Dean Forest Beekeepers

Info for schools and groups

We are always pleased to hear from schools and other groups who would like to know more about bees and beekeeping. We are fortunate in having several excellent speakers who are willing to give illustrated talks.

The Association has an observation hive, where the bees can be seen on their comb behind a glass panel, and a virtual hive, which realistically shows the inside of a full size hive using actual hive components and full size colour photographs.

If you would like us to attend a meeting or event in the Forest of Dean or surrounding area, please get in touch with our Chair, Val Vivian-Griffiths, email address

Meetings, lectures and seminars

Beekeepers have many opportunities to learn about the current and future issues which affect bees and beekeeping, and to share their experience.

Members of the Gloucestershire Beekeeping Association may attend the meetings of any of the seven branches. The web sites of the branches, where you will find details of their meetings, are listed on the GBKA web site.

Gloucestershire Association meetings are usually open to non-members, as are the meetings of most other beekeeping societies in the UK. To check, just ring the Secretary.

Conferences and conventions are organised by a number of beekeeping societies:

The BBKA arrange the biggest convention, which is held at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, in April each year. The date is included in our Calendar. For details of the next convention go to BBKA Convention

Somerset Beekeepers Association organise a Lecture Day in early spring each year. For more information look here: Somerset Beekeepers Events

The Welsh Beekeepers Association organise a convention every spring, usually held at Builth Wells. The date is included in our Calendar. For more information see the WBKA web site. WBKA.

Avon Beekeepers Association puts on a day of talks, usually on a Saturday in the autumn, for beekeepers and anybody interested in beekeeping. See their web site ABKA.

The Midland & South Western Counties Convention (MSWCC for short) organises a weekend beekeeping conference every September. All beekeepers are welcome. The conference is residential, but you can also attend for individual days as a day visitor. More details are available here: Midland and South Western Counties Convention

International co-ordination between beekeeping societies is carried out by Apimondia. A world conference is organised every two year. In 2011 it will be held in Argentina; in 2013 it will be in Kiev. A conference on organic beekeeping will be held in Bulgaria in August 2010. Many of the papers presented at their conferences are available on their web site.

For more information go here: Apimondia.

Honey Shows

Again, almost every association organises a Honey Show, and they usually have classes for a wide range of things made with bee products, not just honey.

Check the Association web sites for details of their Shows

Courses and examinations

The BBKA provide more advanced examinations for those who have already taken the Basic Assessment. These are the General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry and the Advanced Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry

Other Practical Assessments available are Microscopy Certificate and Show Judge.

For more information see the BBKA web site: BBKA Examinations and Assessments

The syllabus for each course is available on the site, and provides a useful checklist, whether or not you wish to take the examination.

Publications and online resources

For an easy to read series of essays about all aspects of beekeeping, take a look at this American site: Basic Beekeeping blog The lessons are listed on the lower right hand side of the page.

There are some useful, though not new, articles on the BBKA web site

The Stratford on Avon Beekeeping Association web site has a superb list of online resources: SUABKA

There are some Publications links on our Contacts page.

You can also find articles on many different subjects in the journals and papers through the Apimondia web site: Apimondia