Please see the below from the British BKA regarding exams:
Bee Exams CANCELLED! March 17 2020 The BBKA Exam Board has decided today to cancel the Module Exams and the following statement has been sent to Exam Secretaries: "Yesterday, there was a new statement that escalated the precautions we need to take to limit the spread of Coronavirus to a different level. Consequently, it is with great regret that the Examinations Board has decided they must act within the Government guidelines and cancel the Examinations on March 21st. "We know how much work the candidates have put into the preparation for these exams, and the decision has not been made lightly, but we do now wish to put invigilators or candidates at risk for an activity which is not essential. "The free transfer of fees and applications will extend to March 2021.
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Hi Everybody.
Due to the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in with Coved 19 Corona Virus and following on from the government recommendations we are cancelling the Monthly meeting program for the foreseeable future. When the situation changes we will let you know . Should any of you need any equipment from the shop we now have an order method on our website , or failing that you can contact me direct , that also goes for sugar if you require it . Should any of you require advice or guidance about any matters bee related get in touch and we will assist where we can . Stay safe everybody. Kind Regards,Dave please see below message from the BBKA
It is with great regret that we have to advise that the BBKA 2020 Spring Convention - scheduled to take place at Harper Adams University 3-5 April - has been cancelled. The Spring Convention Committee and the BBKA Executive Committee reviewed the situation over the weekend and took the decision to cancel. Given the age of many attendees is over 60, the aim is to minimise the risk of COVID19 among participants, traders, staff of BBKA and staff and students of Harper Adams. A full refund will be made for all bookings made via the BBKA. Leigh Sidaway General Manager Asian Hornet Update - Hamish Low AHAT Leader
The story so far … Amidst the global coronavirus epidemic we must not forget another uninvited species native to China, the Asian Hornet. In February this year a one day Conference on the Asian Hornet, organised by the BBKA, took place in Warwick. This was attended by Dave Coates and myself. The speakers were academics from the UK and Spain, the Jersey Asian Hornet Coordinator and representatives of DEFRA.The most striking points I noted came from the Spanish and Jersey reports. In Galicia, the region in the north west corner of Spain and about one and a half times the size of Wales, they went from two nests to more than 10,000 in just 4 years. Last year in Jersey there were 782 reported sightings, 404 of which were confirmed. A more detailed set of notes from the Conference, taken by our colleagues from the Leicestershire Association, can be found on our Facebook page thanks to Nigel Collier. In comparison to the above, since our first in 2016 we have had a total of 17 confirmed sightings in the UK and 9 nests have been destroyed. Last year nests were found and destroyed in Dorset and near Tamworth, almost on our doorstep. A single queen was also captured in Kent. Obviously we benefit from the 20+ miles of water between the south coast and mainland Europe, but we must not be complacent and I believe it naive to assume that we have seen and dealt with all those that have found their way to the UK. However, we certainly don’t have an established population as seen in mainland Europe and Jersey. This is confirmed by the lack of any genetic links between the latest and previously discovered species. An interesting fact is that the Asian Hornet queen produces more “sexuals” ( virgin queens and drones ) than they do workers. It is also interesting that none of the nests found in the UK last year had any “sexuals” present and I think this also to be true for all previous discoveries here. I am seeking confirmation of this from the NBU. If true, perhaps here lies the explanation of why we haven’t seen the explosion in population suffered in Jersey and mainland Europe. Why this should be I don’t know, but just be grateful while it lasts! Action needed now… In the next few weeks queens will be emerging from hibernation and they must feed within the first few days to survive. The question of whether to trap or not to trap was raised at the Conference. In the past year or so I have made and distributed about 100 of the monitoring traps detailed on the NBU website and strongly encouraged their use in our apiaries. There is an opinion that these traps are killing traps rather than monitoring traps and should only be used once an Asian Hornet sighting has been confirmed. Since these traps are one of the most powerful means of spotting them in the first place I think this is BONKERS! They are only killing traps if they are left unattended for a few days. Ideally they should be checked daily to release other species such as the European hornet. I strongly recommend we get them out there now, plied with a beer/sugar solution as bait. Our new members won’t have benefited from my production line in the past and I ask them to have a go at making their own as per the instructions on the website. The Ashby production line has started up again for those who need them and these will be available at our monthly meetings. It is worth repeating that if we do catch one in a trap or by other means it is illegal to release it alive as it is a non-native species. It is obvious that the beekeeping community is a minuscule percentage of the total population and as such it is no surprise that the majority of the UK sightings have been made by members of the public. Last year there were fewer false alarms as the public in general are noting the information and images available from various sources. I had 2 false alarms last year and in both cases the beasties were European Hornets, quite a bit closer than wasps reported in previous years! To continue the education process I have obtained 50 each of A4 laminated posters and ID sheets from the NNSS ( Non-Native Species Secretariat ) these need to be displayed in garden centres, on well trodden public footpaths etc. How best to distribute them will be discussed at the next Committee meeting. Unfortunaetly due to concerns about the corona virus. Lincoln BKA have decided to cancel their annual auction due to take place this weekend on 21st March 2020.
Sadly work on the training apiary has slowed to a halt owing to the poor weather of late. The groud has become too sodden to work on or get vehicles on site. Hopefully, there is some good weather coming!
Renewals 2020. Most of you have now renewed so thank you very much. If you havent, bear in mind you are NO LONGER INSURED and won't receive emails from us. If you haven't renewed by law I cannot keep your details. If you have any queries please email [email protected] or ring 07452 834828
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