​MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS 2020

Membership runs from 1st January to 31st December. Membership details are now on the new Er2 Membership database and renewals are online.
You should have received an email with a link to your membership form. There is a drop down choice for the membership category and a box to add additional colonies for BDI cover.
When you have submitted your form you will receive details of how to pay your membership fee. Many of you pay by standing order. That is great, you can ignore the payment information.
It is necessary to complete the online form as well as make your payment to renew your membership. 
If you have renewed for BBKA membership then, when your payment has been confirmed, you will be sent an email receipt which is a membership certificate for BBKA and also a certificate for your BDI cover.
We do not have a complete list of Associate and Family Members on the database so if you fall into these categories please contact me directly Janet Bates.
​More details of the categories click here.

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BASIC CERTIFICATE SUCCESS

Seven of our members took the Basic Certificate in the summer and all have passed with credit.
Well done to:
Glenis Swift, Glynis Storer, Shirley Wragg, Gill Dodd, Phil Rawson, Steve Barton and Brian Parton​
Certificates and badges will be presented at the next Nottingham meeting- 16th March.
If you have kept bees for one year by next summer then you are eligible to come along to the practical sessions and take the BASIC CERTIFICATE.  Keep an eye out on the website for details soon. 

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BBKA MODULE EXAMS

The latest sitting of the module exams will be in March.
The groups original group are going onto module 8 later in the year.
The other group will be starting on module 3 - pests and diseases.
Contact me if you are interested in coming to a study group. 
Janet Bates

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EFB to remain a notifiable disease.

There was a rumour that EFB (European Foul Brood) may be removed from the list of notifiable diseases. We have had a communication from DEFRA stating that EFB is to remain on the list of notifiable diseases. 
The other notifiable diseases are AFB (American Foul Brood), Small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps.
If you think you have found a notifiable disease in a colony then reassemble the hive. Reduce the entrance to prevent robbing. Put a voluntary standstill on your apiary and inform the local bee inspector and your local secretary.

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Asian Hornet Threat 2019 and AHATs

Two nests have been destroyed near Christchurch, Hampshire. It was predicted that there would be incursions of the Asian Hornet into the UK in 2019. Last year there were 8,000 reported sightings although obviously most of these were false alarms. 
It is likely that the resources of the NBU Bee Inspectors will be overwhelmed if more than 3 or 4 sightings occur at the same time. 
In conjunction with the NBU local BKAs are forming Asian Hornet Action Teams (AHATs) to increase the resources available to support the bee inspectors. Their role will be to confirm sightings/photos/place traps locally/watch for flight lines.
The Association AHATS must quickly become an important reserve on which the NBU can rely to keep outbreaks under control.
The Midlands are coming together for the purpose and Sam Hampton is a coordinator of the larger group.
Destruction of nests will be carried out  by pest control operators.
It is important to report any suspected sightings of this species as soon as possible.  Find out how to identify Asian hornet by downloading an Identification Guide, or visit the BeeBase website.
Yellow legs and a mostly black body are key features.
Note that the AH nests in the UK have not been as large as those found in France.
Ideally photographs and/or a specimen should also be obtained. 
​Sightings must be reported to the NNSS Non-native species secretariat.   alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk
​Any foundress queens that have escaped from nests last year will be about in spring.
​The AHAT coordinator for NBKA is Penny Forsyth
See BeeMaster for more AHAT information.

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Feeding bees- 

For further information, please see the ‘Best Practice Guidance No. 7 - Feeding Bees Sugar’ on the following BeeBase Page: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=167

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One of our meetings with members demonstrating how to make balms and soaps

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​NEXT EVENTS

Nottingham Region Meeting

Monday 2nd March
   7.30pm
Swarm Control
​Gerry Collins

Details-click here

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Newark Region Meeting
Monday 16th March
​8pm 
The Ferry Inn
North Muskham, Newark, NG23 6HB.

Details​

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NBKA Council Meeting
- for Council Members
19th March 2020
Pippin Cottage,
​Brackenhurst 7.30pm

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Nottingham Region Committee Meeting

11th May 2020 @ 7.30pm
​​Tesco Superstore
Ashgate Rd, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 7UQ

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Useful Links

British Beekeepers Association
BBKA

BeeConnected

BeeBase