“Bee Improvement for all” is a one day course that is designed to help beekeepers to improve their bees by using some of the opportunities that bees give them during the season, as well as giving information to those who wish to raise more queens .
BIBBA encourages the formation of local queen rearing groups to aid the improvement of local bees and to support the objectives of BIBBA to improve and propagate the native and near native honey bees. Benefits of Local GroupsMany beekeepers only have a small number of colonies, so they find it easier to work with others. A group will have beekeepers…
The aim of the BIBBA East Midlands Bee Improvement Group is to breed near native Apis mellifera mellifera (Amm) queens of the best local genetic stock.
This group covers a substantial area stretching from the Dee valley (Glyn Dyfrdwy) between Corwen and Bala and Westwards to Cwm Main on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. The aim of the group is to achieve a high percentage of quality native or near-native drones in the district so that everyone in the area can let their virgins…
Formed in 2016 by a group of Cheshire-based BIBBA members to help form local queen rearing groups to aid the improvement of local bees and support the objectives of BIBBA
Jo has been a member of BIBBA for nearly 30 years and serves on the BIBBA Committee. He was a Bee Inspector for 5 years and now runs over 100 colonies in Cornwall. Author of the book, ‘The Principles of Bee Improvement’. Lecture Title: "The Principles and Practice of Bee Improvement" A practical approach to ‘Bee Improvement’ aimed at showing…
Nick was in a ‘former life’ a Royal Marines Officer for 32 years. Nick first started keeping bees in the early 90’s having between 2 and 5 colonies for many years. For most of that time he bred his own queens, quickly realising that there had to be a better way rather than importing queens. Nick chaired the Tavistock Branch…
<- Part One More advanced Strategies in Bee Improvement suitable for native bees Many people find queen rearing a daunting prospect. There is an overwhelming amount of information, methods and advice. For clarity you simply need to select your selection criteria, a method of starting queen cells, a method of mating your queens and a method of introducing your queens.…
Three representatives from existing bee breeding and bee improvement groups, operating in different areas, under different conditions, will each give a short presentation on their own group. They will tell us about their history, how they have progressed and how they may have dealt with problems or opportunities. An open discussion will follow, which should cover the various aspects of…
A one-day event organised by the Bee Improvement Programme for Cornwall (BIPCo) To be held at Lanhydrock Memorial Hall, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 5AE on Saturday 18th February 2017
Saffron Walden BKA with the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Association (BIBBA) are organising a 'Bee Improvement for All' day with Roger Patterson: A one day event packed with sound information to help all beekeepers improve their bees. The presentation will concentrate on encouraging beekeepers to raise their own queens to produce docile colonies that are productive, healthy and best…
A one day event packed with sound information to help all beekeepers improve their bees. The presentation will concentrate on encouraging beekeepers to raise their own queens to produce docile colonies that are productive, healthy and best suited to their environment. The bees often give us opportunities during the summer and there will be plenty of ideas on how to use…
Date:- Saturday 27 January 2018 Time:- 9.00 for 9.30-4.30 approx. Venue:- The Folk Hall, 95 High Street, Portishead, Bristol, BS20 6PR Cost:- £10 per head adult. £5 per head for under 18, who must be accompanied by a fee paying adult. Refreshments included. Bring your own lunch. Bookings and Enquiries: Bookings must be made using the following link (no payments…
Due to the many beekeeping events in the locality, including the conference at Eden Project and four associated events on the same weekend, we have had to cancel the Bee Improvement for All Day at South Brent. This is a great pity because there have been over 40 of these popular events since 2014, many of which have reached venue…
An opportunity to meet beekeepers from around the region to discuss Bee Improvement and queen rearing.Presentations on: Starting and Organising a Bee Improvement Group - Equipment needed, raising finance, running a group. Selecting Stock for propagation - natural and beekeeper selection. The importance of Drones - selecting and positioning. Starter colonies, set up and maintenance Support colonies - you need…
There are concerns by beekeepers of all levels about the dangers of the ever-increasing queen and bee imports into the U.K. These have increased fivefold between 2011 and 2019. As well as the risk of bringing in pests and diseases, imported bees have been shown to be less well-equipped for survival in our climate and conditions. In addition, continuous hybridisation…
BBOBI was set up in 2019 as a co-operative in Henley-on-Thames, which borders Bucks Berks and Oxon. Although a large geographical area, the climate and forage are remarkably consistent across the area. As the first BIBBA group in the home counties, we aim to be a springboard for other local clusters, as they attract more members and hopefully set up…
A key question any individual or group should consider is what method should I/we follow to Improve our bees and to produce queens. There are a few key choices depending on your aims, capacity (time and equipment) and capabilities. I’m assuming the reader is looking for a bee that is native and/or locally adapted.
Proposal by the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Association (BIBBA) to:(1) reduce the level of honey bee imports into the UK, and(2) to improve the quality of our honey bees Introduction The National Pollinator Strategy (The National Pollinator Strategy: for bees and other pollinators in England, November 2014) highlights the importance of insect pollinators in our environment and in our…
<- part two Bee Improvement Strategies by Kevin Thorn the third and final part of Kevin's series 3: More advanced Strategies in Bee Improvement suitable for native bees Propagating and positioning Drones To have any chance of breeding pure native queens you need to be producing lots of drones – the more the more successful you will be. You also…
The National Bee Improvement Programme (NatBIP) has been launched in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. This is an initiative organised by the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association (BIBBA), with the aims of reducing the number of imports of honey bees into Britain, Ireland and associated islands* and of improving the quality of…
Bee Improvement Days 2021 The Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association (BIBBA) will be running a small number of practical and theoretical courses during the summer months. These will be aimed at beekeepers who wish to improve their bees, with emphasis on suitability to the environment, docility, calmness on the comb, ease of management, good use of stores, etc. The…
Improving bees by raising your own queens – course Tutor – Roger Patterson In conjunction with West Suffolk BKA and BIBBA Thursday 20 July and Friday 21 July at Nowton Park Apiary, near Bury St Edmunds. Course fee Early bird £50 if booked before 4 July the event £60 if booked on or after 4 July. Please bring your own…
Rearing your own queens is a cost effective way to ensure the continuity of your hives, grow your stock and improve the quality and temperament of your bees. This practical, 2 day workshop covers a range the topics and techniques to suit the “ordinary” beekeeper. It includes a large practical element that is easy to understand and apply without the…
Rearing your own queens is a cost effective way to ensure the continuity of your hives, grow your stock and improve the quality and temperament of your bees. This practical, 2 day workshop covers a range the topics and techniques to suit the “ordinary” beekeeper. It includes a large practical element that is easy to understand and apply without the…
Roger Patterson of BIBBA presenting:To encourage ordinary (that's most of us!) amateur beekeepers to assess their colonies with a view to improving their bees using criteria they set themselves, which we hope will include improved temper and suitability to the locality. Simple recording will give information on which colonies to cull and which to breed from. There is encouragement to…
£10 a head; tea and coffee provided, bring your own packed lunch Contact details Susan Fotheringham Bank details for BACS payments (preferred): Lloyds Bank Sort code: 30-98-97 Account number: 30350560 Directions: CLYDESMILL M74 southbound CLYDESMILL M74 northbound
Queen Rearing will only be carried out using IOW mongrel stock, members will be encouraged to keep records of all their own stock, using only those considered to be worthy of passing on their bloodlines
We are almost half way through our third round of NatBIP webinars. Thanks to Jo for opening the topic with two sessions which included a lot of good questions from the attendees at each event. Thanks also to Norman Carreck for his scientific perspective on the bees and, most recently, to Peter for his practical and pragmatic experiences and views.…
A conservation project working with Free Living and managed surviving non treatment colonies to protect a wild population and produce a better local Honey Bee in Northamptonshire.
A key question any individual or group should consider is what method should I/we follow to Improve our bees and to produce queens. There are a few key choices depending on your aims, capacity (time and equipment) and capabilities. I’m assuming the reader is looking for a bee that is native and/or locally adapted.Kevin Thorn
beo1 Beowulf Cooper founder member and driving force behind BIBBA BIBBA was formed originally as the Village Bee Breeders Association (VBBA) in 1964 by Beowulf Cooper and a small group of beekeepers.
Dave Cushman's Website Several thousand pages of beekeeping and bee breeding information. Considered to be one of the world's most informative beekeeping websites. ScientificBeekeeping.com Beekeeping through the eyes of biologist Randy Oliver: "this site is a record of my learning process as I try to understand aspects of colony health and productivity, and the reasons why various management techniques work…
