Beekeeping News
![Beekeeping News 1 IMG 8498](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IMG_8498.jpeg)
Bioblitz 2024
Sutton Park is one of the largest urban parks in Europe, being some 2,200 acres in area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), it
![Beekeeping News 2 Auction](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Auction-768x576.jpeg)
Auction for Julian’s charity
A sale and auction was held on 1st June for members of Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham beekeepers. This included feeders, hive parts, electric extractors
![Beekeeping News 3 Transfering the bees](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Transfering-the-bees-768x1024.jpeg)
Summer Beginners Course
by Julia Wigfield Led by James Mundye, assisted by 4 Instructors, Steve, Phil, Jitesh & Julia Sutton Coldfield Association runs a 17 week Summer practical
![Beekeeping News 4 PHOTO 2024 04 13 13 13 22](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/PHOTO-2024-04-13-13-13-22-768x1024.jpg)
Spring Convention visit
The British Beekeepers Association Spring Convention 2024 kicked off for the 46th year on Friday 12th April at Harper Adams University. This was during a
![Beekeeping News 5 IMG 7239](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IMG_7239.jpeg)
Remembering Julian Routh…
Remembering Julian Routh… On Sunday 14th April, we gathered at our Apiary with some of Julian’s family to plant a commemorative apple tree. Our Association shared
![Beekeeping News 6 A6BFB034 2A4C 4E88 AD68 CC79259914F7 1 201 a](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/A6BFB034-2A4C-4E88-AD68-CC79259914F7_1_201_a.jpeg)
Apiary Opening
Our Apiary opened on Saturday 6th April for our first meet up and maintenance sessions. We split into a few groups and diligently undertook our
![Beekeeping News 7 Bee down a microscope](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Bee-down-a-microscope-768x1024.jpg)
Microscopy day at Stoneleigh
On Saturday 3rd February a group of around 16 people headed to WBKA headquarters at Stoneleigh for a day of microscopy. The motivation was different
![Beekeeping News 8 097aa09b c53d 4bd6 ad9b b4628faaf193](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/097aa09b-c53d-4bd6-ad9b-b4628faaf193-768x576.jpg)
Winter Beginner’s Course
Our 6 week winter beginners course started on Tuesday 6th February. We have had a record number of places this year, with 20 ‘newbees’ taking
![Beekeeping News 9 IMG 1042](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1042-768x576.jpg)
Annual General Meeting Report
Chairman’s Report 2023 Each year when I sit down to write this report I think to myself, all I need to do is get last
![Beekeeping News 10 Group 2](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Group-2-768x576.jpeg)
Christmas 2023
Our Association Christmas Dinner was held at Wishaw Country Sports Club on Tuesday 12th December. It was a cold and wet evening, but gathering in the
The Bees and Wasps of Sutton Park
by Leonie Williams Our most recent talk was from PhD student Aaron Bhambra and was entitled The Bees and Wasps of Sutton Park. We all
![Beekeeping News 11 Examples](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Examples-768x576.jpeg)
Skep Making Course
By Leonie Williams The Heritage Craft Association is the UK’s advocacy body for traditional heritage crafts and publishes a red list which is a list
![Beekeeping News 12 PHOTO 2023 10 07 20 53 25 2](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/PHOTO-2023-10-07-20-53-25-2.jpg)
Apiary Close and the Conker Championship 2023
Autumn marks two important events in our calendar. With our bees fed, treated and checked for health, it was time to close up our training
![Beekeeping News 13 Composite 2](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Composite-2-768x576.jpg)
WARWICKSHIRE BEE KEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION COUNTY HONEY SHOW 2023
By Julia Wigfield and Leonie Williams It was an 08.00 start for staging at the venue in Coventry, Julia, Fiona & Leonie managed to finish
![Beekeeping News 14 Beginners Course](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Beginners-Course-768x576.jpg)
End of the Summer Beginner’s Course
Our 17 week practical summer beginners course ended on Sunday 27th August. This was marked with a quiz on subjects we covered on our course
![Beekeeping News 15 image0 5](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/image0-5-768x576.jpeg)
Sutton Coldfield & North Birmingham Beekeepers Association Annual Honey Show
Sunday 17th September 2023 Judges Peter Lewis – Yorkshire David Shannon – Yorkshire Stewards Todd, Leonie & Julia The doors opened for staging the exhibits
![Beekeeping News 16 IMG 20230829 WA0010](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IMG-20230829-WA0010-768x1073.jpg)
Basic Bee Exam 2023
Basic Exam Results 2023 This year we had five people go for the Basic exam. The Basic test is a practical test to show the
![Beekeeping News 17 House Fort GoWild 27072023 59](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/House-Fort-GoWild-27072023-59-768x492.jpg)
The Fort Shopping Centre Eco Festival
Thursday 27th July saw Sutton Beekeepers once again support The Fort Shopping Centre Eco Festival. With a steady flow of visitors to our outreach stall,
![Beekeeping News 18 IMG 5204](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5204-768x1024.jpg)
Summer BBQ
Our association BBQ took place on Thursday 20th July with 75 Sutton beekeeping members, friends, family and invited guests attending the social event of the
![Beekeeping News 19 PHOTO 2023 07 15 15 25 07](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/PHOTO-2023-07-15-15-25-07-768x512.jpg)
BBKA Healthy Bee Certificate
On 1st July and 15th July, four members, Will Van De Merwe, Todd Wilkins, Julia Wigfield and Richard Evans have had their assessment at our
![Beekeeping News 20 image2](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/image2-768x576.jpeg)
Gardener’s World Live
I responded to the request this year for stewards at the Gardner’s World Live at the NEC, and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
![Beekeeping News 21 39816bcd 7898 42b2 85de ef051fe93c36](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/39816bcd-7898-42b2-85de-ef051fe93c36.jpg)
Re-opening of Hams Hall Apiary – the story!
UPDATE !! What a great evening, and thank you to all those members who attended, we had about 30 people there. Dan and Luke were
![Beekeeping News 22 PHOTO 2023 05 14 21 11 15](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/PHOTO-2023-05-14-21-11-15.jpg)
Summer Course 2023 Begins
The fully booked Summer course has now start, started on Sunday 7th May at our Associations Apiary. It lasts for 17 weeks and below is
![Beekeeping News 23 The Bee Peace week 043 side](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-Bee-Peace-week-043-side-768x1024.jpg)
Food behind bars
Our association was approached back in 2021 by the charity organisation Food Behind Bars. They wanted our help to give training to Swinfen prison staff
![Beekeeping News 25 Sutton Coldfield 1](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Sutton-Coldfield-1-768x576.jpg)
Annual General Meeting Report
Chairman’s Report 2022 With Covid restrictions lifted, our association was back hosting our 6-weekwinter beginners’ course at Langley School. 15 people participated with some continuing their education later in the year on our 17-week summer course. Our thanks go to Julian,
Opening of the Apiary
The daffodils are out, and that can only mean one thing Spring is round the corner. With that in mind, we will be looking to
![Beekeeping News 26 Christmas Meal 3](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Christmas-Meal-3.jpg)
Christmas Meal 2022
On Tuesday 13th we came together for our Christmas meal, which was once again held at the Wishaw Country Sports Venue. The food was excellent
![Beekeeping News 27 BuzzFest2](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/BuzzFest2-768x490.jpg)
BuzzFest
On Sunday 2nd October Sutton and North Birmingham Beekeeping Association supported the Fort Shopping Centre BuzzFest event. Giant stilt walking insects, accordion playing ants and
World Bee Day
Sutton Coldfield Apiary took part in celebrating World Bee Day. We had a stand in Sutton Park to explain the importance of bees in our
![Beekeeping News 28 Apiary spring clean | Sutton Coldfield & North Birmingham Beekeepers Association](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/apiary-spring-clean-header-768x432.jpg)
Apiary Spring Clean
Members of the Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham Beekeepers Association got together recently for a thorough spring clean of the apiary in Sutton Park. Despite
![Beekeeping News 29 Bees Abroad latest news](https://suttoncoldfield-beekeepers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/bees-abroad-news-03-768x576.jpg)
Latest news from Bees Abroad
Recently, Becca Mundye, a young beekeeper, went to visit our projects in Uganda where she held a series of workshops aimed at supporting beekeepers to