The Summer 2026 Apiary meetings have now finished and will start again in May 2027.
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Dear Exeter Beekeeper
This month marks the return of our winter meetings. This year our meetings will be, mainly, at Whitestone Parish Hall, but our AGM will be at Topsham Rugby Club in November and there will, hopefully, be a joint meeting with East Devon in the Spring, I have attached a slightly amended program as Dan Basterfield cancelled and we are grateful to have Graham Kingham, speaking about ‘Drones the misunderstood bee’ instead – Thursday 22nd October 7pm.
Whitestone Parish Hall is only a short 3 miles from Exeter, but if you use your car sat nav it may take you up some very narrow and difficult Devon Lanes. If you prefer to avoid these,
- come up from Redhills via St Thomas, either from Exe Bridges via Okehampton Street
- or if coming from the Alphington direction, from Sainsburys proceed via Cowick Lane , Buddle lane, then turn left at the lights by the Coop.
- Either way once you get to the Coop its safe to put the sat nav on!
- If coming from the West, leave to A30 at Tedburn St Mary and take the 1st exit at the mini roundabout through the village which is signposted Whitestone.
There will be teas and coffees and plenty of time for a chat after the talk, I will make a cake to share, if anyone else would like to do the same?
We are very short of members willing to be on our committee. Our brilliant Treasurer- Paul Smith has to step down this year and we cannot manage as a branch without a Treasurer. Please consider at least looking into what is involved and if it is something you can help with- As a relative newbie, I can say its great to be involved, not onerous and actually quite fun!.
Best Wishes, Steve Tucker, Sec EBKA
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The AGM for the Exeter BKA will be held on Wednesday 25th November at Topsham Rugby Club.
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WINTER PROGRAMME :
We are planning meetings with speakers once a month on Thursday evenings from October to February 2027 (including our AGM in December). The venue will be the Parish Hall in Whitestone Village (3 miles outside Exeter between St Thomas and Tedburn St Mary).
N.B The AGM will be held at Topsham Rugby Club NOT Whitestone.
Winter 26-27 Program of Meetings and Talks:
22nd October 2026 7pm Whitestone Parish Hall –
Graham Kingham, ‘Drones the misunderstood bee’
25th November 2026 7pm Topsham Rugby Club –
AGM and Will Steynor: ‘Queen Rearing on a Small Scale’
10th December 2026 7pm Whitestone Parish Hall –
David Packham: ‘The secrets of a healthy and productive hive’
21st January 2027 7pm Whitestone Parish Hall –
David Packham: ‘For the joy of Swarms’
18th February 2027 7pm Whitestone Parish Hall –
Zoe Mack: ‘Basic Principles for hive management and Exeter Uni Apiculture update’
Possible 1st March 2027 7pm West Hill Village Hall –
Joint meeting with East Devon BKA Lelia Goss (APHA/NBU): Varroa- Speaker TBC
Addresses:
Whitestone Parish Hall, Whitestone,, Exeter, EX4 2JS
Topsham Rugby Club, Exeter Road, Exeter, EX3 0LY
West Hill Village Hall, Beech Park, Ottery St Mary EX11 1UQ
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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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!
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