Dear Beekeepers,
We are looking forward to the 2026 season and new beekeepers joining our fascinating hobby. Beekeeping Training Courses are now up on the website https://exeterbeekeepers.org.uk/coming-events/training/ along with equipment for sale and interesting articles beekeepers have found and sent us.
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.
Regards, Cathy
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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