The SBKA Bee Market 2025 will be on the 17th May 2025 at Uckfield Community College.
PROGRAMME
- 9:00 Registration of auction entries
- 10:00 Bee Market opens to the general public.
- 11:00 Brief talk about ‘How to Take up Beekeeping’ – by Malcolm Wilkie Chair of High Weald Division in theatre AG02
- 12:00 Children’s activities – In the workshop we look at the life inside a beehive, the children act out the different roles of the bee and at the end we taste honey from around the world and get to eat the “bee eggs, nectar and pollen” the children also take away an activity sheet.. by Maggie Pratt School Primary School Teacher and Co-owner of the ‘Bee People’ bee keeping supplies company. The workshop will be in Reading Room AG14
- 12:00 Invited talk on “The Honeybee Solution to Varroa … in the South East” – by Steve Riley. The talk will be in theatre AG02
- 14:00 Auction of Bee Equipment, & Bees in theatre AG01
- 16:30 Bee Market Closes
This year’s Bee Market talk – “The Honeybee Solution to Varroa … in the South East” – by Steve Riley
Steve Riley is the current Chair and Education Officer at Westerham Beekeepers, a club in the south-east of England. He is a member of the “Path to Varroa-resistance in the UK” team that launched the education and science website: www.varroaresistant.uk in April 2023. He presents on “Identifying Varroa-resistance Traits” to beekeeping associations around the UK, including sessions and seminars at the BBKA Spring Convention and National Honey Show.
Steve is also the author of a very interesting book on this subject which I (Peter Coxon) can highly recommend. It is published by Northern Books and can be found here The Honey Bee Solution to Varroa, Riley | Northern Bee Books . Below is the description from their website.
The Honey Bee Solution to Varroa explains the practical steps beekeepers can take to identify and select for easily observable Varroa-resistant traits in their colonies. The science behind the bees’ mechanisms for controlling their mite populations is explained, in what is a bee-led solution to the biggest challenge facing the European honey bee.
Steve will have his book at the Bee Market and I’m sure will answer questions and may even sign your copy should you wish to buy one.
There will also be a talk by Malcolm Wilkie long time Education Officer at the High Weald division (High Weald BeeKeepers’ Association – Beekeeping in the Sussex High Weald) of the SBKA and now the current Chair. Malcolm will reprise his very popular talk of last year describing how to take up beekeeping and together with some members who have taken up the noble art of beekeeping under his tutelage will share with you some amusing anecdotes. So, if you are thinking of / planning to take up beekeeping this is one for YOU!
