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Local Events

The Andover and District Beekeepers Association runs an active programme of events and training courses.

Programme -Autumn/Winter – 2025/2026

Events

Date	Event
2nd September	Preparing for Winter - Margaret Murdin -slides now available
4th October	Celebration Dinner – Poplar Farm
7th October	Where Bees Are Kept - Roger Patterson
12th October	Information stand – Andover 2nd Sunday Market
4th November	AGM and Honey Show
2nd December	Making Mead & Traditional Honey Drinks - Chris Park
6th January	Local beekeeping experiences (TBC) - Paul Booth
13th January	Introductory Training
20th January	Introductory Training
27th January	Introductory Training
3rd February	Are you a GOOD or a BAD beekeeper? - Don Honey
10th February	Introductory Training
17th February	Introductory Training
24th February	Introductory Training
3rd March	Facts and fiction of honeybees and insulation - Derek Mitchell
10th March	Introductory Training
24th March	Introductory Training

All events will be held in the Andover Community Church, Charlton Road, Andover SP10 3JH – doors open at 1900 hours with sessions commencing at 1930 hours.

Beekeeping Introductory Training 2026

The next course will commence in January 2026 over seven one-hour sessions and take you through basic steps which will lead to important practical experience.

Honey Show Schedule 2025

Let’s make it a record number of entries for this year’s Honey Show…in our new venue and the weather! And, of course, the really great class 15 where you can enter your own delicious honey!

About the show

Natural Beekeeping

Natural beekeeping covers a wide spectrum of practices but basically will involve non or minimal intervention into the Bee’s nest environment.

Discover how we help bees

Got a swarm?

Don't panic! Bees in a swarm are full of honey and happy if you leave them alone. Contact our swarm officer for advice and collection.

Swarm? Contact Us Now

Busy in the hive . . .

The best way to report any sightings is via the 'Asian Hornet Watch' app.

> Download on App Store

> Get it on Google Play

More at BBKA Asian Hornet web page

Cowdown closed for winter

With the colder, more inclement weather now with us the regular activities at Cowdown are being wound down with only essential maintenance tasks being undertaken. An ad-hoc programme of these activities will be sent out to a maintenance team but effectively Cowdown is now closed until Spring next year.

Use of Neonicotinoids

The BBKA’s position on the use of neonicotinoids pesticides is informed by the current scientific evidence regarding their effects on honey bees. The BBKA considers the UK government’s decision in January 2024 to grant a derogation (emergency approval) for the use of a bee-killing pesticide Thiamethoxam, for the fourth year in succession, is unacceptable and does not follow the scientific evidence.