Sunday 18^th May 2025 – Our first Beginners’ Session #1 of the season will be held at 2:00 till 4:00pm at our Teaching Apiary near Wylam. This is the first of eight events this season which are aimed at new or recent beginners/novice beekeepers. We aim to provide maximum ‘hands on’ bee-handling time, working in small groups with a more experienced demonstrator to supervise. Places for this and future sessions are limited so please contact beginners@hexhambeekeepers.co.uk if you would like to attend. Further details can be found on the Beginners Sessions page.

Sunday 11^th May 2025 – Our first Skills Workshop of the season focussing on Disease Inspection will be held at 2:00pm at our Teaching Apiary near Wylam. This event is not intended for beginners, but rather it is aimed at those members currently managing their own colony or colonies. We will be looking for brood diseases like Chalk Brood, Sac Brood, Bald brood and Chilled Brood as well as the more serious Foulbroods. Adult bee diseases like Nosema, Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus and Varroa will also be considered. We will also be looking at colonies for a Bailey comb exchange – the result of which we plan to follow up on 18th May. Numbers are limited so please book your place in advance by e-mailing Judith Stewart at skillsworkshops@hexhambeekeepers.co.uk

Sunday 6^th April 2025 – A Frame Making session was held in Wall Village Hall, Wall, Hexham NE46 4DX Sixteen beginners attended to learn how to make frames – providing the Association with a much needed stock of new frames to see us through the season at the teaching apiary. Thanks to everyone for their efforts.

Tuesday 1st April 2025 – An Open Meeting was held in Wall Village Hall, Wall, Hexham NE46 4DX at which Sue and Ian Robinson provided a brief presentation on Swarm Control. This was followed by small groups exploring and discussing some common techniques – Queen Removal, Demaree and Snelgrove. Thirty-five members attended.

Tuesday 4th March 2025 – An Open Meeting was held in Wall Village Hall, Wall, Hexham NE46 4DX at which Rinke Vinkenoog from Northumbria University described the life cycle of common local bumblebees as compared to the honey bee. About twenty-five members attended and enjoyed Rinke’s entertaining presentation.

Sunday 2nd^nd  March 2025 – A Theory for Beginners class was held at Wall Village Hall, Wall, Hexham NE46 4DX. Fourteen new beekeepers attended.

Tuesday 4th February 2025 – An Open Meeting was held in Wall Village Hall, Wall, Hexham NE46 4DX. Thorsten Rettig Master Bee Keeper gave ‘An Introduction to Bee Pests and Diseases’ and Dorian Pritchard distributed signed copies of his new book ‘Genetic Priorities for Conservation of Native Honey Bees’. Twenty-five members attended.

Tuesday 14th January 2025 – Our Annual General Meeting was held in Wall Village Hall, Wall, Hexham NE46 4DX and twenty members attended. The formal business was followed by a ‘Bring and Share’ supper which provided a welcome opportunity to socialise. The draft minutes from the meeting are available here.