Dorset beekeeper Chris Slade is blogging about Lecture Day and declares that in spite of  a long journey through Storm Dennis "It was worth it though and I’m glad I went." 
Read all about it here: https://chrissladesbeeblog.wordpress.com/
We hope all who attended enjoyed the day and look forward to evaluating the online survey feedback.

The Annual Lecture Day on February 15 is FULLY BOOKED. It's great that so many of you are coming to this event and we're sorry to disappoint anyone who hasn't bought a ticket yet.
After Lecture Day we will review arrangements to see if we can accommodate more people in future years.
If you've bought a ticket but can't make it - let someone else come in your place

• If you've booked a ticket online you can apply for a refund before noon on Wednesday, February 12 through Eventbrite and this will release your ticket to someone on the waiting list.
• If you've paid by cheque, this may not have yet been banked so please contact SBKA Treasurer Christina Kennedy direct. 

As we have reached the venue's maximum capacity, please DON'T turn up on the day as we will not be selling tickets on the door.
And remember to bring your ticket - either a prepaid paper ticket or an Eventbrite ticket - without it you won't be admitted!

Milns Priscott was honoured by the BBKA for clocking up a fantastic 60 years of membership. He was presented with a commemorative certificate in front of 180 beekeepers at our lecture day yesterday (Feb 17) by Ken Tredgett, SBKA President.
But Milns, a member of Taunton Division, has been involved in beekeeping even longer. As a boy he helped his father keep bees at Broomfield on Exmoor.
In addition to beekeeping Milns has been an active member of Taunton and Somerset. He was a member of Taunton committee for 39 years and during this time was Honey Show Secretary from 1977 to 1985, was made Chairman in 1993 and President in 1996. In 1981 he became the Vice Chairman of SBKA for three years.
He has given many talks and demonstrations across the county and has been a very successful honey show exhibitor. 

A few last minute tickets are still available for our Lecture Day on Saturday (Feb 17) - There's a great line-up of expert speakers and South West Regional Bee Inspector Simon Jones will give an update on Asian hornets. 
Speakers:
Bee farmer Ged Marshall – ‘Queen rearing’ and ‘A year in the life of a bee farmer’ Michael Keith-Lucas – Pollen in Forensic Science
Paulo Mielgo, Vita (Europe) Ltd - ‘Honey bee nutrition is not only sugar’
Pam Hunter C.Biol. F.S.Biol. FLS. MB t – ‘The evolution of plants & insects’

When: 9am – 5pm on Saturday, February 17
Where: Edgar Hall, 8 Cary Court, Somerset Business Park, Somerton TA11 6SB
Tickets cost £5 and include light refreshments but not lunch.
Contact Ken Tredgett: 01373 464736 [email protected]
​

​If you didn’t make it to the Asian hornet open meeting held in Devon last month, you may be interested to hear Martyn Hocking recount his experience of Asian hornets attacking his apiary in Woolacombe in the autumn. Martyn has some interesting observations to make about the actions he took, how he felt about identifying the hornets and working with the National Bee Unit, and suggests there are lessons we can all learn. The meeting was attended by 150 people from across Southern England - beekeepers, representatives of organisations with a special interest in the Asian hornet, university researchers and NBU officials.
This month, on Saturday, February 17, our regional bee inspector will be giving us an update at SBKA's annual lecture day. Tickets are still available!

SBKA Lecture Day takes place on February 17, 2018
Location: Edgar Hall, 8 Cary Court, Somerton Business Park, TA11 6SB
Tickets: include the day's lectures and light refreshments but not lunch.
​Tickets at £5 are available from Divisions' Secretaries, by cheque from SBKA Treasurer Mrs C Kennedy, Allways, West Shepton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5UH and online (cost £5.90 including 90p booking fee) - click here.
Tickets for the SBKA Special Lecture on April 25, 2018 are FREE!  To register click here​
Location: Edgar Hall, 8 Cary Court, Somerton Business Park, TA11 6SB

​Details of the 2018 SBKA Special Lecture have been released - Margaret Thomas, CSP, NDB will be speaking on the subject of Swarm Control for the Busy Beekeeper.

Location: Edgar Hall, 8 Cary Court, Somerton Business Park, TA11 6SB
Time: 7:00 for 7:30pm

Tickets are free! To register click here

Refreshments will be served and there will be a raffle. See the calendar for full details.

The programme for the SBKA Lecture Day in 2018 has been published. 
Date: Saturday 17th Feb 2018
Time: 9am - 5pm
Location: Edgar Hall, 8 Cary Court, Somerton Business Park, Somerton, TA11 6SB
Tickets: will be available shortly at £5 from Divisional Secretaries and are available now online (cost £5.90 including 90p booking fee) Click here to get tickets.

​The full programme is attached to this post and also appears in the online calendar.