Date for your 2026 diary!
lecture day will be held on Saturday, 7 February 2026

​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
Lectures:
  • The truth about honey? Lynne Ingram MB, NDB
  • VespAI: Applying deep learning to the detection of invasive hornets: Dr Thomas O'Shea-Wheller
  • Bees and trees – An ancient partnership: Richard Rickitt
Seminars:
  • How do I know what that is? Megan Seymour, SW Bee Inspector
  • The effect of weather patterns on bee behaviour and management: Geoff Blay MB
  • ​Sweetness and light, venom and death​: Eleanor Burgess
  • Demonstration of VespAI:  Dr Peter Kennedy, University of Exeter 
Workshops:
  • Microscopy pollen ID in honey: Bridget Knutson MB
  • Making dipped candles (£10): Maggie North

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.

Yellow-legged asian hornets
Voracious insect-eating ​yellow-legged Asian hornets (Vespa veluntina nigrithorax) have overwintered in Britain for the first time this year.
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.  

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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