As the beekeeping season winds down, join us for an evening of practical advice and essential information to help prepare your colonies for winter and stay alert to the growing threat of Asian Hornets.

Alan Baxter will share practical tips on assessing colony strength, checking food stores and ensuring your bees are well prepared for spring. Mark Fisher will then provide an Asian Hornet briefing, covering identification, monitoring, current risks and what to do if you spot a suspected hornet or nest.

Two important topics, plenty of practical advice, and an evening not to be missed.

Varroa has transformed beekeeping in the UK, and understanding the mite is key to managing it effectively. This presentation explores the ecology and life cycle of Varroa, its impact on honey bee colonies, and the range of options available to beekeepers.

From conventional chemical treatments to often-overlooked bio-technical methods, discover practical approaches to controlling Varroa, reducing chemical use and potentially lowering costs. Learn how different strategies can be adapted to suit your own colonies and beekeeping circumstances.

Discover the fascinating world of queen rearing with Philip Latham, as he explores how beekeepers can work with the natural biology of the honey bee to raise their own queens.

We’ll cover the basics of queen rearing, practical methods and how selecting queens for qualities such as temperament, productivity, health and resilience can help build stronger colonies. A practical and approachable talk designed to give you the confidence to have a go yourself.

Join us on 3 December for the FDBKA Annual General Meeting, followed by a festive evening of honey tasting and seasonal treats. 🍯🎄

We’ll look back at the year, hear what’s been happening across the Association and look ahead to another exciting year of beekeeping. Once the formal business is complete, members can sample and compare a selection of delicious honeys.

With mince pies, hot drinks and plenty of festive cheer, it’s the perfect opportunity to catch up with fellow beekeepers and celebrate another year together. ☕️🥧

Whodunit! The Case of the Winter Losses 🐝🔎

Winter losses can be disheartening, but understanding what went wrong can help improve colony survival. In this engaging murder-mystery-style talk, Dylan Gussman investigates the common causes of winter colony deaths and the clues they leave behind.

Learn how to carry out effective colony post-mortems, identify the likely culprits and use those findings to improve your overwintering strategy. Packed with practical tips and tricks, this talk will help you avoid the repeat offenders and give your colonies the best chance of a strong start to the new season.