Our Committee

The BBA committee oversees and manages the association's activities, most of which are concerned with learning and supporting the craft of beekeeping, amongst our members and in the wider community. Much of our work is also of benefit to honey bees too as we seek to support association members to become skilled beekeepers.

The 11 members bring to the committee a wide range of professional and beekeeping talents and enthusiasm. They meet more or less monthly throughout the year, in person or online. Everyone has assumed a specific role, whether as an office holder, tutor or helping to organise particular events or outreach.

The summer, when the bees are active, is characterised by members welcoming fellow beekeepers to their apiary visits; mentoring of beginners by those more experienced; and swarm collection from around the Borders. In May, we have a stand at the Schools Countryside Show where we encourage youngsters in all things honey bee.  Later, in August, you will find us at the Berwickshire Show in Duns, showing folk bees in a demonstration hive and sharing displays about their lifecycle, with various honeys for sale alongside.

An Autumn highlight is our Honey Show, at which members decide the best cake (made with honey) and the best-tasting of the honeys entered by members. Besides the many honey exhibits, candles and bee-related crafts and products are included. It is a sociable and rewarding finale to the beekeeping season.

Come the winter months, members are offered talks by local and visiting experts covering a wide range of beekeeping topics. And in February, the 6-session Beginners Beekeeping Course starts, to finish shortly before the beekeeping season begins in April.

BBA Committee & key roles

Kate Atchley ~ chair

David McLuckie ~ secretary

Liam Sanders ~ treasurer

Sarah Mannix ~ membership secretary

Lindsay Craig ~ education representative

Manu Godfrey ~ web administrator

Charlotte Encombe

Joel Mannix

Penelope Marchant Wink

Ian Sinclair