We are a friendly, helpful and inclusive association supporting all with an interest in honey bees and beekeeping in The Scottish Borders.
Equipment Sale ~ Saturday 18th April, 10.30 to 12.30 hrs
A sale of beekeeping equipment will be held soon, hosted by Finlay Mitchell at Swinton Mill House. Just such a sale was a great success in May 2025, and it’s a unique opportunity for members to buy or sell their equipment locally.
This is a sale for equipment and sundries only – NO BEES! Transactions will be between sellers and buyers, with no BBA guidance on pricing.
For those who can’t attend on the day, Finlay has kindly offered to accept delivery of sale items on the Friday. Please get in touch with him directly to arrange this – 07980 562955 – buddy up with another beekeeper who could sell your items for you on the Saturday.
Finlay will also offer tea and coffee, and his beautiful, large woodland garden will be open for all to explore and enjoy. Dogs and children welcome.
Apologies for stating the obvious here, but:
• Items for sale must be clean and serviceable
• Wooden boxes, floors and non-plastic queen excluders must be scraped and scorched
• Plastic equipment, polystyrene nucs and hives should be first cleaned with washing soda and then ‘sterilised’ with household bleach.
Our thanks to Finlay for offering and accommodating this sale.
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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
Matthew had long been interested in brewing and baulking at the price of honey to make mead, thought it might be cheaper to get bees to create his own supply. Now a beekeeper for 18 years, Matthew is just about breaking even!