https://www.facebook.com/772571516218598/

Chesterfield & District Beekeepers Association UK

Home
United Kingdom
Chesterfield
Chesterfield & District Beekeepers Association UK

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Chesterfield & District Beekeepers Association UK, Community Organization, Chesterfield.

29/10/2026

🐝🔥 THROWBACK THURSDAY – BEFORE THE MODERN BEE SMOKER!

Imagine opening a hive without your trusty smoker! 😱🐝

Today, most beekeepers wouldn't dream of heading into the apiary without one nearby. But have you ever wondered where this essential piece of equipment came from?

🍯 A little beekeeping history…

🔥 Smoke has been used for centuries: Long before modern equipment, people discovered that smoke could help make working with honey bees easier.

🐝 Early methods were rather basic: Beekeepers used smouldering materials, torches and simple containers to direct smoke towards their colonies.

🛠️ A clever invention: In 1873, American beekeeper Moses Quinby developed an influential early version of the modern bellows smoker.

💨 A design that stood the test of time: The bellows allowed beekeepers to direct controlled puffs of smoke into the hive — a principle still used in smokers today!

🐝 Why does smoke work? Smoke can interfere with the bees' alarm pheromone signals, helping reduce defensive responses during inspections.

And while our hive designs, protective clothing and technology have evolved enormously, the humble smoker remains remarkably familiar!

💛 NOW FOR A LITTLE BEEKEEPER NOSTALGIA…

🔥 How old is your current smoker?

🐝 Have you inherited any beekeeping equipment from another generation?

😂 And be honest… have you ever spent longer trying to light your smoker than actually inspecting your bees?

👇 Share your stories and photographs below!

27/10/2026

🐝🔬 TOMORROW EVENING – CDBKA MICROSCOPY! 🔬🐝

Just a reminder that our autumn and winter microscopy sessions begin tomorrow evening!

📅 Wednesday 28th October
🕢 7:30pm
📍 Whittington Moor Methodist Church, Chesterfield, S41 8NA
💛 FREE for CDBKA members!

Ever wanted to take a closer look at the fascinating world of honeybees? From pollen identification to bee anatomy and investigating parasites, there’s so much to discover! 🔬🐝

Never used a microscope before? Don’t worry! Our sessions are informal, welcoming and suitable for all experience levels.

You’re welcome to bring samples to examine, but there will be plenty to explore if you don’t have anything to bring.

☕ Come along, enjoy a cuppa, learn something new and catch up with fellow beekeepers!

💛 We’d love to see you there – especially if it’s your first time!

26/10/2026

🐝💛 MEET THE FACE BEHIND THE CDBKA NEWSLETTER & FACEBOOK PAGE!

Hello everyone! 👋

I'm Lauri, your CDBKA Newsletter Editor and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, and the person behind many of the posts you see here!

I thought it was about time I introduced myself properly!

Outside of beekeeping, I'm the CEO of a complex care company, supporting adults and children with complex health needs to live in their own homes. I'm passionate about people, inclusion and creating communities where everyone feels valued.

And when I'm not working, you'll often find me with my three colonies of bees! 🐝 I'm still learning, making mistakes and discovering just how much there is to know about these fascinating little creatures!

One of the things I love most about CDBKA is the knowledge, kindness and enthusiasm of its members. Through our newsletter and page, I'd love to celebrate more of that and help make our association a welcoming place for everyone, whether you're a lifelong beekeeper, a complete beginner or simply interested in bees. 💛

And I'd love your help!

📸 Got a photograph from your apiary?

🍯 A funny story, useful tip or favourite recipe?

🐝 Something you'd like to see featured in our newsletter or on Facebook?

Please get in touch! These pages are about our members and our community, and I'd love to share more of your experiences.

And if you see me at a meeting, please come and say hello!

Now, over to you… how did you first become interested in beekeeping? 🐝💛

Lauri

25/10/2026

🐝🔬 DISCOVER THE HIDDEN WORLD OF BEEKEEPING! 🔬🐝

Our CDBKA Autumn & Winter Microscopy Sessions are back, starting this Wednesday!

Have you ever wondered what pollen looks like under a microscope, or how we can use microscopy to investigate honeybee anatomy, parasites and diseases? 🐝

These fascinating, hands-on sessions are a brilliant opportunity to explore a whole new side of beekeeping!

📅 Wednesday 28th October
🕢 7:30pm
📍 Whittington Moor Methodist Church, Chesterfield, S41 8NA
💛 FREE for CDBKA members!

Whether you’re a complete beginner, an experienced beekeeper or working towards BBKA examinations, everyone is welcome!

☕ Expect a relaxed, friendly evening with plenty of opportunities to learn, ask questions and enjoy a cuppa!

🔬 No experience or equipment needed – just bring your curiosity!

🐝 Have you ever tried beekeeping microscopy before? We’d love to hear what you’ve discovered!

24/10/2026

🐝🍯🏆 LAST CHANCE TO BOOK – CDBKA PRESENTATION EVENING! 🏆🍯🐝

⏰ REMINDER – MENU CHOICES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY TOMORROW, SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER!

Have you booked your place for our CDBKA Presentation Evening?

We’re looking forward to a lovely evening celebrating our members, recognising achievements and enjoying some good food and great company! 💛

📅 Monday 9th November 2026
📍 The Bluebell Inn, North Wingfield, S42 5HY
🕖 Arrive from 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start

🍽️ What’s on the menu?

🐟 Fish & Chips – £14.95
🥧 Steak & Ale Pie – £14.50
🧀 Cheese & Potato Pie – £13.95

🍰 Desserts are also available for £6.50!

💛 CDBKA members and one guest each receive a £5 reduction on their meal choices!

Whether you’ve entered the Honey Show, won an award, or simply fancy an enjoyable evening with fellow beekeepers, we’d love you to join us! 🐝

📧 To book your place, email Andrea Jones with your menu choices and any dietary requirements by tomorrow, 25th October:

[email protected]

💳 Payment is also required by bank transfer before 25th October. Full details are on the attached menu.

Children are welcome too! Please contact Andrea to arrange a suitable menu and price.

🏆 Let’s make it a fantastic evening celebrating our wonderful beekeeping community!

We hope to see lots of you there! 🐝💛

23/10/2026

🦋🍂 POLLINATOR FRIDAY – THE BUTTERFLY THAT SPENDS WINTER HIDING IN YOUR GARDEN!

As autumn settles in and the days grow colder, you might think we've seen the last of our butterflies until spring.

But one beautiful British butterfly has a clever trick up its sleeve! 🦋

Meet the Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) — one of the UK's longest-lived butterflies and a true winter survivor! 💛

🌼 Did you know?

🦋 A butterfly that hibernates! Unlike many butterflies, adult brimstones survive the winter by entering a dormant state, often tucked away amongst ivy, brambles and other dense vegetation.

🍃 Masters of disguise: Their leaf-shaped wings help them blend into foliage, making them surprisingly difficult to spot.

❄️ Early spring visitors: On mild days towards the end of winter, brimstones can emerge from hibernation and are often among the first butterflies we see in spring.

🌸 Important early pollinators: Once active, they visit early-flowering plants such as primroses and dandelions for nectar.

💛 HOW CAN WE HELP?

Resist the temptation to tidy every corner of your garden this autumn! Leaving ivy, brambles and sheltered vegetation undisturbed can provide valuable overwintering habitat for butterflies and other wildlife.

📸 HAVE YOU EVER SPOTTED A BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY?

Their beautiful yellow wings are often one of the first signs that spring is on its way!

👇 We'd love to hear about your sightings around Chesterfield and Derbyshire.

22/10/2026

🐝📜 THROWBACK THURSDAY – BEEKEEPING BEFORE THE INTERNET! 📞🍯

Imagine keeping bees without Google, YouTube, Facebook groups or WhatsApp!

Need advice about a swarm? You couldn't just post a photograph online and have ten beekeepers offering suggestions within minutes! 😂

🐝 So how did beekeepers learn and share their knowledge?

📚 Books and magazines – Beekeeping manuals were treasured sources of information, often passed between generations.

🤝 Local association meetings – A chance to ask questions, learn from experienced beekeepers and share stories from the apiary.

🐝 Experienced mentors – Learning alongside another beekeeper was, and still is, one of the most valuable ways to develop practical skills.

✉️ Newsletters and correspondence – Keeping members informed about events, seasonal advice and developments in beekeeping.

🍯 Good old-fashioned conversations – Sometimes the best advice came over a cup of tea after an association meeting!

Technology has certainly changed how we learn, but one thing remains the same: beekeeping is better when we share our knowledge and experiences. 💛

NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

🐝 How did you first learn to keep bees?

📚 Do you still have your first beekeeping book?

💛 And for our long-standing members, what do you miss about beekeeping before the internet?

👇 Share your memories below. We'd love to hear how beekeeping has changed over the years!

21/10/2026

🐝😂 BEEKEEPER CONFESSIONS – WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE!

Beekeeping is a wonderful hobby… but let's face it, it doesn't always go quite to plan! 🍯

We've all had those moments when the bees clearly haven't read the same beekeeping books as us!

🐝 Gone into the apiary for a quick five-minute inspection and emerged two hours later?

🍯 Bought another hive because you found a bargain, despite promising yourself you wouldn't expand?

👑 Spent ages searching for the queen, only to discover she was right in front of you?

🐝 Had a colony completely ignore the textbook and do things their own way?

🛠️ Or purchased a clever new gadget that now lives permanently at the back of the shed?

Now it's confession time! 😂

💛 What's your funniest beekeeping mistake, unexpected lesson or classic “I'll never do that again” moment?

Whether you've been keeping bees for one season or thirty years, we bet you've got a story to tell!

👇 Share your beekeeper confessions in the comments. Let's give our newer members a laugh and remind everyone that we're all still learning!

21/10/2026

🐝🍯 HAPPY NATIONAL HONEY DAY! 🍯🐝

Today we’re celebrating one of nature’s most wonderful creations… HONEY! 💛

From light, delicate spring honey to rich, dark autumn varieties, every jar tells a story of the flowers our bees have visited and the incredible work that goes into producing it. 🌸🌼

Did you know that honeybees visit millions of flowers to produce just one kilogram of honey? That’s a lot of flying for something so delicious! 🐝

Here at Chesterfield & District Beekeepers Association, we know just how much dedication, patience and hard work goes into every jar of locally produced honey.

So today, let’s celebrate our amazing honeybees, the beekeepers who care for them and the wonderful variety of honey produced right here in Derbyshire! 💛

🍯 LET’S TALK HONEY!

🐝 Do you prefer light, floral honey or something darker and richer?

🍯 What’s your favourite way to enjoy honey — on toast, in your tea, in baking or straight off the spoon?

📸 CDBKA beekeepers, we’d love to see your honey harvests from this year! Share a photo of your jars in the comments and let’s celebrate our local honey producers!

And if you’re buying honey, why not support a local beekeeper? 🐝💛

18/10/2026

🍂🐝 SUNDAY IN THE APIARY – ARE YOUR BEES READY FOR WINTER? 🏡❄️

As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to drop, our bees are preparing for the colder months ahead.

For many beekeepers, October marks the point when the hard work of the season is largely complete, and it's time to let our colonies settle down for winter. 🐝💛

But there are still a few things worth keeping an eye on!

🍯 Winter stores: Are your colonies going into winter with sufficient food? A gentle heft can help you monitor their weight without opening the hive.

🏡 Hive security: Check that roofs, straps and stands are secure, particularly as autumn winds pick up.

🐭 Unwanted visitors: Make sure appropriate mouse guards are fitted and entrances remain clear.

🍂 Fallen leaves: Keep entrances free from leaves and other debris that could restrict ventilation or bee movement.

🐝 Leave them in peace: Once winter preparations are complete, avoid unnecessary inspections and disturbance.

And remember, a few bees flying on a mild autumn afternoon can be perfectly normal — they may still be making the most of late-flowering ivy! 🌼

💛 SUNDAY QUESTION FOR OUR MEMBERS!

How are your colonies looking as we head towards winter?

Have you finished your winter preparations, or do you still have a few jobs left on your list?

👇 Let us know in the comments! We'd especially love to hear any winter preparation tips from our more experienced beekeepers.

📸 Bonus points for sharing a photo of your apiary looking autumnal! 🍁

Address

Chesterfield

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chesterfield & District Beekeepers Association UK posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.