We are a friendly, helpful and inclusive association supporting all with an interest in honey bees and beekeeping in The Scottish Borders.
SBA Basic Beekeeping Certificate 2026
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, 15 April.
This is a practical assessment of your hive handling and apiary knowledge. Passing proves you understand the fundamentals. It is a really positive, constructive way to get recognition. The whole process is super friendly. Highly recommended. You are ready if you have managed a colony for a full season.
Assessments happen locally over the summer. An examiner watches you work a hive and asks a few questions.
Review the syllabus on the Scottish Beekeepers Association education page:
https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/sba-services/education/
Then complete the application form:
https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Exam_Application_Form_Word_doc_Aug20215.pdf_
Equipment Sale: Saturday 18 April
Have items to sell but can't make it on the day? You can drop them off with Finlay in advance. Email us to get his mobile number and sort out a time.
April Meeting: Wednesday 22 April
Mark Barnett is giving a talk on 'Going to the Heather'. We need two volunteers to handle the teas and coffees on the night. Let us know if you can help out.
Summer Apiary Visits: Hosts Needed
We urgently need hosts for our summer apiary visits in April, May, June, and August. These are informal, friendly get-togethers and a great chance for members to see how different people manage their hives. If you can host a visit, please get in touch so we can add the dates to the website calendar.
Honey Jar Orders: Volunteer Needed
We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the physical side of our bulk honey jar orders this year. All orders and payments will be handled automatically through the BBA website, so the admin is light. We just need someone to receive the pallet and manage the collection days for members. Once we have a volunteer, we will open up the storefront for purchases.
Latest News
Our History
We have a long and proud history of supporting and providing education services to beekeepers in The Scottish Borders. Its parent organisation, the Berwickshire Beekeepers, was formed in 1890, with a membership caring for more than 500 colonies. From the 1940s, our organisation was fortunate to have the support and guidance of William Selby Robson, the founder of Chainbridge Honey Farm, and to this day, we are privileged to maintain our links with Willie Robson Jnr and The Chainbridge Honey Farm. Also, Willie Smith, famous for designing The Smith Hive, which provides an adequate brood area for local conditions and ease of transport to the heather. Both Mr Robson and Mr Smith were industrious in guiding the development of The Berwickshire Beekeepers. The Kelso and District Beekeepers formed in April 1938, with The Duke of Roxburghe, as its honorary president; the membership quickly grew to over sixty. The Berwickshire and Kelso Beekeepers amalgamated to form The Borders Beekeepers Association in 1995.
We now have a membership of 157 as at January 2025
April is the pivot point. The bees have woken up. The queen is laying again. So the colony is expanding fast and burning through remaining winter stores fast. If the weather turns nasty, they can quickly starve just weeks before the main spring flow.
Read the full Bee Alert, courtesy of David Evans