Scottish Beekeepers Association
The member organisation representing Scottish beekeepers nationally and internationally
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Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007
SBA 2006 members Survey Report
Erratum to 2006 members Report
Varroa in Scotland resistant to pyrethroids
SBA policy notes: pesticide endorsement and relationship with other national bodies.
Scottish Beekeepers Association
Beekeeping News from around the World
Beekeeping Questionnaire
My name is Jeannette Rotherham, and I am currently studying the effects of climate change on honeybees and similar pollinators. As part of my HND animal management course, I have studied many different topics, such as ecology and project management, from which I have developed a keen interest in apiculture. This interest has led me to focus on beekeeping and the factors affecting bee population numbers in recent years. For my investigative project I would like to study the relationship between climate change and the honeybee population. I would like to know if climate change is more than an underlying problem for the beekeeping community, and could be considered a serious direct threat to the future survival of honeybees. I have enclosed a questionnaire which could prove a useful tool in the continuing health and survival of our honeybees, and is open to all beekeepers, both novice and experienced. I was hoping to get the views of beekeepers from all over the UK, and would like to ask if your members would like to collaborate with this investigation, and give their opinions by filling out a questionnaire. All completed questionnaires will be anonymous and all answers will be treated with confidentiality. If you would like a summary of the survey’s results, these will be forwarded on in June. I would like to thank you for your time and help, and look forward to hearing from people interested in taking part. I can forward stamped addressed envelopes and copies of the questionnaire Yours Sincerely, Jeannette Rotherham, Student at Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education.
SBA Interactive
To complement the resources for members on the main SBA web site and via the magazine, we have now established a forum and blog for the members and others interested in Scottish beekeeping.
Visit it at: www.SBAi.org.uk
All content is visible without logging in, but to post a message on the forum you will need to complete a straightforward registration. Even if you are a novice at such things, posting a message is straightforward, so please give it a go!
If local associations think that there is enough interest in their area, a sub-forum for the local association can be easily established.
The site also has the ability to host Blogs, should members wish to share their experiences in diary form.
If you have any questions, please ask: webmaster'at'sbai.org.uk
Bee calamity clarified
Latest research on CCD - please go to the following link to read the full story - http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55919/
Varroa Research Project in Scotland - online survey launched.
Donna Clark, Lecturer Sustainable Science, Heritage and Development at Moray College has just begun an academic research project into the distribution of the varroa mite. By means of a questionnaire and mapping software, she hopes to identify any areas which have managed to remain varroa-free, and is looking to beekeepers to assist by providing details about their varroa experiences and beekeeping practices. Donna is carrying this out by use of an on-line questionnaire. The questionnaire has been distributed to Association Secretaries but any beekeeper can fill it in online using this link. Please help Donna by taking the few minutes required to fill it in. Every initiative will help in the long-term battle against Varroa. Thank you.
Beekeepers Quarterly Digital
The BeeKeepers Quarterly can now be seen on the web at www.bkq.org.uk This will be a free, try it and see service to beekeepers for the March & May 2009 editions.There will be a small charge to subscribe after this time.
Economist article on honeybee decline.
A piece from the Economist on bee decline and the pollination crisis. It seems to be a very sensible report and separates the issues and the reasons for the loss wild pollinators and fluctuations in honeybee numbers: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13226733.
The Co-op announces pesticide ban.
The Co-operative has bceom the frist Uk retailer to ban a group of 8 pesticides as part of a new Plan Bee. See the full story here.
New beekeeping money from DEFRA. "DEFRA announced on 21 January that it would increase funding for the National Bee Unit by £2.3 million over the next two years. This is on top of the £1.3 million per annum which is allocated at present. It also announced that £400,000 per annum is to be invested in bee health research over the next five years on top of the present £200,000 per annum. A grand total of an extra £4.2 million.
Scottish Executive Ten Year Strategy on Bee Health.
In October 2008,the Scottish Government Rural Affairs Department (SGRD) produced a draft document setting out SGRD strategy for bee health in Scotland for the next ten years.
The document can still be viewed on this link. Following the consultation period the SBA Executive submitted its response on behalf of the Association. The response can be found in the Downloads section, under the heading 'Reports'.
European Legislation on Pesticides
It has been brought to my attention that Europe has passed legislation to reduce pesticide use. Until such time as an appropriate link is available to the European parliament website, beekeepers might prefer to search news articles in UK national newpapers for further information.
The debate about wireless and the effect of EMFs on bees.
Those with an interest in this topic will find an awareness leaflet here and a research paper by a German scientist here.
The EU debate on November 19th
As a result of the debate a press release can be read here
An Opportunity
I thought you might be interested to know about a new and unique way that you can give to charitable projects overseas focussed on bees this Christmas time. By donating to bee projects on GlobalGiving.co.uk/travel, you will be helping to conserve bees worldwide and help communities out of poverty by providing beekeeping skills and equipment to create sustainable livelihoods. See all these projects together at www.globalgiving.co.uk/travel.Contributed Svetlana Gitman, 22 Nov 08
SBA policy notes: pesticide endorsement and relationship with other national bodies.
The SBA has issued a new Policy Note reaffirming the Executive Committee's position with regard to pesticide endorsement and its relationship with other national beekeepoing bodies. Read the full note by using the link on the right.
Contributing an item
If you would like to contribute an item to the News and Events section, please send it by email to:
webmaster'at'scottishbeekeepers.org.uk
and if it has come from another source, PLEASE quote the original source so that we can acknowledge it!
Thank you