Association Apiary rules, revision September 24
HBKA Association Apiary
Church Lane
Southowram
HX3 2TB
The apiary managers are Sarah and Matthew Baldry
Email: apiary@hbka.org.uk
Phone Sarah: 07717 362741
Phone Matthew: 07711 378209
Any member of the Association may use the apiary if the following criteria have been met:
- The member’s subscription must be fully paid by January 1st following the AGM fixing those subscriptions.
- A maximum of 4 colonies (at the discretion of the Apiary Managers) can be sited by any one member
- The member must have enough Bee Disease Insurance to cover the number of hives located at the Apiary Managers
- Permission to site bees at the apiary must have been obtained in advance from the Apiary Managers
- The Apiary Managers will provide the member with an agreed location and identification number for their colonies which must be displayed on each hive stand
- All colonies sited in the Association Apiary must be registered on Beebase. Please send confirmation to the Apiary Managers
General Rules:
- It is advised that new members using the Association Apiary should work towards gaining the BBKA Basic Certificate.
- All colonies must be inspected every 7 days during the swarm season to prevent swarming and to maintain colony health. If you are ill or going away please buddy up with other apiary members and ask them to do your inspections.
- All colonies must be monitored and treated for varroa following current best practice issued by the National Bee Unit. Whilst members may undertake ‘treatment free’ beekeeping in their home apiaries, this is not allowed at the Association Apiary. Members must provide evidence of varroa treatments by the end of October, every year, to the Apiary Managers. Should any notifiable disease be suspected, the member must immediately inform the Yorkshire Bee Inspector, Kay Phillips, on 07796 435125 or at k.phillips@apha.co.uk and the Apiary Managers at apiary@hbka.org Please try to describe exactly what you are concerned about ie. colour, shape, size, sunken capped brood, any smell, gooey larvae, deformed bees etc. If you can, take photos on your mobile phone and email them to Kay at k.phillips@apha.co.uk and the apiary managers at apiary@hbka.org
- Neither the association, nor its officers, shall be liable for any loss or damage to members’ bees or equipment or expense or injury to the member from the operation of the rules.
- The committee may, by a majority decision, require that a member removes bees, hives and equipment from the apiary within 14 days of a notice being served by the Secretary at the member’s last known private address, using recorded delivery. If the terms of the notice are not complied with then the committee reserves the right to remove the bees.
- o bees may be brought or removed from site without prior notification to the Apiary Managers by email. BeeBase records for the apiary need to be kept up to date.
- After each visit the site must be left clean, tidy and any waste smoker fuel fully extinguished.
- All members using the apiary will be given an area in the container to store their equipment.
- All members must label their equipment as most beekeepers buy/use the same hive and nuc designs. All brood boxes, supers, stands, roofs, excluders etc must be labelled so they are easily identifiable. This can be done in different ways – a permanent marker, with a branding iron or pyrography pen, or plastic ID tags nailed to each piece of kit. It is advisable to keep smaller items such as foundation and frame parts in a plastic container with your name on it. And please label your tool box and smoker if you leave them in the container.
Please ensure your mobile phone is fully charged before you set off to the apiary.
In case of an emergency, the What3Words for the apiary shed are:
//SPITS.RIDING.WALLET
And the What3Words for the gate from Church Lane are:
///ENTER.GLEE.FACE
Hygiene Policies:
With the rapid increase of EFB and AFB in our area hygiene in the HBKA apiary is extremely important.
The beekeeper can spread disease both within and between apiaries. Gloves are likely to be the most important item of clothing to spread disease. Washable gloves are preferred and Marigold-type household gloves serve the purpose well and allow scrubbing in a washing soda solution after hive inspections. For visiting the apiaries of others or when disease is suspected, disposable gloves such as ‘nitrile’ inspection gloves are preferred. (Taken from Somerset Beekeepers Association website, 2024)
For general information on apiary hygiene and quarantine, please read:
Hives or nucs without bees in them CAN NOT be left out in the apiary – these provide new homes for swarms, and are a breeding ground for disease. Due to the rapid increase of notifiable diseases in the area we need to completely remove this risk.
All equipment – brood boxes, supers, stands, nuc’s, super frames etc – MUST be thoroughly cleaned prior to being stored in the container. The apiary managers will require members to remove dirty equipment. For information on cleaning and sterilising equipment, please read:
No drawn or used brood comb can be stored anywhere at the apiary – out in the field, or in the container and shed – they must be removed off site to prevent the spread of disease. Any used brood comb will be removed from the apiary.
Varroa counts must be undertaken regularly during the season, and if there is a problem then the hive / hives / nuc / nucs must be treated as soon as possible. Information on the BeeBase website about Estimating Varroa Mite Populations, Medicines that can be used in the UK, a Medicine administration form, and a more in depth article about Varroa, please see:
Hives and nuc’s must be kept clean and tidy, and must be raised up off the ground – this can be done by using hive stands, bricks or pallets – this is to allow air flow underneath the hive and to prevent the base getting damp and mouldy.
No waste from hives and nucs can be left on site anywhere – not on your pitch, not in the shed, nor in the container. This includes any old comb, disregarded queen cells, or scrapings of propolis, wax, and varroa board debris etc. Please put all waste in an airtight container and remove it off site after each visit.
No frames of honey ready to be extracted can be left on site – not on your pitch, in the shed or in the container. They must be removed off site as they will attract rodents, foxes, badgers, and most importantly, robber bees that can spread disease.
After inspecting your hives/nuc’s please clean your hands with either soda crystal water or antiseptic wipes before entering the shed, container or driving home.
Please take home any rubbish such as tissues or wipes, disregarded wrappers, bags etc.
Personal equipment such as suits and gloves should be clean before using the site. If you visit another apiary then please wash your beekeeping clothes before returning to the HBKA apiary.
For information about How to Prepare Your Hives for Winter, please read:
Robbing can also spread disease and this can be a particular problem as any diseased colonies are likely to be the victims of robbing, whereas healthy colonies are more likely to be strong and in a position to rob. Keeping bee-tight colonies, minimising inspection times, minimising entrance spaces, feeding only in the evening, avoiding dropping comb or syrup in the apiary and reducing entrances towards the end of a nectar flow will reduce robbing. (Taken from Somerset Beekeeping Association website, 2024)
Drifting can spread diseases amongst your hives and nucs. It is advisable to have well-spaced hives, with differing orientation or colours and shelter from winds.