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Tending Hives During Covid-19 24 March 2020 BBKA Chair Anne Rowberry says: "Bees are livestock and should be tended. "You may visit your bees for welfare purposes such as for checking feed or queen cell preparation. "You must take into account social distancing and safe access. Also swarming, please do do not going into houses, roofs etc, or go through houses to reach swarms. "We are working with DEFRA. NBU inspectors will still inspect if you have disease concerns." Swarm Collection During Covid-19 24 March 2020 BBKA Chair Anne Rowberry says: "The swarm collection service will still be in operation during the pandemic. Swarm collection can go ahead but you must take into account social distancing. Risk assess the situation and do not take unnecessary risks as health services will be under pressure due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. As always, only collect when it is safe to do so. We are working with DEFRA." You can find info on swarms and our map of collectors here: www.bbka.org.uk/swarm LETTER FROM BBKA CHAIR ANNE ROWBERRY The Coronavirus (COVID-19) The impact of the Coronavirus could not have been foreseen but the BBKA is working hard to support members. We regret that all the BBKA training courses at Stoneleigh have been cancelled, this includes the Healthy Hive training, General Husbandry and Advanced husbandry training. The Exam Board have cancelled the Module Exams, the Assessor Training and will be publishing information on the Healthy Hive and Basic Exams. We are suggesting that Beginners courses and other Branch or Association organised training courses are postponed. It is important to keep the health of members at the front of our minds. It may be possible to deliver some aspects of these courses online. I would welcome suggestions as to the best way this could be achieved ; possibly some Associations have information that they would be prepared to share. We can post some ideas on our website so please share any that you think may help. I am sure younger members of groups will support older members or those confined through association with family etc who have the virus by offering to check hives in out apiaries, making sure they are upright, have food and the bees are flying could be very helpful. Please follow the Government guidelines, we are asked to avoid social contact and unnecessary travel. This will mean considering carefully the swarm collection service and applying appropriate safeguards. I have contacted Defra for advice on the position of beekeepers visiting their bees if the country moves into a more intensive ‘lock down’. At the moment bees will be considered as livestock and can be tended accordingly but we are following Government advice and need to address possible future directions. I have also been in contact with Alpha and the All Party Parliamentary Group and I am writing to the Minister of Environment asking about the position of beekeepers visiting bees I have also suggested that should there be a sugar shortage beekeepers have an allowance ( as I believe they had in the war). This may seem extreme but we need to be thinking now, just in case. There are actions that the beekeeper can take to give their bees the best chance of survival and the most important is to feed them. Ensure they have plenty of food for any inclement weather, we can have snow in May and cold wet weather at any time may mean they starve. If you are concerned about visiting your bees put fondant above your supers, the bees will use it if they need it. If you do not have fondant then use syrup even if you have one or two supers on. They may move it to the supers which would mean you can’t sell it as honey but you will still have your bees and also food for the Autumn/Winter. We do not know how long this severe situation will last. We will endeavour to give more information through our website and BBKA social media. Beebase will also be posting information. I hope this situation passes quickly and is not as severe as is now being portrayed. Anne Rowberry BBKA Chair Coronavirus – NBKA The Council are constantly monitoring Government Advice regarding face to face meetings with Beginners Courses, Regional Meetings and Outside Events and will advise the Membership on an on going basis. WATCH THIS SPACE - STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY SHOW CANCELLED 9th & 10th May 2020 NEWARK BEGINNERS COURSE CANCELLED It has been decided that the Newark Beginners Course for the last 2 weeks ( 20th and 27th March 2020) will be postponed and re-arranged as Government Advice allows. It is unclear if the Apiary Sessions due to commence in May will be available to us - We will advise nearer the dates to let you know whats happening. NOTTINGHAM BEGINNERS COURSE CANCELLED Nottinghamshire Beekeepers Association Auction 28th March 2020 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BBKA 2020 SPRING CONVENTION CANCELLED It is with great regret that we have to advise that the BBKA 2020 Spring Convention - scheduled to take place at Harper Adams University 3-5 April - has been cancelled. The Spring Convention Committee and the BBKA Executive Committee reviewed the situation over the weekend and took the decision to cancel. Given the age of many attendees is over 60, the aim is to minimise the risk of COVID19 among participants, traders, staff of BBKA and staff and students of Harper Adams. A full refund will be made for all bookings made via the BBKA. The BDI 2020 AGM to be held on the 3rd April 2020 has also been postponed. All practical apiary training sessions and assessments have been cancelled until further noticeSTOP PRESS ! New Beemaster Format this Month 
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