Avon Beekeepers Website
About Blagdon, Clevedon & District Branch
Blagdon, Clevedon & District Branch is one of five Branches making up the Avon Beekeepers’ Association (ABKA) that covers the old County of Avon. ABKA is, in turn, affiliated to the British Beekeepers’ Association We are a friendly Branch of over 60 members from most of the country districts of North Somerset. |
| ABKA Officers from Blagdon, Clevedon & District Branch: Secretary Donna Derrick, President Ivor Davis, Chairman David Welham at AGM 2006 |
We extend a warm welcome to anyone who wishes to join us in our fascinating hobby and enjoy our natural ‘town and country’ feel. Our members come from all walks of life with most keeping only a few colonies in their gardens. We are affiliated to Avon Beekeepers’ Association and through this membership receive information from the British Beekeepers’ Association. We also have a Branch Associate Membership for those people who have an interest in beekeeping and the environment but do not wish to keep honeybees themselves.
Branch Activities
We endeavour to educate and inform our members by regular Branch newsletters and talks on beekeeping and related subjects by experienced beekeepers. These are usually held at members’ houses and apiaries or at the Branch Apiary on Saturday afternoons in the summer. An ‘après-bee’ tea finishes the afternoon well! Sunday morning and weekday evening teaching sessions at the Apiary are held in the summer as well as a BBQ at a member’s home. Our AGM and winter evening meetings are always well attended by members. Recently, we held a very successful open afternoon, for members of the public to come and see what beekeeping is all about and look inside a hive under supervision — with protective clothing!During the year we attend various public functions to promote interest in beekeeping to the General Public. Talks are given to non-beekeeping groups and local people know that we will collect swarms or help them in any way we can.
Members are encouraged to enter their honey and hive products in local Flower Shows where we often have a stall on which they can sell their produce. Our own Branch Honey Show is held in January and is judged by member Tom Salter, who is a Senior Honey Judge.
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| The Branch Honey Show 2006 |
New Members
New members are welcomed and assisted by our more experienced members who will advise and act as mentors if needed. New members can shadow a beekeeper for a season before obtaining their own bees. Beginners may keep one hive of bees at one of the Branch Apiaries for a few months prior to obtaining their own site and can attend to their bees there with the assistance of the Apiary Manager.Sunday morning teaching sessions at the new Apiary are held every week from March to September, led by the experienced members of the Branch. We can lend equipment if necessary. Whenever we have our meetings it is with the beginner in mind as well as the more experienced beekeeper as we are forever learning about bees and their behaviour.
Members are encouraged to take the Basic Assessment and are aided in further study with study groups during the winter, in order to develop good beekeeping husbandry.
