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British Beekeepers Association

{{Short description|Charitable organization in Warwickshire, United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox organization

| logo = File:British Beekeepers Association Logo.jpg

| logo_size = 250

| abbreviation = BBKA

| nickname =

| formation = 1874-05-16

| founder = {{Plainlist|

}}

| registration_id = Charity No: 1185343

| status = Charitable organisation

| purpose = To further and promote the craft of beekeeping

| headquarters = The National Beekeeping Centre, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG

| region = United Kingdom

| membership = 26,555

| membership_year = 2018

| leader_title = President

| leader_name = Stephen Barnes

| leader_title2 = Chair

| leader_name2 = Diane Drinkwater

| leader_title3 = Vice Chair

| leader_name3 = Clare McGettigan

| key_people = {{Plainlist|

}}

| main_organ = Board of Trustees

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales{{Cite web |title=BRITISH BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION - Charity 1185343 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5144092 |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB}} that was founded in 1874, holding its first meeting on 16 May.{{Cite web|date=2016-11-09|title=The History of the BBKA|url=http://www.bbka.org.uk/files/library/the_history_of_the_bbka_1306180988.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109112557/http://www.bbka.org.uk/files/library/the_history_of_the_bbka_1306180988.pdf|archive-date=9 November 2016}}{{Cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Sam |date=2023-08-21 |title=Is Beekeeping Wrong? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/08/28/is-beekeeping-wrong |access-date=2024-05-26 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} It is made up of 75 associations in England & Wales plus one in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbka.org.uk/find-beekeeping-near-you|title=Find beekeeping near You|website=British Beekeepers Association|date=22 September 2023 }} At end of 2018 there were 26,555 members. Its patrons include the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers and Jimmy Doherty.{{Cite web|last=Lanham|first=Stu|date=2020-08-29|title=Can Jimmy Save the Bees. Jimmy's Big Bee Rescue. Jimmy Doherty|url=https://jimmysfarm.com/jimmy-save-the-bees/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Jimmy's Farm|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Our Patrons|url=https://www.bbka.org.uk/Pages/Category/our-patrons|access-date=2021-03-20|website=British Beekeepers Association|date=23 October 2019 |language=en}}

The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) is an independent charity with a membership formed of 75 associations and 170 branches. It acts as an umbrella group for them and co-ordinates a swarm collection service for the public, administers training for beekeepers including a new scheme to encourage more beekeepers to use locally raised queens, administers grants for researchers looking at aspects of bee health and welfare and has recently encouraged the setting up of Asian Hornet Awareness Teams.{{Cite web|title=Asian hornet team|url=https://www.bbka.org.uk/asian-hornet-team|access-date=2021-05-26|website=British Beekeepers Association|language=en}}

Charitable objectives

The BBKA's charitable objectives are:

  • To further and promote the craft of beekeeping
  • To advance the education of the public in the importance of bees in the environment

Activities

Beekeeping associations and branches are local organisations of differing size, history and origins. They have a common interest in training people to be beekeepers and keeping the craft of beekeeping and understanding of honeybees alive. The majority of groups will maintain a training apiary and have a schedule of meetings in the summer and in the winter when beekeeping ceases.{{Cite web|last1=Howard|first1=Jane|last2=Coulthard|first2=Sally|date=2021-03-11|title=The ultimate guide to beekeeping for beginners|url=http://www.countryliving.co.uk/lifestyle/the-good-life/how-to/a276/beekeeping-for-beginners/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Country Living|language=en-GB}}

The BBKA operates services for the public by means of a swarm map which directs the public to local beekeepers who can help with the removal of honeybees.{{Cite news|last=Benjamin|first=Alison|date=2015-05-14|title=Yes, bad beekeeping is to blame for unwanted urban swarms {{!}} Alison Benjamin|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/14/yes-bad-beekeeping-is-to-blame-for-unwanted-urban-swarms|access-date=2021-03-09|issn=0261-3077}}

Along with the other national beekeeping associations in the UK and Ireland the BBKA promotes the education of beekeepers in the craft of beekeeping by offering courses and exams and a correspondence course for those unable to attend training sessions.{{Cite web|title=Training and advice: For beekeepers: ...: The Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects: University of Sussex|url=https://www.sussex.ac.uk/lasi/resources/beekeepers/trainingandadvice|access-date=2021-03-09|website=www.sussex.ac.uk}}{{Cite web|title=Beekeeping Examinations and Qualifications in UK and Ireland|url=http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/examqual.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=www.dave-cushman.net}} UK schools are also embracing beekeeping.{{Cite web|date=2017-03-03|title=Creating a buzz: how UK schools are embracing beekeeping|url=http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2017/mar/03/creating-a-buzz-how-uk-schools-are-embracing-beekeeping|access-date=2021-03-09|website=The Guardian|language=en}}

In 1946 the BBKA established a committee to promote research activities.{{Cite journal|date=1946-07-01|title=British Beekeepers' Association: Research Committee|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=158|issue=4002|pages=51|doi=10.1038/158051c0|bibcode=1946Natur.158S..51. |issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free}} Every year, the BBKA makes funds available for University and PhD research into bee behaviour and health. This is administered by a panel who consider applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.{{Cite web |title=Research |url=https://www.bbka.org.uk/Pages/Category/universities |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=British Beekeepers Association |language=en}} Following the discovery of the first Asian Hornets on the UK mainland in 2018 the BBKA has encouraged the setting up of an Asian Hornet Action Team in every area.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-20|title=Threat to honeybees as Asian hornet's arrival in UK confirmed|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/20/threat-honeybees-asian-hornet-arrival-uk-confirmed-defra-invasive-species|access-date=2021-03-09|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web |title=How to set up an Asian Hornet Action Team (AHAT) |url=https://www.bbka.org.uk/FAQs/how-to-set-up-an-ahat |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=British Beekeepers Association |date=8 January 2019 |language=en}}

The BBKA also offers a Bee Friendly Holiday Park benchmark scheme operated by the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme (DBCAS) which looks at the forage plants they provide for bees, what they do to provide homes for bees and how they promote bee conservation.{{Cite web|title=David Bellamy Conservation Awards - Find A Park|url=http://bellamyparks.co.uk/findbees.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=bellamyparks.co.uk}}

In 2010 the BBKA worked with the UK Government and the National Diploma of Beekeeping Board to train 400 experts in bee husbandry.{{Cite web|title=400 teachers for amateur beekeepers|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/400-teachers-for-amateur-beekeepers|access-date=2021-03-08|website=GOV.UK|language=en}} This was funded by DEFRA as part of their Healthy Bees Plan. Two years previously the BBKA had submitted a Beekeeping Research paper to Lord Rooker of DEFRA.{{Cite web|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 17 Jun 2008 (pt 0005)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080617/halltext/80617h0005.htm|access-date=2021-03-08|website=publications.parliament.uk}}{{Cite web|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 17 Jun 2008 (pt 0006)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080617/halltext/80617h0006.htm|access-date=2021-03-08|website=publications.parliament.uk}}{{Cite web|title=House of Commons - Public Accounts Committee - Minutes of Evidence|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/366/09031810.htm|access-date=2021-03-21|website=publications.parliament.uk}}{{Cite web|date=2009-12-04|title=Country Life Awards Winners|url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/news/country-life-awards-winners-25950|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Country Life|language=en}} The NDB and the BBKA also introduced courses to raise local queens under the Healthy Bees Plan.{{Cite web|date=2015-12-01|title=Queen Raising Short Course|url=https://national-diploma-beekeeping.org/front-page/queen-raising-short-course/|access-date=2021-03-09|website=National Diploma in Beekeeping|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Beebase - Beekeeping information resource for Beekeepers|url=https://nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?sectionId=41|access-date=2021-03-09|website=nationalbeeunit.com}} The BBKA along with the other national beekeeping groups takes part in the Government's Bee Health Advisory Forum to contribute towards policies to respond to threats faced by bees.{{Cite web|title=Beebase - Beekeeping information resource for Beekeepers|url=https://nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageId=339|access-date=2021-03-09|website=nationalbeeunit.com}}

The monthly membership magazine published by the BBKA is BBKA News.{{Cite web|title=BBKA News|url=https://bbkanews.com/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=bbkanews.com}}

The BBKA is not a direct member of Apimondia. Its interest is represented instead via its membership of the Council of National Beekeeping Associations of the United Kingdom and Ireland (CONBA).{{Cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.conba.org.uk/|access-date=2021-03-10|website=www.conba.org.uk}}

The BBKA has celebrated the first National Honey Day, 21 October,{{cite web | url=https://let-it-bee.co.uk/1st-national-honey-day | title=1st National Honey Day | date=12 October 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://hampshirebeekeepers.org.uk/national-honey-day-october-21st/ | title=National Honey Day – October 21st {{pipe}} Hampshire Beekeepers Association | date=18 October 2022 }}

Anne Rowberry, President of the BBKA, gave the King a jar of honey to celebrate National Honey Day{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/11/19/beekeeper-persuades-palace-guards-let-deliver-sweet-treat-king/ | title=Beekeeper sweet talks palace guards to give King Charles honey | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=19 November 2022 | last1=Bolton | first1=Will }}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|https://www.bbka.org.uk/}}
  • [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5144092 British Beekeepers Association, registered charity number 1185343]
  • [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cpzppl5ng3rt/bees Bees on the BBC]
  • [https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses/find-career-ideas/explore-jobs/job-profile/beekeeper How to become a beekeeper]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Charities based in Warwickshire

Category:Beekeeping in the United Kingdom

Category:Organizations established in 1874

Category:1874 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Beekeeping organizations

Category:Agricultural organisations based in England