Events

Webinar – Swarming and Making Increase with Alan Baxter – Thu, May 8, 2025 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

apiarymanager Education & Training, Events, Stories of Interest, Swarms and Swarming, Training, WBKA
Swarming and Making Increase with Alan Baxter. Join us for a webinar on May 08, 2025 at 7:30 PM

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Alan’s talk begins by outlining the reasons why bees swarm, a little of the biology that explains why and how swarming occurs, then the swarming process itself including the communications that the bees use when choosing their new home.

In the second part of the talk Alan walks us through the ‘countdown’ to swarming, the signs to look out for, and the moment in the process when swarm prevention (or Pre-emptive control) becomes swarm control (or Re-active swarm control).

Finally, we will look at the practical steps a beekeeper can take to prevent a swarm occurring, then move on to methods of simple swarm control involving making increase, why we talk about artificial swarms, and simple methods of control for beekeepers who don’t want more colonies.

Alan Baxter is a Royal Marines Veteran who began his beekeeping adventure in the Loire Valley in France, where he attended University then worked in adult education and training for 23 years. His apiary there was the target of heavy predation by Asian Hornets and he developed apiary management techniques to help his bees survive the onslaught.

He moved to England in 2020 and manages 20 colonies of gentle bees in 3 apiaries in Hampshire. He has founded and runs a Teaching Apiary with courses, exam preparation and coaching sessions for his local beekeeping association. He has completed all the BBKA Modules and holds the General Beekeeping Husbandry Certificate. He continues studying to be a BBKA Master Beekeeper and is halfway through the Cornell University Master Beekeeper Program.

Alan writes regular blogs and articles and gives talks and seminars around the country on Beekeeping, the Asian Hornet, the Wines of the Loire Valley, and the 1982 Falklands War.

He is the author of the Hampshire Asian Hornet Contingency Plan and a book Fit2Fight- A Practical Guide to Managing the Asian Hornet published by Northern Bee Books Ltd.

https://www.alanbaxtersblogs.co.uk

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Excellent first meeting of the season! 🐝

apiarymanager Education & Training, Events, PBKA, PBKA Apiary, Starting Beekeeping, Training

We had an excellent first training session of the season this afternoon, with a mixed turnout of beginners and improvers!

Plenty to look at and lots of questions for the trainers. Many thanks to all who came along, with a special ‘Thank You‘ to the training team who did a magnificent job as always!

See you all at the next meeting on Sunday 11th May. 🐝

Pic by Paul Eades 2025

Pic by Paul Eades 2025

Asian Hornet Talk by Richard Noel, Sunday 6th April – 2pm  

apiarymanager Events, PBKA
Asian Hornet Talk by Richard Noel
Sunday 6thApril – 2pm
Coed y bryn Village Hall, Coed-y-Bryn, Llandysul, Ceredigion SA44 5LQ.
The Teifiside Beekeepers Association (TBKA), invite you to talk by Richard Noel, a well-respected professional beekeeper and popular speaker concerning Asian Hornets. He is also a well-known YouTuber with a large following, speaking at prestigious Bee Keeping events in the UK and abroad. We feel very fortunate that he has managed to make time in his busy schedule to come and speak with us here in West Wales.
Originally from Jersey, Richard moved to Brittany over 20 years ago and took up Bee Keeping.  Around that time, the first Asian Hornet was seen in France, potentially having arrived in a cargo ship of pottery from China. The Asian Hornets are a very successful non-native species that preys heavily on the insect populations, as well as Honeybee colonies and being a very aggressive predator, they can decimate both very quickly with massive ecological impact. Richard has managed his 250+ colony bee farm alongside the constant threat from the Asian Hornets for over a decade and has built up a wealth of knowledge on their behaviour and impact on honeybee colonies. This very important topic has the potential to affect all UK Beekeepers.
This event is free of charge.
Refreshments will be provided and there is plenty free parking.
If you would like to join us, please let me know by Thursday 3th April.