Thursday, 8 December 2022 at 7pm – Kinellar Hall, Fintray Rd, Blackburn, Aberdeen
Vital information for the wellbeing of your overwintering colonies and their ongoing health, and your honey harvest!
Tag: Events
ADBKA Annual Convention 2022
5 November 2022
09:30 – 16:30
TECA Hilton Hotel, East Burn Road, Stoneywood, Aberdeen AB21 9FX
Booking: Eventbrite
A fascinating day is in prospect at this year’s members’ convention. The UK’s largest bee farmer, Murray McGregor, will talk about his life in beekeeping, and will highlight some of the differences in approach between hobbyists and professionals. Many members have previously visited Murray at his base in Coupar Angus or at one of his out-apiaries, and others have improved their stocks by purchasing “Jolanta’s queens”. Our second speaker is well known local beekeeper, Stephen Palmer, who will talk about the challenges of beekeeping in Aberdeenshire’s ‘arable desert’, and also about some of the special equipment that he has found useful in his 40 years’ practice of the craft. The day will be rounded off with a panel discussion, a quiz and a prize draw – the full programme will be available shortly. This is an opportunity to get together and discuss beekeeping with like-minded friends and experts in comfortable surroundings – the event will take place from 09:30 till 16:30 at the TECA Hilton hotel which is located beside the new P&J Live Conference Centre in Dyce. The Convention will cost £30 to attend. This rate is being subsidised by the Association, and includes lunch, refreshments throughout the day, and parking. It would help the committee if those wishing to attend could book early, so that numbers can be managed. To book your place please use this link to the Eventbrite system.
2021 Convention
What a great day we had at our annual beekeeping convention, held on 6 November at the Aberdeen Airport Dyce Hotel. We were privileged to hear from two experts in their respective fields: Lead Bee Inspector for Scotland, Luis Molero, and BBKA Master Beekeeper, Graham Royle.
Continue reading “2021 Convention”
Visit to Murray McGregor’s queen-rearing apiary
Every year Murray McGregor invites members of ADBKA to visit his queen-rearing apiary in Blairgowrie. This year, due to some Covid restrictions, only thirty lucky visitors were allowed to come. Most of us know Murray and his colleague, Jolanta, who is the “Chief” of the “queen-rearing factory”. This year we were pleased to also meet Murray’s daughter Linnet.
Continue reading “Visit to Murray McGregor’s queen-rearing apiary”
Late-season events round-up
The last term of our honey year started 14 September with the SBA Convention hosted by us – the ADBKA – and a wonderful contribution by our committee members that helped to make the day such a success.
Continue reading “Late-season events round-up”
Days out: the museum, the barbeque and the heather visit
This year’s ADBKA days out started in July with a visit to the Zoology Museum on St Machar Drive, with a special treat arranged by Hannah to see some trays of insect displays that aren’t usually on view to visitors.
Continue reading “Days out: the museum, the barbeque and the heather visit”
ADBKA Annual Convention 2018
By David Morland
Members will remember that last year’s Convention was held in the summer on one of the hottest days of the year, and in the middle of the swarming period, so it was decided to move the event until later in the year.
The 2018 Honey Show
By Ian Mackley
Yet another successful annual Honey Show was held at Kinellar Hall on 20 October. The Schedule was significantly revised for this year, removing Classes where there had been only few or no entries in recent years in order to make the Show more manageable. Thirty-nine people submitted 169 entries in total. 2018 has been a good year for spring and summer honey but very poor for heather honey and this was reflected in the entries: 20 each in the light and soft-set classes, but only a handful of heather honey entries. Continue reading “The 2018 Honey Show”
Marin Anastassov – Honey Bee Nutrition and Supplemental Feeding
SBA 2018 touring lectures – Marin Anastassov BSc, MSc, NDB
Marin Anastassov – a master beekeeper and one of the few holders of an NDB – visited Aberdeen on 5 October, and gave a fascinating talk on honey bee nutrition and supplemental feeding as part of the 2018 SBA touring lectures in Scotland. Continue reading “Marin Anastassov – Honey Bee Nutrition and Supplemental Feeding”
Turriff Show 2018
By Ian Mackley
The Turriff show was its usual eclectic mixture of opportunity to view and buy everything from Orthotic Insoles through to that monster tractor you have always wanted. The new ADBKA double gazebo got its first public outing between the National Fostering Agency and a stand selling clothes for dogs! This year we decided to be located outside amongst the trade stands rather than in the Industrial Tent; the move, and the gazebo, were thought to be successes with a steady stream of visitors throughout the show. We were certainly doing better business than the ‘grand-daughter of Gipsy Rose Lee’ in her caravan opposite! Continue reading “Turriff Show 2018”