​Quantock Beekeepers Association was set up as a Branch within the Somerset Beekeepers Association in 2008. Our aim is to share our enthusiasm in beekeeping within a friendly and supportive group. Our numbers have increased to 120 full and associate members.
If you are not a member, but someone interested in bees, nature and the countryside you would be welcome to come and join us at one of our meetings, it will not cost you anything! Simply contact our Secretary via email at [email protected] and we can then ensure that a bee suit is ready for you to borrow and explain any details that you may need to know.
​Every second Wednesday of the month (from March to October) at 7pm there will be a Drop in at the Apiary when you can join us in a cup of tea and ‘talk bees’.

                         


Join the Quantock Branch

To join the Branch, download the form below and email or post it along with the relevant fees to the address shown in the form.

Beginners' Course

We are pleased to announce that the ever popular Beginners Course will be restarting in January. It has also been decided cease the Rent a Hive scheme in its current form. New Beekeepers will be encouraged to keep their Bees at their own Apiary, and to train / improve using the Branch Apiary colonies. Where possible, they will be allocated a dedicated "Hive Buddy" / Mentor who will be able to advise or assist them as the start their Beekeeping journey. Contact the Secretary for more details.

Newsletters

Click the button below to see the latest newsletter and an archive of previous newsletters.

Quantock branch
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

2025 Events
MAY
Saturday 10th - Hive Inspections. 2pm at the Apiary.
Wednesday 14th - Drop In session. 7pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 24th Swarm Control. 2pm at the Apiary.
JUNE
Saturday 7th - Hive Inspections.  2pm at the Apiary.
Wednesday 11th - Drop In session. 7pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 10th - Hive Inspections / Brymore Prep. 2pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 28th - Brymore School Open Day.
(All help welcomed)
JULY
Wednesday 9th - Drop In session. 7pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 12th - Splitting Colonies. 2pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 28th - Reading the Comb and checking for disease. 2pm at the Apiary.
AUGUST
Saturday 9th - Removing Supers / Honey.  2pm at the Apiary.
Wednesday 13th - Drop In session. 7pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 30th - Varroa Treatment. 2pm at the Apiary.
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday 10th - Drop In session. 7pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 13th - Preparing for Winter / Feeding / Uniting. 2pm at the Apiary.
OCTOBER
Wednesday 8th - Drop In session. 7pm at the Apiary.
Saturday 18th - Maintenance & Stocktaking. 2pm at the Apiary.
NOVEMBER
Saturday 22nd - Branch AGM. 2pm at the Spaxton Village Hall (TBC).
DECEMBER
Saturday 13th - Oxalic Acid. 2pm at the Apiary.
PLEASE NOTE:-
The first session of the new "Introduction to Beekeeping" course will be held in January 2026. Additional sessions will be added during the year. Members will be notified by e-mail.
Members of all levels of experience are welcome at all sessions

Library

Click the button below to see the list of library books you can borrow as a member.

BRANCH Equipment

Click the button below to see the list of Branch equipment that you can borrow as a member.

Learning and Teaching

Beekeeping can be expensive. For this reason we have a strong focus on helping new beekeepers to set up their first hive properly but also at a budget rate. Wherever possible our learning programmes are free. In all of our training programmes we use conventional hives so that new beekeepers can learn to understand their bees using equipment that is easy to buy and look after.  To help new beekeepers we have a full range of honey extraction equipment and wax handling appliances that can be borrowed.
We have negotiated a number of substantial grants to set up a new teaching (Sentinel) apiary on the outskirts of Bridgwater. It has many interesting features which include a wildlife pool, all weather demonstration hive, queen rearing equipment and state of the art microscopy equipment.
Since 2013 we have been hosts to the BBC for some of the (bee related) filming and recording for Farming Today, Springwatch, Points West and Inside the Animal Mind (with Chris Packham and Prof Adam Hart). This year, Kate Quinlan (of Food Unwrapped) came to learn how to use icing sugar as a method of Varroa control, and BBC One Spotlight came to film Asian Hornet traps.
The British Beekeepers Association has also used our resources for training and assessment events. Children from Williton Primary School came in the Summer to learn about keeping bees.
The Devon Apicultural Research Group (DARG), Bridgwater Agricultural Society, Gardening Clubs, Women’s Institute groups and a Trade Union group have also visited.  We also had our first Open Day.

Contact Quantock branch

Honorary President​  Ken Edwards
Chairman  Barry Hulatt
Vice-Chairman  ​Ian Pickering
Secretary  ​Ruth Walker
Treasurer / Membership Secretary  Alison Monteith
​Newsletter Editor / Website Co-Ordinator Bill Monteith
Education Officer / Examinations Co-Ordinator Grahame Gould ​
Beginners Officer ​Sue Anderson
Librarian  ​Sarah Allen
Sentinel Hive Manager  Barry Hulatt​
QBKA Committee The President and all of the Elected Officers above, Plus Fred Jones, Alva Excell. Margaret Cavill, Mick Stenhouse, Josh Stones, Nick Wills, Albert Fry, David Dickinson and Pete Masters.
Swarm Contacts Ken Edwards (01278 671544), Barry Hulatt (01458 210861), Nick Wills (01278 671781), Jeremy Budd (07788 416041), Joshua Stones (07443 644592), Shawn Clements (07966 525277), David Dodge (07306 243368), Fred Jones (01278 663305), Peter masters (07437 530067), Dave Pennack (07955 218463), Paul Trolley (07548 589874), Timothy Whittingham (01278 732446)

branch Apiary Map

The map below shows the location of our Branch's Spaxton Rd Apiary near Bridgwater.