CBKA

The Cornwall beekeepers Association (CBKA) is a body which, by affiliation to the British Beekeepers Association, has national representation in matters of vital importance to all beekeepers in Cornwall.

Our association is made up of six groups located throughout the county. They are as follows:

LAUNCESTON BEEKEEPERS’ GROUP

We are a friendly and welcoming group of beekeepers centred on Launceston. This does not mean that you can only belong if you live within the town itself. Our members come from Calstock, North Petherwin, St Clether and even over the border in Bratton Clovelly. So we cover a wide area as you can see. We range in experience and ability from beginner beekeepers to those who have only been working with bees for a few seasons and we have some members who have been beekeeping “man and boy” for many years. The Group is not exclusively male there are 5 lady beekeepers and some couples who work together to keep bees.

We have the majority of our meetings in the season from April until September when we meet once a month and members take it in turns to host a meeting. These are always interesting and informative occasions followed by refreshments and general socialising. The ‘teas’ are always worth looking forward to as there are some very good cooks among us.

We are aware that monthly meetings are not enough for new members and are working to expand our programme. New members are assigned a Mentor who lives near to them so that they can have a ‘buddy’ to help them through the learning process and give them advice. October sees our Honey Tasting evening when we get a chance to sample each others’ produce and all the honeys taste quite different. We also have occasional social events which are usually bee-related in some way. Bearing in mind the cost of fuel and environmental conservation, we car share as much as possible.

We enjoy the Royal Cornwall Show in June and Callington Honey Fair in October and try to support them by helping out with the running of the shows or entering our honey or other items in the competitions.

We are all members of Cornwall Bee Keepers Association and receive their magazine “Gwenyn Kernow” every month. New members are expected to join the CBKA after two visits. The website is lively and interesting and gives information not covered in Gwenyn Kernow.

BODMIN BEEKEEPERS’ GROUP

The Bodmin Group of the Cornwall Beekeepers’ Association (CBKA) meets during the winter months in the Lanhydrock Memorial Hall on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. Membership of the group is free, though we each pay £1 per session to offset the cost of hiring the hall. We have talks, discussions and demonstrations on subjects related to bees and their products. We have a library of books, a steamer to clean frames, which members can borrow. Our December meeting is a Christmas meal.

Newcomers and beginners are welcome to join us. We have more than thirty members. Squadron Leader Louis Riley, who is President of the CBKA, David Harris (Apiary Manager) who won the 2008 George Mitchell Cup for services to Beekeeping and Lynda Evans, who runs classes for beginners, provide a wealth of experience for all of us. Many members have gained their Basic Beekeeping Certificate, five more this year. During the summer months we meet at the Group Apiary for practical work supervised by the Apiary Manager.

Volunteers manage a stall at the Boconnoc Spring Show with the Liskeard Group.  We attend the Bodmin Heritage Day and the Lanlivery Steam Fair meeting members of the public, sharing our love of beekeeping and generally informing children and adults alike about bees, as well as selling some of our products.  There is the opportunity to be involved in the Royal Cornwall Show.  Some members help at the show; some enter the competitions.

LISKEARD BEEKEEPERS’ GROUP

It is the aim of our group to give every encouragement to all beekeepers and newcomers interested in the hobby.

The Liskeard Beekeeping group invites members and the public alike to attend our meetings. These take place at The Bowling Club Liskeard with a start time of 7.30pm September to April covering various beekeeping topics each month. There is a group apiary where meetings are held April to September on the second Saturday of each month starting at 2.30pm and the fourth Wednesday of the month starting at 6.00pm. This apiary consist of different types of hives giving the opportunity for members to practice the various methods open to keeping bees.

WADEBRIDGE BEEKEEPERS’ GROUP

Wadebridge Beekeeping Group was founded in 1948 and is part of the Cornwall Beekeepers Association. We welcome anyone with an interest in beekeeping to come to our summer meetings at the group’s teaching apiary on the outskirts of Wadebridge to learn what happens in a hive and have hands-on experience of handling bees.

The demonstrations are led by the Apiary Manager, Mike Rowe. Protective clothing is available if it is needed but please phone Mike beforehand on 01208 814348.

During the winter when no practical beekeeping is possible, the group holds meetings at Porteath Bee Centre near St. Minver each month, usually on the fourth Wednesday, when guest speakers give talks on various beekeeping subjects. The meeting in February is the group’s AGM and Honey Show. Membership of the group is free but a small donation is appreciated for funds. A library is held at Porteath Bee Centre and the books can be borrowed by members.

ROSELAND BEEKEEPERS’ GROUP

The Roseland Beekeeping Group was founded in 1995 and is part of the Cornwall Beekeepers’ Association.  Having gone through a period of constancy for a few years, it has recently become a hub of activity again as a result of the large influx of new beekeeping talent, young and old alike.  This has been as a direct result of the increased media coverage of beekeeping and honeybee losses over the past 2 or 3 years.  Many of the new members have attended, and benefited from, the BBKA’s “Introduction to Beekeeping” course held at Probus School.  This course (or similar) are highly recommended for an intending beekeeper about to embark upon this most fascinating of crafts.  In addition, the group is looking to further the education of all its members by offering supported revision groups for the Basic Assessment qualification.

We have recently purchased two group hives to allow members the opportunity to manage a hive for a season under the supervision of a mentor before deciding to take the plunge for themselves.  After this 12 month period of “loanership” they can then make a nucleus from the colony which they can keep as their own, before handing over the hive proper to another “newbie”.  The group endeavours to offer each new beekeeper an assigned mentor for the first 12 months who is available to assist, either over the phone or “hands-on”.  There is also a newly established group purchasing scheme through which members can significant financial savings on bulk supplies.

During the winter when no practical beekeeping is possible, the group holds meetings at Probus Comrades’ Club which offers an excellent venue that can cope with our expanding membership.  We have the exclusive use of the upstairs function room and bar!  We meet on the fourth Thursday of each winter month (September to March), when guest speakers give talks on various beekeeping subjects. The meeting in December is a Christmas Social whilst that in February is the Group’s AGM and Honey Show.  Then in April, May and June we hold our Bee Safaris, where the Bee Inspectors visit members’ hives to confirm the absence (we hope) of disease and give any advice needed.  Following this in late June/early July is the Group Barbecue, which, like the Christmas Social, is a well-attended event.

As you can see, we are a very social/sociable group and welcome new members, not only from the Roseland but from much further away.  Our membership currently extends out from the peninsula itself to the St Austell area in the East, up to Summercourt and Trispen and to the Western side of Truro.  Members of other beekeeping groups are always a welcome addition to our meetings.  Non affiliated members are also welcome to attend our meetings and we particularly encourage not-yet-beekeepers to attend from September to March in advance of acquiring their first bees.  A lot can be learnt during these winter months to inform prospective beekeepers about different hives, methods, equipment, etc. 

For further information please contact the Group Secretary, Rose Hardisty, on 01726 74101 or roselandbee@tiscali.co.uk.