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Improving Beekeeping Skills 2027

Suffolk

Suffolk BKA offers a hands-on course over three separate days for beekeepers who wish to achieve a higher level of skill and knowledge in the main areas of practical beekeeping. Applicants should already hold the BBKA's Basic or intend applying to take it this year. Applicants should also have four or more years beekeeping experience, but this criterion is not absolute. This will be our twelfth year running these courses. Places are limited to twelve. Early application would be wise.

Practical sessions:

  • Finding queens, clipping and marking.
  • A method of raising queens.
  • Health checks.
  • Bailey comb change.
  • Swarm prevention and methods.
  • Nuclei for different purposes.

Talks & demonstrations:

  • Swarm control.
  • Dealing with aggressive colonies.
  • Stings and first aid.
  • Taking the BBKA’s General Husbandry Assessment.
  • How to produce soft-set honey and clean wax blocks.

Weather permitting, for much of the time, we will be actively working with bees. This course requires experience and confidence in handling bees and the drive to improve still further. Participants should have an interest in testing their methods, learning about alternatives and sharing expertise and knowledge.

If there are more applicants than places, preference will be given to those intending to take the BBKA’s General Husbandry Assessment in 2027 or 2028. If you cannot be sure of attending all 3 days, please do not apply.

Tutors:

  • Jane Corcoran
  • David Burns
  • Peter Langford,
  • Jeremy Quinlan.

Cost: £50.00. For this you also get some queen-raising equipment (a graft frame & an Apidea mini-nuc).

If you can’t afford the fee, please ask - discounts and waivers are possible.

Dates and places: 2nd & 10th May in Dallinghoo IP13 0JX and 3rd May in Westhall, Halesworth IP19 8RQ.

For further details and before registering or sending any money, please contact Jeremy Quinlan via:

  • Email: [email protected]

or

  • Telephone: 01473 737700

Please DO NOT assume there are places available... check first!

Once assured that there is a place available, go online and complete the application form

IESBKA Barbecue!

By sthurlow.66db | 8:31 AM BST, Sun July 12, 2026
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Ipswich & East Suffolk
At Wherstead, a little distance away from the Apiary
Sun, 9 Aug 2026 - 15:00 - Sun, 9 Aug 2026 - 18:30
No

Gemma is organising the Barbecue. In a change to the published details, the committee agreed to a change of plan - so IESBKA will now provide most of the food; grill food (protein), salads, bread, sauces but please do bring (especially homemade!) cakes/biscuit contributions to share! 

We plan to be near the old tennis court (housing the BBQ on it to reduce fire risk) and to have a couple of shade/rain canopies up to provide a bit of shelter. So do consider coming, bringing family/guests, your own chairs or rugs and your own drinks - you do need to let Gemma know so there is enough food, and tell her if you or your guests don't eat meat !

Gemma - 07758 193847 (WhatsApp) or [email protected]

Suffolk Beekeepers' Conference

By jcorcoran.8bf0 | 10:00 AM BST, Sun June 28, 2026
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Suffolk
Great Barton Community Centre, Elms Close Bury St. Edmunds, IP31 2NR, Suffolk
Sat, 5 Sep 2026 - 09:30 - Sat, 5 Sep 2026 - 16:00
Yes
Please note: This event is chargeable, the fee is: £30.00

The cost of this event includes a ploughmans' lunch.

Any special dietary requirements or allergies should be noted on the registration form.

For any additional enquiries, please contact Jane Corcoran

The Alan Seager Memorial Lecture

Steve Riley

  • Varroa-resistant hygienic traits of honey bees

Szymon Szymanski

  • Can heatwaves or viruses give bees amnesia?

Laura Brettell

  • Bees, Mites and Microbes: 17 Years of Research into Honeybee Health

Jack Silberrad

  • Well, you think it’s all over… not quite

Sorry… This form is closed to new submissions.
Paid

Winter Feed Ordering 2026

By gwhite.ebc4 | 5:49 PM BST, Wed June 03, 2026
Suffolk
Deben View, Back Lane, Falkenham, IP10 0TL

  • what-3-words location - https://w3w.co/begin.fires.assist

Collection dates: 1st August and 15th August. There will be no other opportunities to collect outside of these dates.

Please ensure that jerrycans brought to be used for syrup are fit for the purpose – plastics that have been left out in the open all year will be mechanically compromised. If your jerrycan splits upon filling, you will be mopping it up, and you will not be refunded…

Large orders to be collected from the tanker in your own IBC will require special collection arrangements.

update: 29/6/26: Winter feed orders seem to be drifting to a halt, bulk syrup is ordered, and I shall be submitting the rest of the order (the palletised goods) tomorrow. At time of writing we have the remaining:

8 Fondant boxes (5x2.5kg) @ £21.20 per box
2 Fondant boxes (12x1kg) @ £21.20 per box
and 2 x 1kg packs 'candipolline gold'. @£3.75 per pack

David has also asked me to let you know that he has 4x 1kg sachets of candipolline left over from last year. They have a best-before date this autumn, so if you'd like them for a donation to association funds, please message me, or him, separately...

Update 30/6/26 : order form now closed, if you still need anything please contact [email protected] or message 07787 550097 and we'll see what we can do...

Sorry… This form is closed to new submissions.
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