Events Calendar

The Vale and Downland Beekeepers’ Association Programme 2019

Indoor Meetings are held on a Friday evening at East Challow Village Hall, Main Street (A417), East Challow, Wantage OX12 9SR, COMMENCING AT 1930 HOURS  Parking facilities are available on the site adjacent to hall.

Apiary Meetings are held on a Saturday afternoon and commence at 1500 hours at the Teaching apiary.  Sunday afternoon meetings at hosted apiaries, addresses will be sent by email nearer the date.

Date/Time	Event	Location
JANUARY 25 Friday 1930	The Asian Hornet Talk by Regional Bee Inspector, Peter Davies, followed by a practical workshop to make an Asian Hornet Monitoring Trap to complete and take home.	East Challow Village Hall Main Street (A417) East Challow OX12 9SR
JANUARY 26 Saturday 11:00 - 15:00	Practical Workshop for Beginners This workshop is being held to help guide our new beekeepers through the process of assembling their equipment ready for the new season, if anyone is interested in helping please contact Lilian on 01235 767524.	The King Alfred Scout Hall
FEBRUARY 9 Saturday 10:30 - 16:00	Bucks County BKA Spring Seminar 2019 The 23rd annual spring seminar hosted by Bucks County Beekeepers will take place at the Wendover Memorial Hall	More Info and Bookings
FEBRUARY 22 Friday 1930	The Colony Mind or If Heath Robinson was a Beekeeper Talk by Grahame Royle	East Challow Village Hall
MARCH 9 Saturday 9:00 to 16:30	BEE TRADEX at National Agricutural Ground Stoneleigh. This is an opportunity to purchase your beekeeping equipment for the coming season.	www.beetradex.co.uk
MARCH 22 Friday 1930	How to use our new External Automatic Defibrillator Talk and demo by Matt Richards	East Challow Village Hall
APRIL 12-14	Spring Convention and Trade Show Lectures and Workshops are held on Friday - Sunday. Trade Show will be Saturday only. Cost of entry to BBKA members can be found on the Web site: britishbee.org.uk	Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shropshire TF10 8NB. www.britishbee.org.uk
APRIL TBC Saturday 15:00	First apiary meeting at the Association’s apiary. This meeting will give us a chance to assess how the bees have come through the winter and to do any tidying of the apiary.	V&DBKA Apiary
MAY Every Saturday 15:00	Association apiary. Association apiary meeting for Beginners and Improvers.	V&DBKA Apiary
MAY 19 Sunday 14:30	Apiary Meeting - Members. A sunday meeting at Sam and Heather Burford’s Buscot apiary.	Sam & Heather Burford
JUNE Every Saturday 15:00	Association apiary. Association apiary meeting for Beginners and Improvers.	V&DBKA Apiary
JUNE 22 (time TBC)	Berkshire Bee Health Day A day concentrating on Bee Health run by the NBU.	Earley St Peter’s Church Hall Earley Reading
JUNE 23 Sunday 14:30	Apiary Meeting - Members. A Sunday meeting at at John and Daniel Gillett’s apiary.	John and Daniel Gillett’s apiary.
JULY Every Saturday 15:00	Association apiary. Association apiary meeting for Beginners and Improvers.	V&DBKA Apiary
JULY 14 Sunday 14:30	Apiary Meeting - Members. A Sunday Apiary Meeting at David Mead’s apiary	David Mead’s apiary
AUGUST Every Saturday 15:00	Association apiary. Association apiary meeting for Beginners and Improvers.	V&DBKA Apiary
Sunday 25 & Monday 26 August	Uffington White Horse Show The V&DBKA has a stand at this event and needs volunteers to help out on the stand to make it work. Please contact Lilian if you are able to help. Despite the weather, we had a very successful stand last year let us make it even better this year.	Uffington www.whitehorseshow.co.uk
SEPTEMBER TBC Saturday 15:00	Association Apiary We will be inspecting the bees at the site and preparing them for winter.	V&DBKA Apiary
OCTOBER 5 Saturday (time tbc)	Fun Honey Show Further details to Follow As always there will be plenty of room to show your exhibits and chat amongst yourselves.	TBC
OCTOBER 18 Friday 1930	Annual General Meeting Your chance to vote in new Trustees & committee members. If you think you would like to serve as a Trustee or on the committee, or you have an item to be added to the agenda please contact Caroline Simmonds, Association Secretary. To be followed by a series of members’ short talks.	East Challow Village Hall Main Street (A417) East Challow OX12 9SR
OCTOBER 24-26	The National Honey Show - Sandown Park Racecourse This is a chance to see many types of honey and new experimental equipment - an event not to be missed!	Esher, Surrey, KT10 9AJ www.honeyshow.co.uk
NOVEMBER 22 Friday 1930	DIY Evening Members’ DIY sharing ideas/inventions	East Challow Village Hall

Evening Summer Meetings for Beginners and Public

The Vale & Downland Beekeepers’ Association will once again hold 4 evening meetings during the season for beginners and public.  These meetings will be held on Wednesday 2 May, Wednesday 6 June, Wednesday 4 July and Wednesday 1 August, all starting at 1900.  If you know of anyone who would be interested in attending any of these meetings please contact Lilian Valentine 01235 767524.  Venues for these meetings will be decided upon nearer  the time.

Saturday Beginners and Improvers apiary meetings – 3pm at Association apiary
These meetings are held every Saturday afternoon from April to the end of season.  Any member with beekeeping problems is quite welcome to attend.

Evening Classes for Beginners
As a follow on from the summer meetings we will be holding 6 evening classes with a mix of theory and practical beekeeping , plus one day practical equipment making..  You will also have an opportunity to study bees and disease under the microscope.

Refreshments for meetings
It would be appreciated if members could provide sandwiches or cakes, on a voluntary basis, for our summer meetings.  Please contact Lilian at lilian@valeanddownlandbees.org.uk .

Mentors for new beekeepers
Please contact Lilian and John Valentine 01235 767524 lilian@valeanddownlandbees.org.uk

GENERAL INFORMATION

BROOD DISEASE
If you suspect any brood disease in your bees (EFB or AFB) please contact our Regional Bee Inspector, Southern Region – National Bee Unit:

Peter Davies peter.davies@apha.gsi.gov.uk
Mobile No: 07900 292160

BEE PROBLEMS
If you suspect anything wrong with your bees please contact John Valentine (01235 767524).  Arrangements will then be made for one of our experts to inspect them for you.  Travel costs by arrangement.