2024 Programme | Isle of Wight Beekeepers Association

JANUARY 11	WINTER CLUSTER 10:00-12:00 Quarr Abbey Tea Room, PO33 4ES
JANUARY 16	ASIAN HORNET BRIEFING FOR BEEKEEPERS 19:00 Online via Zoom, hosted by BBKA and Andrew Durham. Link provided in newsletter
FEBRUARY 3	ANNUAL DINNER 19:00-22:00 The Blacksmiths, Newport, PO30 5SS Booking and pre-order required by 25th January
FEBRUARY 15	WINTER CLUSTER 10:00-12:00 Quarr Abbey Tea Room, PO33 4ES
FEBRUARY 24	SEMINAR 09:30–16:00. £10 entry fee. Arreton Community Hall, PO30 5ET Open to non-members
MARCH 4	WINTER CLUSTER 19:00-21:00 Chequers Inn, Ventnor PO38 3NZ
APRIL 27	ANNUAL AUCTION 9:00-14:00 Quarr Abbey, Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES Set up: 9:00, Viewing: 12:00, Auction: 13:00 ~~SKEP MAKING~~ - ~~CANCELLED~~ (may be re-arranged to a later date)
MAY 11	ASSOCIATION APIARY VISIT 10:30-12:30 Quarr Abbey, Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES
MAY 18	MEMBERS APIARY VISIT 14:00-16:00 Richard Ridley, Newchurch. Contact: 01983407541 Booking required.
JUNE 1	ASSOCIATION APIARY VISIT 10:30-12:30 Quarr Abbey, Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES
JUNE 2	MEMBERS APIARY VISIT 14:00-16:00 Ian King, Porchfield. Contact: 07855246994 Booking required.
June 22	MEMBERS APIARY VISIT 10:00-12:00 Chloe Underwood, Wootton. Contact: 07577600414 Booking required.
JULY 6	ASSOCIATION APIARY VISIT 10:30-12:30 Quarr Abbey, Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES
JULY 13 & 14	ROYAL IOW COUNTY SHOW Association stand/booth; Newport Rd, Cowes PO31 8QU
AUGUST 3	MEMBERS APIARY VISIT 14:00 – 16:00 Lois Cooper, Freshwater. Contact: 07760146623 Booking required.
AUGUST 10	ASSOCIATION APIARY VISIT 10:30-14:30 Quarr Abbey, Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES
SEPTEMBER 7	ANNUAL BBQ 15:00 Mandy Benton, Newchurch BYO Bring your own food/drinks
OCTOBER 4	*HONEY SHOW SET UP ONLY* 17:00-20:00** Cowes Community Club, PO31 7NP Entries taken from 18:00
OCTOBER 5	HONEY SHOW 14:00-16:45 Cowes Community Club, PO31 7NP Open to non-members
NOVEMBER 11	WINTER CLUSTER 19:00 – 21:00 Woodmans Arms, Wootton, PO33 4RQ
NOVEMBER 25	ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13:00 Arreton Community Hall, PO30 5ET Refreshments provided
DECEMBER 12	WINTER CLUSTER 10:00-12:00 Quarr Abbey Tea Room, PO33 4ES

Please Note:

IWBKA Teaching Apiary at Quarr Abbey. The bee manipulations held during the year at the Teaching Apiary will be dependent on the weather and the current situation of the bee colonies at the time of the apiary meeting. During the year it is anticipated the subjects covered will include: shook swarming, splitting colonies, queen marking and bee health monitoring. The subjects of each meeting will be publicised in the IWBKA website and IWBKA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125993507621711/), as well as in the periodical news updates.
Members' Apiary Visits. In order to assist the Beekeepers hosting private apiary meetings to ease any parking issues please notify them that you will be attending. Details will be in the IWBKA website and IWBKA Facebook page, as well as in the monthly news updates.
Allergies. If you need to carry an EpiPen, please always bring it with you to apiary meetings and always inform the beekeeper in charge.

Beekeeping hygiene.

Kindly observe basic bee-keeping hygiene avoid transmitting disease during visits, by ensuring that:
Bee suits are cleaned both before and after apiary visits.
bees or frames are to be handled, clean disposable gloves must be worn. If leather gloves are worn, please do not handle bees, frames or equipment. However disposable gloves may be worn over leather gloves
Please do not be offended if the beekeeper in charge of the meeting asks you not to participate if you fail to observe these requirements.
tools must be washed and disinfected before and after use at each apiary. Please check with the apiary beekeeper to ensure personal hive tools may be used at their site.
safety the correct footwear must be worn, e.g. boots that cover the ankles.