Author Archives: Paul Durkin

Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet

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SBKA is aware of, and concerned by, the threatened invasion by the yellow-legged asian hornet (YLAH). The hornet could decimate our honeybees along with other pollinators.

The DEFRA’s national guidance relating to an Asian Hornet response/contingency plans encompass the following sequential objectives:

1. Early detection; detection of Asian hornet presence as soon as possible.

2. Interception and preventing establishment.

3. Eradication of any outbreak, if considered practicable.

4. Containment and controlling an outbreak within a limited geographical area.

5. Establishing long-term management of Asian hornets where eradication and control is no

longer possible due to the number and extent of outbreaks.

6. Aiding the beekeeping industry, pest controllers and local authorities in the form of training on pest and disease control.

The National Bee Unit (NBU) has also issued a list of areas where beekeepers should focus their efforts in order to increase the effectiveness of an Asian hornet response: https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/diseases-and-pests/asian-hornet/the-role-of-asian-hornet-teams-ahts/

1 Raising Awareness with the Public and Beekeepers

2. Monitoring and Trapping

3. Following up Leads:- During an Asian hornet Contingency Response and as part of any Post Contingency Response

The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) has adopted the same approach, identifying areas where beekeepers should focus their efforts in the context of the role of Asian Hornet Teams (AHTs).

There is a significant amount of information relating to the YLAH on the BBKA website – the link to the BBKA page can be found here.

Workshop on Wax Preparation and Moulding with Shirley Bond

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This Wednesday 8 March 2023 at 7:30 we are very excited and privileged to host this workshop with Shirley.

Shirley is a Master Beekeeper and a member of the BBKA Exam Board. She has been involved with teaching beekeeping and associated skills at local and national levels for several years. She has kept bees since 2010 and has never traded in any wax. 

She is passionate about making the most of wax and has won prizes for wax and candles at local, regional and national levels, including winning the Wax Bowl at the National Honey Show. 

She has also run courses and workshops around the country including at both the BBKA Spring Convention and the National Honey Show.

The presentation will give an overview of how to clean wax and demonstrate a very simple method of filtering wax. She will also make a poured candle. Demonstrating the preparation of mould and wick and how to finish the candle.

Sheffield Honey Show 2022

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This year the honey show was held in Hector’s House at the JG Graves Woodland Discovery Centre, Ecclesall Woods, Sheffield. The show was combined with a BBQ/Picnic in the Oak Area. The BBQ started at approximately 3pm, wrapping up about 5pm. Exhibits for the Honey Show were brought to Hector’s House before judging started at 2pm. The show was not just about jars of honey though, entrees included, amongst other classes, wax candles, cut comb, decorative wax, photographs, honey cakes and mead. Judging was undertaken by Peter Lewis assisted by stewards Roger Lyons, Sarah Romanowski and Paul Durkin. Prizes were presented at 5:00. Once again Tony and Olga Lane were very successful in submitting entries and were awarded five of the seven trophies available for their efforts. Other successful trophy winners were Bronwen White and Peter Jackson.

Judge Peter Lewis taking notes at the successful honey show