Dean Forest Beekeepers

for beekeepers in the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley

Help and advice

The Regional Bee Inspector for our area, who should be contacted if you suspect you have a notifiable disease at your apiary, is Dave Sutton. 01885 483136
david.sutton@fera.gsi.gov.uk
The National Bee Unit is the part of The Food and Environment Research Agency which supports the beekeeping industry. The NBU provide a testing service for all types of bee diseases and a sample submission form can be downloaded from their web site. The testing is chargeable unless submitted by a Bee Inspector. 01904 462510
nbu@fera.gsi.gov.uk
BeeBase is a web site maintained by the National Bee Unit. It has some useful information and a good gallery of beekeeping images, including photos of pests and diseases. BeeBase

Suppliers

  

Maisemore Apiaries
Old Road, Maisemore, Gloucester, GL2 8HT
One of the UK's biggest and best suppliers, right on our doorstep. Helpful advice too.

 01452 700289
Maisemore Apiaries

E.H.Thorne (Beehives) Ltd
Beehive Works, Wragby, Market Rasen LN8 5LA
Almost everything for the beekeeper.

 01673 858 555
Thorne

John Lewis
15 Forest View, Buckshaft Road, Cinderford, GL14 3DP
A local supplier of hives, nucleus boxes, solar wax extractors and other items.
Information sheet

01594 822814 or
07900 400140
Lewia@tiscali.co.uk

Fragile Planet
Unit 14, Radfords Field, Maesbury Road, Oswestry, SY10 8RA
A wide range of beekeeping equipment, with a discount for Dean Forest Beekeepers members. (Details from our Secretary)

 01691 672869
Fragile Planet

Caddon Hives
Caddonlands, Millbank Rd, Clovenfords Galashiels, Scotland TD1 3LZ
Good value cedar hives from a father and son team who live in the Scottish borders.

 01896 850249
Caddon Hives

National Bee Supplies
Merrivale Road, Exeter Road Industrial Estate, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1UD

 01837 54084
National Bee Supplies

Paynes Southdown Bee Farms Ltd
Bentley Cottage, Wickham Hill, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 9NP

 01273 843388
Paynes Bee Farms

BB Wear
1 Glyn Way, Threemilestone, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6DT
Beekeepers protective clothing (and repairs)

 01872 273693
BB Wear

B J Sherriff
Carclew Road, Mylor Downs Falmouth Cornwall TR11 5UN

 01872 863304
B J Sherriff
Freeman & Harding Ltd
Unit 18, Bilton Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 2AN
Honey jars and lids for beekeepers		 01322 351315
Freeman & Harding

Compak
3 Ashmead Trading Estate, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1SX
Glass jars and bottles

 01179 863550
Compak

Societies

  

The British Beekeepers Association represents member associations in England. It provides insurance schemes, information, beekeeping examinations. It also runs Honey Shows and conferences.

 BBKA

The Scottish Beekeepers Association

 SBKA

The Welsh Beekeepers Association

 WBKA

Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association

 GBKA

Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association, Cheltenham and Gloucester Branch

 CGBK

Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association, Newent Branch

 NBK

South Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association

 SGBK

Gwent Beekeepers Association

 GBK

Herefordshire Beekeepers Association

 HBKA

Stratford-upon-Avon & District
A society with an excellent web site. Their Resources page is second to none.

 SUA

Discussion groups

  

Beekeeping Forum
An active UK forum.

Beekeeping Forum

BBKA Forum
The forum on the British Beekeeping Association site.

 BBKA Forum

Beemaster forum
A worldwide forum with mainly North American members.

 Beemaster

Beesource Forum
Another worldwide forum with mainly North American members.

 Beesource

Auction and classified ad sites

  

Bid4bees
A small but growing site which specialises in beekeeping items.

 Bid4bees

Gardening and wildlife

  
Avon Wildlife Trust
have a good section about wildlife gardening on their web site 		AWT
Bumblebee Conservation Trust
Their site has masses of information on how you can help bumblebees
 BBCT
Gloucestershire Naturalists Society
Our local specialist wildlife society
 GNS

Publications

  
BeeCraft is a monthly journal that aims to provide the latest beekeeping ideas and scientific research for both beginners and seasoned apiarists. A subscription costs £22 for the first year, £24 after that. Beecraft
Bees for Development promotes sustainable beekeeping for all enthusiasts. They produce a quarterly magazine 'Beekeeping and Development' and have an online book store. Bees for Development

Research

  
In addition to the research sponsored by the National Bee Unit (see BeeBase above) these organisations may be of interest:
  

Apimondia
Apimondia, the international co-ordinating body for beekeeping, support research and organise many conferences. Many of the papers are available on their web site.

 Apimondia

University of Sussex
Their Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects conducts significant research, including projects which make up the Sussex Plan for Honeybee Health and Wellbeing, which Dean Forest Beekeepers have helped to fund.

 University of Sussex
The Bee Improvement and Bee Breeder Association runs conferences and lectures with an emphasis on bee breeding.
It encourages members to set up local breeding groups. It produces 'Bee Improvement' magazine. Membership costs £20 for a year. 		BIBBA
The International Bee Research Association set up to increase peoples awareness of the vital role of bees in agriculture and the natural environment and to promote the study and conservation of bees. It is linked to Cardiff University and runs International conferences. It has a library service and produces publications such as 'BeeWorld'. Individual Membership costs £60. IBRA

Videos

  
This section will contain links to videos on YouTube and elsewhere which we are happy to recommend.  

This 6 minute recording by Jim Vivian Griffiths shows in detail the process of making up a National frame.

 Framemaking