Please note that although CV-19 Government restrictions are still in place we still plan to run some events where possible, but be aware these may need to changed / cancelled at short notice.
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May 2020
Beginners Course – 2020 – 3
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** For those registered on the 2020 beginners course. Handling bees. At 4:00pm - introduction to your bee buddy for those of you who have got bees or who are about to get bees.
Find out more »SBKA Bee Market – 2020
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** Details at: https://sussexbeeorguk.wordpress.com/bee-market-2020/
Find out more »Bee Disease Day – Ringmer Village Hall
Bee Disease Day - Ringmer Village Hall - Sandra Gray - 9am-5pm
Find out more »Bee Banter – Crow and Gate, Crowborough – 2020
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** No need to book in - just turn up! All are very, very welcome. Nothing formal, just friendly chat about our bees.
Find out more »Beginners Course – 2020 – 4
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** For those registered on the 2020 beginners course. Dealing with swarming. How to take the Queen out into a nucleus box.
Find out more »June 2020
Taster Day
Spend a wonderful day learning about these amazing creatures ...called honeybees. This will be in one of our members apiaries where you will have the opportunity to handle bees and learn from experts about the fascinating life of a colony. Equipment, lunch and a delicious afternoon tea will all be provided.
Find out more »Beginners Course – 2020 – 5
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** For those registered on the 2020 beginners course. Handling bees. Feeders. Robbing.
Find out more »Bee Banter – Rose and Crown, Mayfield – 2020
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** No need to book in - just turn up! All are very, very welcome. Nothing formal, just friendly chat about our bees.
Find out more »July 2020
Crowborough Summer Fair – 2020
The Summer Fair for 2020 will be held on AREA 1 at Goldsmiths Recreation Ground on Saturday 11th July between 1-5pm
Find out more »Beginners Course – 2020 – 6
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** For those registered on the 2020 beginners course. Bee Safari. Make sure you come for the whole day as it is only those who see all the scenarios who really improve as beekeepers. We will be visiting as many of your apiaries as possible.
Find out more »August 2020
Beginners Course – 2020 – 7
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** For those registered on the 2020 beginners course. Honey extraction. Discussion of treatments to maintain the health of your colony. Volunteers will be needed to place the honey supers back on the hives. This will be done at about 7:00pm.
Find out more »September 2020
Beginners Course – 2020 – 8
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** For those registered on the 2020 beginners course. Feeding, preparations for winter, insulation, quiz.
Find out more »Bee Banter – Crow and Gate, Crowborough – 2020
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** No need to book in - just turn up! All are very, very welcome. Nothing formal, just friendly chat about our bees.
Find out more »October 2020
Bee Banter – Rose and Crown, Mayfield – 2020
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** No need to book in - just turn up! All are very, very welcome. Nothing formal, just friendly chat about our bees.
Find out more »November 2020
A Talk From Helen Hadley via ZOOM
Here is a great talk and demo just in time to sort out those Christmas present blues. Helen Hadley is kindly going to share her knowledge and demonstrate some of the most interesting creations of hers. There is also a shopping list for those who would want to follow Helen in real time whilst she is giving the demonstration over the ZOOM. Let's join together to learn, create and have some fun. See you all on 21st November at 14.00…
Find out more »Bee Banter – Crow and Gate, Crowborough – 2020
*** Due to government guidance this event has been cancelled *** No need to book in - just turn up! All are very, very welcome. Nothing formal, just friendly chat about our bees.
Find out more »AGM 2020
This year's AGM of the High Weald Beekeepers' Association is to be held on the 28th November 2020 at 4:00pm. Due to the current exceptional circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic we will be holding the AGM this year on-line using ZOOM. For the same reason there will unfortunately not be a Honey Show this year. Should you wish to attend please inform me by replying to this email and complete the on-line form here (https://hwbka.org.uk/2020-agm-registration/) on our website. You…
Find out more »February 2021
HWBKA Beekeeping Course – Session 1
Session 1 - Saturday 27th of February on Zoom Introductions, Admin. (registration, name badges, fire procedure, etc,) Introductory Presentation – An overview of the world of bees and beekeeping Joining the association. Information about the local association membership, insurance & other benefits. Presentation of a hive and the functioning parts of a hive. Where to keep bees. Where to purchase, construction of hives, etc. Concept of Beespace. Impact on hive design & use one example of a basic moveable frame…
Find out more »March 2021
Session 1’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 1’ catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 4th March This as the name suggests will an optional Zoom meeting hosted by one or more tutors. Holding it the week after the course, you will have had time to digest the information of the session and ask any questions that have arisen. It will also be an opportunity to meet other participants, if only virtually and possibly learn from their own questions. The meeting will last from 30mins- 1hr…
Find out more »SBKA AGM
https://sussexbeeorguk.wordpress.com/future-events-2021/
Find out more »HWBKA Beginners’ Course – Session 2
Session 2 - Saturday 13th of March - on Zoom The biology of the honeybee. CD about the life cycle of the honeybee. Bee Life cycle. Identification of the 3 castes. Development of bees from egg to adult. Functions of the 3 castes in the hive. Organisation of the colony - various worker tasks. Reproduction of the colony. The swarming impulse. The bee’s annual cycle. Bee products: honey, wax, pollen, & propolis; how & why the bees use them. Water.…
Find out more »The Challenges to Beekeeping a talk by the renowned Celia Davies
The challenges to beekeeping This talk covers a fairly wide range of topics, addressing some of the challenges that confront our bees and us, as their keepers. It will include weather, environmental changes, colony health and the problems that queens may experience. Finally it looks at some of the ways in which we can overcome these challenges and help our bees as well as still enjoying our beekeeping.
Find out more »Session 2’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 2’ catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 18th March The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm
Find out more »April 2021
HWBKA Beginners’ Course – Session 3
Session 3 - Saturday 10th of April (Slab Castle Apiary or in your / your tutor’s apiary) Inside the hive - An introduction to live bees and handling them. Situation of the Apiary and the hives. Apiary hygiene. Apiary 'etiquette', clothing, and equipment. Attitude towards opening hives. Demonstration of space and the moveable frame hive principle. Identify the 3 castes of bees, honeycomb, pollen. Open and capped brood, etc. Appearance of normal heathy & chilled brood. Foraging activity of bees.…
Find out more »Session 3’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 3’ catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 15th April The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm
Find out more »HWBKA Beginners’ Course – Session 4
Session 4 - Saturday 24th April (Horsted Green Apiary or in your / your tutor’s apiary ) A practical session Hive designs, and choice of hive & equipment. Building your own flat pack hive and frames Making hives & frames from flat-pack kits, Care & preservation of hives. Cleaning & sterilisation of used and second-hand equipment. We will have some hives available to buy and make up at this session.
Find out more »Session 4’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 4’ catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 29th April The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm
Find out more »May 2021
HWBKA Beekeeping Course – Session 5
Session 5 - Saturday 8th May (Slab Castle Apiary or in your / your tutor’s apiary ) Inspecting the colony. Handling bees Activity at entrance. Attitude to opening and inspecting hives. Use of the smoker. Bee space. Comb: Worker cells Drone cells 3 castes: Queen, Workers, Stores: Nectar, Capped honey, Appearance of healthy brood and cappings Eggs, and Larvae (open brood) Sealed worker brood. Sealed drone brood Common early season brood problems. Chilled brood? Chalk brood? Bald brood? Wax moth?…
Find out more »Session 5’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 5’ catchup on a Zoom call - Saturday 15th May The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm
Find out more »HWBKA Beekeeping Course – Session 6
Session 6 - Saturday 22nd May (Slab Castle Apiary or in your / your tutor’s apiary ) Making increase; Swarms & Swarming. Natural swarms / Shook Swarm. Use of nuclei. Finding the Queen. Two methods of swarm control; Artificial swarm & Queen-right nucleus Taking the Queen out on a nucleus. Dealing with Swarming. Signs indicating swarming has taken place. Dealing with the colony that has swarmed. Collection of swarms. Bees in buildings. Capturing a swarm. Hiving & feeding. Other seasonal…
Find out more »Session 6’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 6’ catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 27th May The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm
Find out more »June 2021
HWBKA Beekeepers’ Course – Session 7
Session 7 - Saturday 12th June (Slab Castle Apiary or in your / your tutor’s apiary ) Pests & Diseases. Diseases and treatments for Varroa. How to look through a colony for brood disease. Checking for adult bee diseases. Taking a sample for analysis. Notifiable diseases. Ministry system for bee disease control. Looking for Varroa: screen floors & mite drop, drone comb monitoring, other varroa treatments. Use of chemicals & resistance. Chemical poisoning Learning how to recognise healthy brood comb…
Find out more »Session 7’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 7’ catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 17th June The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm
Find out more »July 2021
HWBKA Beekeeping Course – Session 8
Session 8 - Saturday 10th July Bee safari
Find out more »Bee Banter – The Blue Anchor – 7:30pm
An opportunity to meet other members of the association and chat about bees and beekeeping. It will be held at: The Blue Anchor Beacon Road Crowborough TN6 1BB Tel. 01892 319299 No need to register . . . just turn up and have a good evening . . .
Find out more »HWBKA Beekeeping Course – Session 9
Session 9 - Saturday 31st July (Horsted Green Apiary or in your / your tutor’s apiary) Honey extraction. Treatments for Varroa. Methods of clearing bees from supers: Clearing boards Chemical fumigants Brushing bees off Blowers used by professionals Pros & Cons of each method Re-arranging full & part filled combs Estimating what could be taken. Practice “hefting” a hive – to gauge when supers are full Potential of robbing & preventing spread of diseases. After the honey is extracted the…
Find out more »August 2021
Session 9’ catchup on a Zoom call
Session 9’ catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 5th August The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm
Find out more »Bee Banter – Mayfield – Rose and Crown
No need to book in - just turn up! All are very, very welcome. Nothing formal, just friendly chat about our bees.
Find out more »September 2021
HWBKA Beekeeping Course – Session 10
Session 10 - Saturday 4th September (Slab Castle Apiary or in your / your tutor’s apiary ) Preparing your hive for winter. Protection from the weather. Use of mouse guards. Protection from other animals. How to weigh a hive. Practice ‘Hefting’ a hive and using suitcase scales. Preparing sugar syrup. When to feed. Removing cleaned supers.
Find out more »Session 10’ final catchup on a Zoom call
Session 10’ final catchup on a Zoom call - Thursday 9th September The meeting will last 30mins- 1hr and will start at 7:00pm …there may be a quiz too !
Find out more »Gathering at the end of the Bee season
The BBQ event has changed in name and become "Gathering" still with the families and still in the same pub but rather than a BBQ, it's for everyone to order their own food and beverages from the bar and enjoy being together. Many members will be there. So please do come and join us for a fun afternoon from 12.30pm. Thank you for your understanding and support." Kind regards. Talha
Find out more »Bee Banter – The Blue Anchor – 7:30pm
An opportunity to meet other members of the association and chat about bees and beekeeping. No need to register . . . just turn up and have a good evening . . .
Find out more »October 2021
Apiary Working Party – Slab Castle – 10am
Help is required at Slab Castle to prepare used equipment for winter storage. • empty the barn of all equipment and sweep through • all used frames to be scraped clean • all used brood and super boxes to be scraped clean and sterilised with flame • all smokers to be cleaned and training equipment washed in soda solution • complete stock take of all equipment • return all items into barn stacking where appropriate This is a major task…
Find out more »Bee Banter – The Rose and Crown – 7:30pm
An opportunity to meet other members of the association and chat about bees and beekeeping. No need to register . . . just turn up and have a good evening . . .
Find out more »Sussex Beekeepers – SBKA – Autumn Convention
The speakers will be: Michael Keith-Joseph - Forensics and Pollen Shona Blair - Medicinal Honey - a sweet solution against superbugs…? Christine Stevens - Springtime preparation and wax changing Celia Davis - Nuc It! Buckfast Abbey Speakers - What the Books don’t tell you Cost is £25 for the day including lunch or £5 for remote access. To book email info@sbkaconvention.org.uk
Find out more »November 2021
Wax Workshop
Helen Hadley has arranged with Sandy Infield to accommodate a Wax Workshop in her studio on 6th November from 2pm to 5pm. Numbers will be limited to 20 and will be "first come first served". So please register with Talha promptly. There will be a £10 charge for the workshop payable on the day to cover costs. The plan is to make dipped candles, moulded candles, furniture polish, and hive lubricant. Tea, coffee and cakes will be provided. (Please bring…
Find out more »Annual General Meeting – and – Honey Show
1:30pm Doors open for members and Honey Show entries 1:55pm Entries close for Honey Show. No entries accepted after this time 2:00pm AGM commences 3:00pm AGM closes 3:00pm Honey Show commences 4:00pm Results announced of Honey Show judging and prize giving 5:00pm Hall closes
Find out more »Bee Banter – The Blue Anchor – 7:30pm
An opportunity to meet other members of the association and chat about bees and beekeeping. No need to register . . . just turn up and have a good evening . . .
Find out more »