from this Sunday17th May afternoons between 2 and 5pm,,fortnigthtly (with the exception of 31 May) until September. The afternoons will include opening up hives to review what the bees are up to and complementary supporting activities!
Activities from beginning of July will be defined in response to the progress of the colonies and published closer to that month.
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2026 MAY |
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17th |
Swarm control using a nuc. |
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24TH |
How to move bees to a different site |
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31st |
CAN’T DO – birthday party |
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JUNE |
Changing comb using the bailey method. (for a strong colony) |
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7TH |
As above – for a week colony |
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14TH |
Pagdon method of swarm control |
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21ST |
Marking and clipping a Queen. |
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28TH |
How to complete a disease inspection |
As usual we are looking for volunteers to help. We have positions on the Exeter BKA Committee, Honiton and Exeter Show Committee and Devon Beekeepers Committee. The Honiton and Exeter Show Committee is only running for half the year too, so not a big commitment. If you would like to know more, shadow someone to see if the post interests you, please let me know. If you would like to stand, please let me know by 4th November, ready for the Exeter Beekeepers AGM.
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2026 events still to be organised.
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EBKA Members are welcomed to join meetings held by other Devon Associations. Please contact the relevant Branch Secretary for specific joining details. The schedule of events at other Devon Associations is shown on the DBKA website here.
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SUMMER APIARY MEETINGS – DATES FOR SUMMER
The Apiary Meetings are planned for alternate Sunday afternoons at 2.30 pm during the summer.
(Specific days are subject to the vagaries of British weather and activities to the requirements of our bee colonies! So look for emails or check the website a few days before the meeting)
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Every day at Exeter Apiary is a learning day…sometimes as in learning the hard way!
MP’s to review Insect Decline and Food Security
Following petitions to Parliament on the danger of neonicotinoids to UK pollinators, the Science, Innovation and Technology Commiittee, a cross party group of MPs, has been convened to take evidence on the decline in numbers and diversity of insects and the effect on UK food security.
23 January 2025
Today, the Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced its decision to reject the emergency use of a bee-threatening neonicotinoidpesticide for 2025 – a huge win for UK wildlife.
The neonicotinoid pesticide, which is currently banned in Europe for its potential harmful effects on bees’ nervous systems, had previously been authorised annually in the UK for emergency use since 2021. The change in policy concurs with the timing of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Environmental Protection (OEP) into a complaint made by ClientEarth about the government’s authorisation of this pesticide in 2023 and 2024.
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Real concerns are being raised by the BBKA, BDI, and the Science Advisor of the danger of inadvertently importing the Small Hive Beetle if Queens are imported from Northern Ireland. Please see full details in the paper below:
Importing Honey Bees into Great Britain