What is the Avon Beekeepers Association?

The Story of Avon

Avon Beekeepers Association (ABKA)  is a beekeeping charitable association affiliated to the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), and its 5 branches cover, Bath and Bristol  and their surrounding districts and the local authority area of  N. Somerset. This area was the extent of the old Avon County when it was created in the 1980s, mainly from the northern districts of Somerset. Since then the county boundaries have changed again and Avon County no longer exists, but the branches within ABKA carry on under the Avon banner, as an appropriate description of the catchment area. The ABKA comprises:

• Bath branch
• Blagdon & Clevedon branch
• Bristol branch
• Keynsham branch
• Weston branch

Objectives

The Association is established to advance the science of Apiculture and to promote and foster the education of the public therein. To achieve this the Association may co-operate with bodies with kindred interests and make appropriate affiliations.

Members of the Executive of ABKA

Officers appointed  at AGM of the Association 

Members appointed at AGMs of branches

Branch Secretaries

All Officer and  Branch Contacts

Association Diary of Events

• Beginners Course: Late winter or early spring every year. It is usually held on three consecutive Saturdays. This course gives you a feel for what is involved in setting up and maintaining your own colony of bees. Click here for details.

• Members Only Courses:There are now courses run for members by members. For further information on the courses currently available click here.

• Spring Day School: Usually in April. This provides a series of lectures for beekeepers on one day that are open to the public and can often be interesting to non beekeepers.

Beekeeping Information

• Local Shows: Branch members exhibit and/or run stands to give the public a chance to see bees in observation hives, sample local honey, and buy products such as cut comb honey and bees wax. The public can also talk to people who actually keep bees and even learn how to take up the gentle art of beekeeping. 

Advantages of Being a Member

• As a full member gain the benefits provided by BBKA: 
• Insurance cover related to beekeeping
• News on British Beekeeping national events, and issues
• Regular updates on bee husbandry and disease research
  
• Assessments of competence to various standards of both practical and theoretical knowledge using the Examination & Assessment Framework.You can also find a reading list for this here.
  

• As a member of  ABKA:  
• A handbook to file information on keeping bees
• Local educational events for new and experienced beekeepers 
• The opportunity to shape beekeeping in the Avon area
• Access to an extensive library of beekeeping books
  

• As a member of the local branch: 
• Plenty of events and opportunities to meet other beekeepers 
• Hands on help in the craft of keeping bees
• Local groups for learning the basics of beekeeping
• Access to branch training apiaries
• Guidance to finding good tempered bees
  
• Access to a range of beekeeping equipment
  

Beekeeping Information

Visits: