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News
Registration for the BBKA Virtual Spring Convention
Registration for the 'Virtual' 2021 Spring Convention, 15-18 April is now open. Please visit springconvention.bbka.org.uk to view the event timetable, details of Presentations and Speakers, the Market Place and More Social elements.
Bee imports via Northern Ireland
There is a move to bring bees into the UK via Northern Ireland. This would circumvent the law which prohibits imports of package bees, nuclei and colonies. These bees are mostly bred in Southern Italy, near the site where Small Hive Beetle originated. There is a risk that Small Hive Beetle could get into the UK and they would spread rapidly. In the USA 20,000 colonies were destroyed in two years.
The BBKA with Bee Disease Insurance has organised co-operation between the Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland Beekeeping Associations to contact their Ministers. Anne Rowberry, BBKA Chair, has set up a Parliamentary Petition.
Please encourage those you know to join you in signing this petition. For the full content of the BBKA letter please refer to the link below.
BBKA - Letters from the President
The BBKA's March (and subsiquent) letter from the president, covering the BBKA's responce to neonicotinoids, can be found in the members area unders files - BBKA
Bees Abroad Newsletter
The latest Bees Abroad newsletter can be found via the link below
Healthy Bees Plan 2030
The UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today launched the Healthy Bees Plan 2030, which replaces the earlier plan which ran from 2009-2020. The new plan aims to protect and improve the health of honey bees in England and Wales over the next ten years.
The plan sets out four key outcomes to help protect honey bees:-
1. Effective biosecurity and good standards of husbandry, to minimise pest and disease risks and so improve the sustainability of honey bee populations.
2. Enhanced skills and production capability/capacity of beekeepers and bee farmers.
3. Sound science and evidence underpinning the actions taken to support bee health.
4. Increased opportunities for knowledge exchange and partnership working on honey bee health and wider pollinator needs.
The plan intends that beekeepers, beekeeping associations and government will work together to help protect honey bees, which continue to face pressure from a variety of pests, diseases and environmental threats including the invasive non-native Asian hornet. Implementation of the plan will be carried out in consultation with stakeholders and the public.
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Upcoming Public Webinars
During the lockdown the BBKA, BIBBA, Bees Abroad, and other organisations are holding online, free webinars. A selection of these can be found below: