Spring Convention

Saturday 5^th March 2022 at 9.00am

9.00 Convention opens. Registration and refreshments

9.40 Welcome by the President of Lancashire BKA

9.50 - 11.00 “The work of the charity Bees Abroad” Richard Ridler

11.00 - 11.25 Refreshments

11.25 - 12.35 "What’s going on in my hive?” Gerry Collins

12.35 - 1.20 Lunch

1.20 - 1.50 Presentation of trophy and Certificates

1.50 - 3.00 “Drone Laying Queens and Laying Workers” Jane Ridler

3.00 - 3.25 Refreshments

3.25 - 4.35 "What do I do about this? (problems and solutions)” Gerry Collins

4.35 - 4.45 Closing words

4.45 Convention closes

Gerry Collins

Lives in S. Yorks and is a Retired Biology lecturer with several decades of beekeeping experience with 25 hives. Master beekeeper and NDB. He is the former BBKA correspondence course organiser and member of the BBKA exam board. He has contributed several articles and photos to BBKA news.

Richard Ridler

Richard has been the Chair of the Charity Bees Abroad since 2015. He is a Master Beekeeper and past Chair of the Essex Beekeepers’ Association.

He will use a current Bees Abroad project in Uganda to explain why beekeeping is such an effective and sustainable way of changing the lives of those in the most disadvantaged rural communities in Africa.

He will share his experiences and knowledge of beekeeping in Uganda and draw comparisons with our very different beekeeping practices here in UK; followed by a question and answer session with both Richard and Jane on their African experiences with projects.

Jane Ridler

Jane’s first degree is in Zoology, and she is also a Master Beekeeper. Having run exams, education, and training in Essex for many years, she is now Chair at Essex BKA.

Jane’s presentation will focus on Drone Laying Queens and Laying Workers. We’ll look at the fascinating complexity which is the social honeybee colony, and leads to the problems of DLQs and LWs, as well as looking at identification and such practical solutions that there are.

Are you contemplating taking the Basic Assessment next season? Being assessors at BBKA shows us that the DLQ/LW topic to be just about the least well-known aspect of the BA syllabus!

Hopefully stalls will include

Bees Abroad

Bee Keepers Supplies – Preston Branch

BIBBA Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Association (TBC)

Heritage Wild Flowers

Northern Bee Books

V&Js Lotions & Potions

BBKA Special Editions

Lytham Gin www.sandgrownspirits.co.uk featuring Bees Knees Gin

LJM Glass - items often feature bees, other insects and flowers

Convention Arrangements

The Convention will be held at Archbishop Temple School, St Vincent's Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire PR2 8RA.

Lunch (included) will be Soup, a Sandwich and a Dessert. Please indicate if the vegetarian option is required, on the reply form.

Refreshments available morning and afternoon are included.

Booking arrangements

The fee for the Convention will be £21.00 for the full day including lunch. Under 18s pay only £11.00 (for the meal).

Early Bird Discount: If payment is received by Friday 25^th Feb 2022, the fee for the Convention is only £16 (still only £11 for under 18s).

Both the following steps are required to book places:

Please click here to complete the attached Google Form with your details and the names of those you are booking for and how you will be paying for your places.
Please pay by BACS if possible, to L&NW Beekeepers Association. Sort code 23-05-80, account no 40971408. Please put Sp Conv in the ref line.

Alternatively, send cheques made payable to “Lancashire & NW BKA” to Viki Cuthbertson, 18 Highgate Avenue, Fulwood PR2 8LL asap, to make the catering easier. To qualify for the Early Bird Discount, the payment must have been received by Friday 25^th February 2022.

When payment has been received you will be sent an e-mail confirming your places have been booked.

Photos from the 2020 event