We are a friendly, helpful and inclusive association supporting all with an interest in honey bees and beekeeping in The Scottish Borders.
Summer Apiary Visits
Nothing beats getting inside a live hive. We are running a series of apiary visits across the Borders from April to August. It is a solid way to pick up practical skills. You get to see how other people manage their setups. We are finalising dates right now. Spaces for each visit will be strictly capped so everyone gets a proper look. Register your interest today. We will email you the booking slots the second they drop.
Could you host?
We still need volunteer hosts for this summer. You set the date. You cap the numbers. If you have a tidy apiary and a spare afternoon, please get in touch with the committee.
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