Scottish Beekeepers' Association Supporting Scotland's Bees and Beekeepers |
Following earlier surveys of members carried out on behalf of the Scottish Beekeepers' Association and reported on in The Scottish Beekeeper magazine and elsewhere, we are repeating the exercise in 2020. This is our 13th year of the survey! The responses provide a valuable picture of beekeeping in Scotland, with a strong focus on colony losses and colony management practice. Data from this survey will also contribute, in anonymised form, to our annual data return to the COLOSS group's international database used to study colony losses and potential risk factors for colony loss. This provides valuable information on colony losses in many different countries.
We are asking for your participation in the survey online, which we have found to be a fast and efficient way to carry out the survey. We very much hope that you will take a few minutes to fill in the responses. There are a few questions for non-beekeepers and relatively new beekeepers, as well as more questions for established beekeepers in Scotland. If you have the relevant information to hand, the full survey (consisting of 15 short question groups) should take no more than about 15 minutes. It is possible to re-visit earlier questions if you need to do that, using the options at the foot of the page.
The diagram above may be helpful in completing the colony loss questions.
You will be given an opportunity to provide us with your contact details, but if you choose not to do so, there is no way in which the survey organisers can link you with the responses you have given.
If you supply your contact details, and submit your answers to the questions before Wednesday June 17th, you will be entered into a prize draw for a £50 Gift Voucher for Beekeeping Equipment kindly supplied by Thornes of Wragby and Newburgh.
To participate, please click on the link here or on the image above.
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you and please stay safe,
The Bee Health Improvement Team
The Bee Health Teams of DEFRA, the Scottish and Welsh Governments have issued their advice and guidance for beekeeping in the UK given the current restrictions around COVID-19, which can be found by clicking here.
This guidance has been published on Beebase and if you are not already registered on Beebase it is a good idea to do so, not only will you receive notifications like this but also alerts if there is EFB or AFB within your area.
The Bee Disease and Pest Control (Scotland) Amendment Order 2021 making Varroa reportable in Scotland and which amends The Bees Diseases and Pest Control (Scotland) Order 2007 comes into force on 21st April 2021 (similar arrangements are in place for England and Wales). This legislation requires all beekeepers and officials in Great Britain to report the presence of Varroa in any of the hives that they manage or inspect (in the case of bee inspectors) and will allow GB to comply with the Animal Health Law which is necessary for future working relationships with the European Union and for GB beekeepers to continue to export honey queen bees to the EU and Northern Ireland.
In summary, you should continue to care and manage your honey bee stocks in the normal manner whilst observing the government’s guidance on COVID-19 and social distancing.
Should you have any queries or need anything please do not hesitate to contact us.
We hope you and your bees stay safe and well.
STATEMENT ISSUED - Royal Highland Show 2020 Cancelled
It is with deep regret and huge disappointment that we confirm the cancellation of the 2020 Royal Highland Show. The show is Scotland’s largest outdoor event attracting up to 200,000 people each year and is the premier showcase for the food, farming and rural industry. Given recent and ongoing developments, this is the only course of action open to us.
Ticket holders should contact the RHS’ ticketing partner, Ticketmaster, via your Ticketmaster account via www.ticketmaster.co.uk Tradestands, Livestock Exhibitors and Sponsors should contact your usual key contact or by email on: feedback@rhass.org.uk
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Members, customers and partners for their continued support and wish you all the best throughout this challenging time. We hope to see you all again in 2021 for the next Royal Highland Show!