We hold regular meetings of members in the Borders. Our winter meetings are a mix of face to face meetings and on-line.

Summer meetings

During the summer a number of members offer apiary visits where around 12 people attend the member’s apiary for an afternoon of practical beekeeping, followed by refreshments. Members are welcome to attend. If you are a new member and require a bee suit, please let us know in advance.

23rd August - Kate Atchley

The last visit of the season will be hosted by KATE ATCHLEY (West side- Roxburgh area) THIS SATURDAY - 23rd August.concentrating on “Preparing for Winter”.The plague of wasps has been especially persistent at Roxburgh this season so we will not open hives during our visit. However there is lots to discuss and equipment/ treatments to share so it should be lively and interesting. With help from DAVID EVANS AND JULIE MCDAIRMID we’ll consider: Varroa treatment and timing, winter bee production, uniting colonies, feeding, choice of feed, methods of delivery, taking miticides off, hive security, leaving honey for the bees etc. And all before tea and cake! Look forward to seeing you there …

Winter Meetings 2025/26

September 1st Ray Baxter Whitsome Village Hall 7.30 p.m.

Ray will talk about his new book, ‘Bottom up Beekeeping’

October 8th David Evans Smailholm Village Hall 7.30

David will talk about ‘Bait hives’

November 2nd Honey Show 2-4pm Smailholm Village Hall

This year our honey judge will be Gino Jabbar, a Scottish Expert Beemaster from Edinburgh

November 29th Pre Christmas visit to Caddon Hive / Abelo at Caddonfoot 11am - 1 pm

An opportunity for you to complete your Christmas shopping

January 14th on line 7 pm AGM and talk by Lorraine Johnson

Lorraine’s talk will be entitled ‘Exotic pests and diseases including tropilaelaps’

February 9th on line 7.30 pm on line Ken Basterfield

The subject of Ken’s talk is ‘Handling Skills’

March 9th 7.30p.m. Whitsome Village Hall Matthew Richardson

Matthew will talk about ‘Mead’

April 22nd 7.30 pm Smailholm Village Hall Mark Barnett

Mark’s talk is entitled ‘Going to the heather’

PREVIOUS MEETINGS and Events

May 7th 2025 - Justin Lanyon Olver - Reading the comb

April 16th 2025 - Gino Jabbar

Diversity in the apiary

Gino is a Scottish Master Beekeeper from Edinburgh

March 5th 2025 - David Evans aka ‘the Apiarist’ 7.30pm at Smailholm Village Hall

We are delighted to welcome David as a member of the association now he has moved to the area. David has one of the most followed beekeeping blogs in the UK. He will give a talk on DIY for Beekeepers.

February 10th - Kate Atchley - Native Black Bees.

January 22nd 2025 7pm ON LINE AGM followed by Stewart Spinks

The association’s annual general meeting will be followed by a talk by Stewart Spinks from the Norfolk Honey Farm. Stewart will give a talk on ‘Monofloral honey’.

November 17th 2024 Annual Honey Show

October 2nd 2024 Michael Scott - All about butterflies

Butterflies are important pollinators which we need to be aware of and promote. Michael will bring some butterfly and moth ID leaflets from Butterfly Conservation and also some Scottish Borders Butterfly Atlases which normally sell for £15 but will be offered to BBA members for £10 (cash only on the night).

September 11th 2024 John Wilkinson - Asian Hornet (yellow legged hornet) - the end of beekeeping as we know it?

Will the Asian hornet be come established in Scotland, what are the implications, what can we do about it? John tackles this very important topic which is currently at the forefront of beekeepers minds.

July 2024 - Apiary visit at John’s apiary in Melrose. We had a very interesting afternoon looking at disease management, a drone laying queen and looking for an illusive queen.