A Fresh Start

While our bees are still clustered and dreaming of crocuses, your committee has been busy buzzing away! On February 1st - the traditional festival of Imbolc, celebrating new beginnings - Kate, our new chair, kindly hosted our first meeting of the year. Between a fantastic meal and a house full of new and old faces, the energy for the 2026 season is electric.

What’s brewing for the year ahead?

• A New Way of Working: We’re shaking things up! To make sure we spend more time dreaming up great ideas for our members, we’re moving to a "subgroup" style. This means more focused planning and even more exciting events for you to dive into.

• The Honey Show Reimagined: We’ve heard your feedback! This November, we’re steering the Honey Show away from "high-stakes competition" and toward a celebration of sharing experiences. It’ll be less about the perfect polish and more about the stories, successes, and "oops" moments that make beekeeping in the Borders so special.

• Summer is Coming: We are already scouting out some beautiful spots for our summer apiary visits. Keep an eye on your inbox, as we’ll be using email more often to keep you in the loop with all the latest dates and documents.

There’s a real sense of "new beginnings" this year, and we can’t wait to share it with all of you. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting your first hive tool ready, 2026 is going to be a stellar year for our local bees.

Stay cosy, and watch this space for our summer schedule!

— The BBA Committee 2026