2026 Somerset BKA Lecture Day

​Our annual Lecture Day takes place on Saturday, 7 February, 2026 at The Canalside Conference Centre, Marsh Lane, Bridgwater TA6 6LQ.
Whether you're just starting out with your first hive or have decades of beekeeping experience under your belt, Lecture Day is your hive of inspiration, learning, and connection.
Join fellow beekeepers for a full day of engaging talks, hands-on workshops, and lively bee chat. From cutting-edge research to practical skills, this event is designed to spark curiosity, deepen knowledge, and strengthen our beekeeping community.
🌟 Featured speakers
Maggie Gill, PHIRA-Science – world-leading Tropilaelaps researcher
Dr Ciaran Harris – exploring the mysteries of honey bee foraging
Clare Densley & Martin Hann – simple queen rearing
🧠 Seminars 
Global warming and honey bees - Geoff Blay 
Yellow-legged Asian hornets: what every beekeeper should know  
Tropilaelaps: insights from the front lines of global bee health
✂️ Workshops 
Microscopy: an external look at the honey bee  
Wax flower making
🛍️ Plus…
A buzzing trade show 
 A raffle (with sweet prizes!)  
Plenty of time for bee chat! 
Come for the learning, stay for the camaraderie. Lecture Day is more than an event — it’s a celebration of everything we love about bees and beekeeping.

Yellow-legged Asian Hornet conference - ​Saturday, 24 January 2026

The ​South West Beekeepers’ Forum is holding a one-day YLA hornet conference on Saturday, 24 January at the Canalside Conference Centre, Bridgwater. 
  • Hear about the latest developments in YLH research
  • Learn from those already living with YLH in the UK and abroad
  • Learn new skills and update existing ones
  • Share good practice
  • Plan ahead for 2026
   Plus: substantial discount to attendees  to buy “Trappit” hornet bait at close to half price.

Yellow-legged asian hornets
Voracious, insect-eating ​yellow-legged Asian hornets (Vespa veluntina nigrithorax) are a threat to honey bees and other pollinators.  
In areas where they're well established, the number of native insect species is declining and so are bat numbers and insect-eating birds. 
Please help to save our bees and pollinators!  
Report sightings immediately via ​the Asian Hornet Watch app on Android and iPhone or the online form.  

Join Somerset BKA

If you are a member of another association or are from overseas and would like to support Somerset BKA, then you can become a County Associate Member. It will give you access to lecture recordings as well as to our events and newsletter. 

Safeguarding

Somerset BKA wants everyone to be able to enjoy their involvement with honey bees and beekeeping. This policy is a way of demonstrating that we understand our responsibilities towards keeping individuals safe from harm and that we have appropriate measures and systems in place. Click here to read our Safeguarding Policy.

Online lecture series 

Our online lectures are free and help to increase your knowledge of beekeeping practice and learn about the latest honey bee research. Catch up on previous talks which are available for members to watch. 
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Beginners' courses

Are you interested in keeping honey bees? Or do you know someone who is? Then take a look at our Beginners' Courses.

Join Somerset BKA

Primarily we exist for the benefit of our members and provide a wide range of activities and services aimed at active beekeepers and those with an interest in honey bees and apiculture.
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Enjoy practical training and education courses, talks and lectures, expertise and encouragement, insurance and much, much more!

LOCAL HONEY

Local beekeepers produce local honey! It’s usually raw (untreated), contains local pollen and is additive-free.  Honey is reputed to have a variety of health benefits and medical uses – and it tastes good, too!
Local honey is available directly from our members, also at many independent retailers as well as at our Honey Shows.

Swarm Collection

The best way to find someone to help with a swarm is to click the link below, which will take you to the British Beekeepers’ Association website, where you can find your nearest swarm collector.

Education

Honey bees and other pollinators are having a tough time because of pests and diseases, loss of habitat and pesticides. One of our key roles is to help our members keep healthy and strong colonies.
​Read our regular newsletters by clicking the button below.

OUR GOAL

Promoting beekeeping and supporting beekeepers and honey bees in Somerset

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