News & Events
SWHBK Members' Meetings & Events
03/06/26 Roger Patterson - topic to be confirmed
July no meeting
05/08/26 Club summer social
02/09/26 Matt Sommerville - 'Log hives'
07/10/26 Dan Basterfield - 'Moving bees and small scale migration'
11/11/26 Paula Carnell - 'Beekeeping in the Cocos islands: why it matters to the UK and how it ties in with
spiritual beekeeping'
02/12/26 Christmas social for members, family and friends - location tbc
Venue - all meetings take place at Boldre War Memorial Hall, Boldre, Lymington, SO41 5QG unless otherwise stated.
For all BBKA talks available on YouTube click here.
May 2026
Dylan Gussman talk
We had a fantastic turnout for Dylan Gussman's talk on 'Drone congregation areas'. His talk was fascinating and even included a video of a queen mating - amazing.
His enthusiasm came over and engaged us all. Who knew you needed a fishing rod to help find drone congregation areas and they could cover such a large area?
Some of the committee were talking about a field trip to find drone congregation areas in the New Forest. Perhaps next year...
April 2026
Club practical session
The committee ran a great indoor practical session on 6 April.
Members visited four different 'workstations':
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Frame and brood box making - led by Simon and Claire G
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Hive splitting (a swarm control method) - what to do if you can find the queen and if you can't - Chris and Wendy
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Shook swarm (strong colony) and Bailey comb change (for a weak colony) - John
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Feeders, equipment and gadgets - Philip
John said Simon and Claire G excelled in creating noise in the hall so much so John almost lost his voice.
March 2026
Dan Basterfield talk
Dan Basterfield gave a great talk earlier this month on 'Preparing for a better season'. He emphasised the importance of deciding what you wanted to get out of the apiary - increase number of colonies or more honey or more queens...? And then plan for it.
Select your method of swarm control and prepare in good time. Most methods involve colony splits and the Pagden is as good as any.
