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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 > Statements > BBKA Response to DEFRA Increased Funding for Bee Health Research

BBKA Response to DEFRA Increased Funding for Bee Health Research

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By Christine Gray
Honorary Press officer, British Beekeepers' Association

Published Jan 21, 2009

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STATEMENT

21st January 2009

The British Beekeepers Association is pleased to see that its sustained campaign to increase funding for bee health research has been recognised by the Government and that an extra £400,000 a year for the next five years will be found for much needed research.

The overwhelming support of the public for bees was clearly demonstrated during 2008 when over 140,000 people signed a BBKA petition to increase this research funding from Government.

BBKA chairman Martin Smith, said: ”Honey bees are a vital part of the eco system and beekeepers are the nation’s, nearly all unpaid, custodians of these important insects.

“The BBKA will continue to work with Government to ensure that funding is allocated to the most important issues facing bees and beekeeping so that we can maintain healthy stocks.

“The BBKA survey of members showed that bee numbers declined by 30% during winter 2007/8 and beekeepers are anxiously waiting to see how their bees fare this winter.

“Properly funded research into the causes of the decline in numbers is vital. The BBKA welcomes the Government ‘s announcement as the start to finding the £8 million required over the next five years for bee health research.”


ENDS

BBKA Response to DEFRA Increased Funding for Bee Health Research (31 KB)
Download PDF version of the BBKA Statement dated 21/01/09.
Download Defra News Release 21/01/09 (19 KB)
Defra News Release 21/01/09 - £4.3 Million Bee Health Funding Increase Announced.

 

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More from Statements

BBKA Statement on Research Funding Announcement
BBKA Statement on Defra Funding Announcement.
BBKA Press Release 21st April 2009 (33 KB)
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BBKA Response to DEFRA Increased Funding for Bee Health Research
The British Beekeepers Association is pleased to see that its sustained campaign to increase funding for bee health research has been recognised by the Government.