Swarms

Seen a swarm of honey bees?
Before you report a swarm, please check to make sure you've identified it correctly. Click for a step-by-step guide to identifying a honey bee swarm.
​Have a honey bee swarm? 
Click the button below to find the nearest honey bee swarm collector to your postcode. Please note: we are volunteers and collect swarms in our spare time!

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.

Date for your 2026 diary!

​We would like to thank everyone who came to Somerset BKA's annual Lecture Day in February. We hope you enjoyed the mix of lectures, practical workshops and seminars, the trade hall and plenty of bee chat! 
Special thanks go to our speakers, those running the workshops and everyone who helped behind the scenes - we couldn't have done it without you all! 
We've booked the same venue for next year - Saturday, 7 February, 2026 - and hope to see you there!
Lynne Ingram and Anne Pike, co-events officers

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

Upcoming Events