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Welcome to the British Beekeepers' Association

The BBKA is a charity set up in 1874. Today it has more than 16,000 members and works to support and promote honey bees and beekeeping. Educating the public of the enormous importance of honey bees and pollination to everyone's lives is one of its priorities. Another key role is to represent its members views and concerns about the health of the UK's honey bees. It lobbies government, the European Union and statutory bodies on these issues. Currently it is campaigning to raise the level of Government funding for research into the diseases which threaten to wipe out our honey bees. It is asking the Government to commit £8 million over the next five years to this research programme over which period pollination will have contributed over £800 million (£165 million per annum) into the agricultural economy.

Our current weather patterns mean there is is no fixed date to the start or end to the beekeeper's year, and like all crops, there are regional variations too. Beekeepers usually start opening their hives in March, and the first crop of honey is taken out of the hive in late April/ May. The main crop is taken out of the hive in July or early August. Some beekeepers have a later crop of heather or ivy honey which is taken off in September. Most beekeeping associations hold their end of season honey shows in October and by mid November, usually, the bees are clustering in the hive until spring.

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News Home > Journalists > Smokers in Whitehall

Smokers in Whitehall

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By Tim Lovett
President, BBKA

Published Oct 9, 2008

Save our Bees

Beekeepers Demonstration and Mass Lobby @ Westminster 5th November 2008

Assembly Point: Old Palace Yard, Westminster, London SW1P. (100 yards West of Parliament Square on Abingdon Street, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Nearest tube Westminster (District/Circle/Jubilee lines) or walk down Whitehall from Charing Cross (Bakerloo/Northern lines). See Google Maps.

Timings:

13.00 Meet for 13.30 Start.

14.00 Deliver Petition to Downing Street.

14.30 Enter Houses of Parliament via Visitors Entrance.

14.45 Lobby begins.

15.30 Disperse.

Kit: Please bring your freshly washed bee-suit in a small shoulder bag or the like and be prepared to put it on at the assembly point. You need to look your best as you may well be on TV! An umbrella probably makes sense too.

Smokers: The police have been informed that we will be using some lighted smokers. Not everybody needs to bring one but if you choose to, bring some good fuel with you and a lighter. All smokers must be extinguished before entering the Commons and we have asked the council to provide a fire proof receptacle into which un-burnt material can be dumped. Smokers must be put in your shoulder bag when passing through security into the Houses of Parliament.

Placards: These will be provided by the BBKA on the day.

Briefing: There will be a short briefing at 13.30 and we may be joined by some MPs who wish to address us.

Stewards: We are asked to provide stewards who will be appointed before the event and given further briefing. It is possible that the police may limit the number of demonstrators who can march to Downing Street.

N.B.

Contact your MPs to advise that your are coming to lobby them.

Confirm to BBKA Stoneleigh that you are coming.

Book your cheap day ticket asap!

Contact Stoneleigh or Tim Lovett with any queries.

Look at the BBKA website for any updates or changes to the above details.

Download Smokers in Whitehall (23 KB)

           
See you in Westminster!

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