The first Asian Hornet of 2022 on the British mainland has been confirmed at Felixstowe in Suffolk. It was found in the shed of a beekeeper who keeps a sentinel apiary ( an apiary set up to monitor for diseases and pests).
Last year there were 2 Asian Hornet nests found on the mainland at Ascot in Berkshire and Portsmouth in Hampshire in October.
There has only been one other spring sighting of Asian Hornets at Bury in Lancashire in 2018.
Bee inspectors have set up enhanced monitoring in the area and are working to raise awareness with local beekeepers.
Felixstowe is Britain’s largest and busiest container port and one of the larges in Europe with links to more than 700 ports around the world, so the NBU says this immediately suggests a possible means by which the hornet could have arrived.
Additional information from Beebase:
April 2022 – A confirmed finding of a single Asian hornet in Felixstowe, Suffolk
The National Bee Unit is carrying out enhanced monitoring and awareness raising together with local beekeepers after a single insect, confirmed to be Vespa velutina was killed at a sentinel apiary, reported by a beekeeper.
Further information regarding the yellow legged Asian hornet can be found on Defra’s Asian Hornet sightings page and on BeeBase’s Asian hornet page. Please direct all media enquiries to the Defra Press Office: 0330 0416560
We continue to ask beekeepers to remain vigilant, record monitoring trap locations on BeeBase (guidance here) and report suspect sightings here.
The VDBKA welcomes the National Honey Show’s initiative in setting up a Just Giving page in recognition of the long association beekeepers here have with Ukrainian Beekeepers.
Money raised will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Link below
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/National-Honey-Show
The NHS is also re-establishing a category previously sponsored by Ukrainian beekeepers at the annual National Honey Show.
During this time of year and through the summer months we get many calls and questions from people with bees in their houses, outbuildings and gardens.
There are over 250 types of bees in the UK but there is only one european honey bee (Apis mellifera). As well as honey bees there are around 24 species of bumblebee and over 240 species of solitary bee in the UK. Please see below to help identify what type of bee you have and who to approach for help and information.
If you come across a swarm of bees don’t panic. The bees are usually quite docile while they are swarming and they may not stay in place for more than a few hours. Please do not disturb the bees, instead before calling please read our swarm information page. All VDBKA swarm collectors have made their location and contact details available on the BBKA Swarm Map – managed by the British Beekeepers Association.
Bees in buildings: Please note all of our swarm collectors or indeed other beekeeping organisations are unable to work at height or dismantle building structures due to BBKA insurance restrictions. We therefore recommend you read this document and then contact a specialist company.
February 25 2022
International Meeting of Young Beekeepers 2022 is planned to be held in Russia.
BBKA’s Executive Committee has decided to withdraw from the event this year.
BBKA’s president is investigating whether an event can be held in the UK this year to celebrate our own young beekeepers.
Posted in News, beeBlog
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Honey is adulterated for economic gain on an industrial scale across the globe. We believe current measures to ensure authenticity of honey are insufficient. Public health, free market, livelihoods, food security, consumer confidence and bee health issues are all at risk.
Current regulations, testing and enforcement are inadequate to protect and inform consumers, and there is a need for an urgent comprehensive review in order to detect honey fraud.
We need the government to overhaul and update the labelling of the honey sold in the UK. This is the first step in reducing the amount of ‘so-called’ honey sold in our supermarkets that contain very little honey produced by bees.
Please consider signing this petition and ask your friends to sign it. This effects anyone who buys, sells or eats honey.
Petition: Review honey authenticity and current regulation of the honey market
Fully review the honey market and Honey Regulations, to review evidence of honey fraud within the honey market, and reform regulations and arrangements for enforcement, to prevent future fraud.
More details:
Sign this petition – https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/607735
Posted in News, beeBlog
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October 2021 – Asian hornet confirmed in the Ascot area of Berkshire
A beekeeper in the Ascot area of Berkshire filmed live insects near a hive, photographed a dead Vespa velutina and reported the sighting using the using the ‘Asian hornet Watch’ app.
Further information regarding the Asian hornet can be found on our Asian hornet page of BeeBase and on Defra’s news page. Please direct all media enquiries to the Defra Press Office: 0330 0416560
Posted in NBU, News, beeBlog
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July 2021 – Varroa a reportable pest
The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) (Amendment) Order 2021, The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2021 and The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Amendment Order 2021 make Varroa a reportable pest effective 21st April 2021. To find out how you can report varroa please visit https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/BeeDiseases/report-varroa.cfm
SUMMER MEETINGS FOR BEGINNERS AND PUBLIC (around Covid restrictions)
The Vale and Downland Beekeepers’ association are holding meetings for anyone interested in beekeeping at our association apiary on:
• Wednesday’s 2nd June, 7th July and 4th August, starting at 1900hrs
• Sunday’s 20th June, 22nd August 1300hrs-14300hrs.
Spaces are limited so if you’d like to come along or if you know of anyone who would be interested in attending any of these meetings please contact us via our contact page here.
or call Michael Havard-Bilton on 01235 523420 between 6pm-7pm Mon-Fri evenings.
The BBKA need your opinion about your BBKA News magazine. Do you enjoy picking up a printed copy as it drops through your door and relaxing in a chair to read it, or if you would prefer to receive it on your computer/laptop so that you can enjoy it wherever you are, let us know. You can even opt to receive both versions of the magazine if you wish.
Here is a link to allow you to fill in a questionnaire about the BBKANEWS online;
BBKA NEWS Online Survey
or you can send in a printed copy by downloading the form or by filling in the paper copy in January’s BBKANEWS and returning it to:
Freepost BRITISH BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Please note this address label is sufficient and nothing else should be written on the envelope.
There are several other questions about the content, balance and style that the BBKA would value your response about. We need your opinions to help deliver the magazine you would like to receive.
The BBKA are leaving the survey open until end February so we encourage you to take part.
