News Updates

Richard Rickitt of BeeCraft Magazine will talk on
Bees and Trees – An Ancient Partnership.

An ancient and close relationship with trees has greatly influenced the evolution and geographic distribution of honey bees. 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 honey bees, 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 honey bees including those worth planting in the garden and a rundown of trees that can flower for bees in every month of the year.

The meeting starts at 7:30pm in Newent Community Centre (aka Glebe Chapel – see our Winter Talks post for details.) Please make every effort to attend I’m sure it will be worth the effort.

It was Newent Branch’s turn to host the AGM, Honey Show, and Lecture Day for the Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association.

We held it at Maisemore Village Hall.  We arranged 3 speakers and a buffet lunch.  The attendance was very good and in all 78 people were there, more than expected (60) and just more than the number in 2023.  All seven Gloucestershire branches were represented, and we had 4 other visitors in addition to the 3 speaker

The speaker programme included:
Tropilaelaps Mites – Maggie Gill
Honey Bee Communication – Lynfa Davies, NDB
The Secret World of Wasps – Prof. Seirian Sumner

The speakers were very well received – Lynfa Davies on Honeybee Communication, Maggie Gill on Tropilaelaps, and Professor Seirian Sumner on The Secret World of Wasps.  We received favourable feedback for the caterers, and Marin Anastasov (GBKA Secretary) wrote thanking everyone from Newent for organising and running the Lecture Day and Honey Show saying “It was a really well organised event and the choice of speakers was superb. I had some great feedback from those who attended.”  I am happy to pass on his appreciation and thanks to everyone at Newent who contributed to the day

Following the lunch came the AGM.  This was significant this year in that the meeting approved the change of status for GBKA to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.  In practice it will have little impact on members as most practical procedures remain the same, but it does provide safeguards for the Executive Committee in return for a more rigorous reporting procedure to the Charities Commission.  The full details and new constitution will be reported on the GBKA website.  The election of officers was conducted.

There were more than 50 entries to the Honey Show. Members of NBKA performed outstandingly winning several trophies.  Norman Roper deserves our thanks for his contributions to NBKA, and a big round of applause for receiving the Tom Swain Cup.  This is awarded for long standing services to beekeeping throughout the county.
Isabelle and Stephen Green (our newly awarded Master Beekeepers) won the John Sturdy Challenge Cup for the best Beeswax in the show and The Bradley & Burt Challenge Cup for the highest total of points by any entrant in the show.  Newent Branch received the Inter Branch Shield as the most successful branch (mostly thanks to the Greens, but Norman and others too!)   I think we deserve a communal pat on the back for delivering a good experience for the county’s beekeepers and showing we put our knowledge and experience into practice with our show entries

Our unique annual opportunity to show how our beekeeping is rewarded and exchange ideas about how we take advantage of our bees.

This is a fun occasion with an element of serious comment on our entries by a qualified judge. There are points available – and that means prizes too!

Please see the latest (September) Newsletter for the Schedule of Classes. We look forward to seeing you there and comparing our honey products.

This is open to all members and prospective members and you are encouraged to come and learn about our activities during the past year, our status as an association and plans for the coming year.

If you are interested in taking an active role (or more active role) in the running of the NBKA this is your opportunity to come and talk to the current committee and learn how we share the tasks necessary to keep the association active, relevant, and providing a service to local beekeepers.

Apart from our social plans the next major event in 2024 is hosting the annual GBKA Honey Show and AGM. Plans for this are advancing, but we will need more volunteer helpers towards and on the day (Saturday 24th February.)