Welcome to HDBKA
Huddersfield & District Bee Keeping Association

Welcome to our website, where we aim to support and promote the work of the Association by providing regular updates on news, association events and other topics of interest, whether you are a local bee keeper yourself or interested in supporting honey bees in other ways.

Don't forget we also have an active Facebook group, where you can ask questions, discuss relevant issues, etc. Why not join the group today?

If you find a swarm of bees:

You can contact our district Swarm Coordinator on 07379 456371, but please do visit our Swarm Advice Page first to check that you have a swarm of honey bees. We can ONLY help with honey bees and not with wasps, bumble bees or other insects.

Dates for Your Diary

Association 2019 Programme
Our full programme for 2019 is now on our events page, so add the dates to your diary.

Most of our meetings are open to members and non members alike, and we have a number of spare suits available on request for people wishing to come along to one of our apiary visits.

We are also happy to take ideas and suggestions for future events.  
Diary
Christine Balshaw: "Bug in dandelion"

Microscopy Workshop

On 26thJanuary member of both Huddersfield and Halifax branches of the BBKA got together in Sowerby Bridge for a series of hands-on workshops and informative talks on the applications of microscopy to beekeeping. The workshops ran simultaneously three times throughout the day enabling small group tuition and covered pollen identification, bee anatomy, and bee dissection. These sessions were complemented with fascinating presentations on photomicroscopy and wing morphometry.

Bee-Friendly Gardening

Honey bees are under increased threat from climate change, virus and parasites, pesticides and chemical use, and a loss of their natural habitat.

During the winter, although colonies become dormant, on bright days they will still come out in search of food. Having a range of flowering plants they can visit throughout the year for nectar and pollen  is key to ensuring a healthy colony with good stores so they can survive the winter.

You can help support bees by planting bee-friendly plants in your garden or window box.