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President: Gill Peacock
Other Committee members
Subscription rates The 2007/2008 annual subscription rate is £21 for full members, £26 for family membership and £10 for associate members. All subscription rates are open to annual review. Subscriptions are due on November 1st each year and cover the period until 31st October the following year. Charity Status The Association is a registered charity. Charity Number: 1097156. Through Gift Aid, the Association is able to claim income tax paid on the subscription sum. Members are encouraged to complete a Gift Aid form where appropriate. Webmaster If you have any comments or suggestions to make about the web site or you have some material you would like to contribute, please contact the webmaster Frank Rickett at webmaster@mbbka.org.uk
Facilities available to members Meetings Apiary meetings are held during the summer months and include apiary demonstrations. Winter meetings, which include talks on beekeeping and bee-related topics, are held at The Bowls Club, Dobbins Lane, Wendover. Other events include an apiary tour during the summer, when visits are made to other apiaries, and a Christmas social function. The Annual General Meeting is held in October. Notices A quarterly Chairman’s letter is distributed to all members giving details of forthcoming events. The Extractor, the Association Newsletter, is published quarterly. This contains articles of local, national and international beekeeping interest. Publications Members can receive by post: Bee Craft - monthly journal (optional, by an additional subscription). Mid Bucks BKA Honey Show The Association’s Honey Show is held annually in October at the time of the AGM. Competitions are held in a number of classes of honey and other products associated with bees. Entry is free and there are cups and other awards to be won. The honey judge gives a commentary and advice on the quality of honey entered. Insurance (a) The annual subscription includes cover under the Bee Diseases Insurance (BDI) scheme against loss from brood disease to two hives. Cover for additional hives may be purchased. (b) Members are also covered for Third Party Public Liability ( to the value of £5.0 million)and Products Liability through the Association’s NFU policy. Spray warning Members benefit from a county spray-warning scheme, which gives notice of pesticide applications being applied to nearby farmland. Further details may be obtained from the Association Secretary. Bee Health Fumidil B for nosema control may be obtained from the E H Thorne or their local agents. Any beekeeper suspecting foul brood in his/her hives should contact the Regional Bee Inspector of the CSL National Bee Unit. Mr Ian Homer, 5 Malters Cottages, Litton Cheyney, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9AE Telephone: 01308 482161 e-mail ihomer@csl.gov.uk. Advice on bee health may also be obtained from the CSL National Bee Unit, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ (tel 01904 462000), from the Seasonal Bee Inspector (contact via Ian Homer), or from experienced local beekeepers in the association (contact the secretary) Varroa There is now evidence that Varroa has become resistant to Bavarol and Apistan so members are encouraged to use other methods of control. A programme of integrated management for Varroa with all the necessary instructions is given on this website. Click here for details. Education and Library Facilities The Association has a teaching apiary at Hampden Hall, Stoke Mandeville, where meetings and practical demonstrations are held during the summer and when new beekeepers can learn or improve beekeeping skills. Past meetings have also included topics such as queen rearing for the more experienced beekeeper. Members can benefit from: -Contact with fellow beekeepers -Advice on suitable hive sites -Telephone and possible practical help in managing bees -Protective clothing purchase at a discounted rate -Good value equipment purchase -Help in dealing with difficult colonies -Seasonal advice on a monthly basis -Advice on queen raising and introduction The Association also has a library of books pamphlets and videos and these are available for loan at the monthly winter meetings. Every year a Beginners’ course is held and members of the Association are available to introduce newcomers to the craft, and also to give advice and talks from time to time to interested groups. During 2006 there will be courses leading to the award of a Food Hygiene Certificate, and the BBKA Basic Assessment. Encouragement is given to members wishing to prepare for BBKA examinations. Equipment on Loan The Association has an electric honey extractor which is available for hire to members for £5 a time. Also available for hire at the same rate is a nucleus box. The Association frame boiler and steam wax extractor may be borrowed free of charge. These are in the keeping of the Apiary Coordinator, to whom enquiries should be addressed. Arrangements can also be made for the hire of an extractor for granulated honey, the hire rate being £10 per week or £5 for 3 days. Stocks, Swarms and Secondhand Equipment The Association provides assistance in the purchasing or disposal of unwanted stocks and swarms. Details are published in the Newsletter. Secondhand equipment for sale is also advertised from time to time. New Beekeeping Equipment – Local Agent John Parslow, is a main agent for E H Thorne and supplies most beekeeping equipment. Contact John at Parslow Apiaries Ltd., Bailiffs Cottage, Church End, Bledlow, Nr Aylesbury Tel: 01844 344948. Occasional bulk orders are placed on behalf of members to an equipment supplier. Contact Karen Dadswell for more details. |