News & Events
SWHBK Members' Meetings & Events​
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05/11/25 Simon Noble and Chloe Harvey - 'Beekeeping apprenticeship'
03/12/25 Christmas quiz and social - Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club
​07/01/26 AGM and talk/practical session
14/01/26 Clare Densley and Martin Hann - Zoom talk 'Reading the colony'
February No meeting
04/03/26 Dan Basterfield - 'Preparation for a better season'
​Venue change - all future meetings will now take place at Boldre War Memorial Hall, Pilley, SO41 5QG unless otherwise stated.
​For all BBKA talks available on YouTube click here.
October
How nutrition affects colony health
​Master Beekeeper Pam Hunter gave us a talk on 'How nutrition affects colony health'. Members enjoyed her talk and found it very informative. Pam's expertise in the bee world and their environment was invaluable in helping members understand the synergy between bees and their local habitats. She happily went into a level of detail members were not used to. She certainly 'knew her stuff'.
Thank you Pam
September
Autumn Management
We welcomed back Clare Densley and Martin Hann from Buckfast Abbey Bees on Wednesday 3 September.
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They ran some excellent 'Inspection Coaching' sessions for members at the club apiary in the afternoon.
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This was followed by a great talk from them on 'Autumn Management' to members in the evening. Their talk was very informative as always. They gave us many useful tips on hive hygiene, feeding for autumn and colony management to name just a few topics.
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We were privileged to see an early copy of their new book - 'Beekeeping: A Practical Guide for Considerate Beekeepers' which is being launched at the end of September.
A good evening and even better members liked our new future meeting venue at Boldre War Memorial Hall, Pilley, SO41 5QG.​
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Summer
Activities this summer
Social afternoon - A big thank you to Chris and husband Nick for hosting the summer social. We had a great turnout with a large amount of delicious food being brought by everyone. It was great to catch up with so many people we hadn't seen since June.
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Outreach - the season has now finished with us attending more events attended than ever before. The observation hive generated lots of interest and sales of the club apiary honey have gone well. A big thank you to Julia for organising everything and everyone who helped on the stand.
June
Wax refining - the Andy way
We welcomed back Andy Barnes-Willis in June.
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He gave a very thorough and detailed talk on how he refines his wax after lots of experimentation with different methods. The results are outstanding.
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Even if members are not going to make wax products such as tablets, candles etc they now know how to exchange their wax for new wax sheets from the local suppliers.
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