The Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association Spring lecture day, County Honey Show and the AGM will be held on Saturday 21st February 2026, hosted by Stroud Beekeepers Association
(Sponsored by Maisemore Apiaries (https://bees-online.co.uk/))
21st February 2026
Stonehouse Court Hotel, Bristol Road, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, GL10 3RA
10.00 – 10.50 Arrival, Honey Show registrations and refreshments
10.50 – 11.00 Welcome by SBKA chairman and introduction to speakers:
11:00 – 12:00 Eyal Maori – The secret RNA language of the bees
12:00 – 13.00 Lunch break
13.00 – 13.30 GBKA AGM and Honey Show awards
13.30 – 14.30 Joe Ibertson – Treatment Free Beekeeping, Varroa Resistance and Free-Living Colonies
14:30 – 15:00 Tea and coffee
15:00 – 16:00 Richard Rickett – Bees and trees – an ancient partnership
16:00 Event close
Sponsored by Maisemore Apiaries. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
To help us plan adequate catering and capture any dietary needs, please complete the free event registration form here: https://buytickets.at/stroudbeekeepersassociation/1943884
Those of you who wish to enter the County Honey Show, please complete the attached form (honey show application form) and contact nikkiburger@hotmail.co.uk by 20th Feb 2026
We look forward to seeing you there.
Lecture briefs
Eyal Maori – The secret RNA language of the bees
We recently discovered that honeybees do not only share food and duties within the hive; they also share molecular messages called RNA. RNA transmission between honeybees occurs through the ingestion of worker and royal jellies, which are secreted by nurse bees to nourish developing larvae.
Our research has shown that these transmissible RNAs are biologically active and can turn off specific genes in recipient bees. The discovery of this transmissible RNA pathway has raised many questions about why and how bees exchange RNA messages. Many of the RNAs we have detected originate from infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. We hypothesise that bees share these RNAs between individuals and across generations to protect the colony from diseases it has previously encountered. In this way, the RNA communication pathway may serve a role similar to vaccination.
In this seminar, I will discuss how this ‘secret language’ works and explore how RNA sharing could contribute to colony health and resilience, offering a new perspective on the origins of communication and the remarkable cooperation among honey bees.
Joe Ibertson – Treatment Free Beekeeping, Varroa Resistance and Free-Living Colonies
In this talk Joe consolidates his observations as a treatment free beekeeper and conservationist.
Exploring how he has adapted his hives and management to suit his location and the bees, as a platform for ‘natural’ selection and Varroa resistance.
Richard Ricketts – Bees and trees – an ancient partnership
An ancient and close relationship with trees has greatly influenced the evolution and geographic distribution of honeybees. This talk reveals how trees enabled bees to colonise the British Isles and the ways in which people living here perhaps first interacted with and exploited honeybees, eventually becoming beekeepers. The talk looks at what trees provide for bees including cavities in which to nest and various essential resources, and how the relationship can work both ways. It concludes with a look at some of the most useful UK species of trees for honeybees including those that are worth planting in the garden.
Newent Branch of Gloucestershire Beekeepers 