South of Scotland Beekeepers Association

05/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18Tn2cqcZx/

Join us for an inspiring day dedicated to pollinators and their vital role in our environment. Learn how pollinators—especially honeybees—support biodiversity, sustainability, and food production, and discover practical ways to help them thrive on your farm.

06/12/2025

The next of our trustees is Zoe she is a great help and has organised our trip to Northumberland this week. With wide ranging skills she is a valued member of the committee.
Hi I’m Zoe, I’m a retired Financier Advisor and Life Coach, I worked for myself for the last 15
years of my working life, and am now happily retired and living in Thornhill with my husband
black Labrador and 2 hives of bees, I work in a small way running the Thornhill Community
Food Initiative which I really enjoy as it puts something into the community. We live in a
house built 4 years ago, and I spend a lot of happy hours in my garden trying to create a
permaculture space which looks after the wildlife, the plants and ourselves. I enjoy outdoor
swimming, walking and cycling, and have recently taken up spinning as I’m a keen knitter
and I want to take a fleece from the raw to a knitted garment, which I’m discovering is quite a
long and skilful process.
I came to beekeeping about five years ago because it was something I had long had on my
list of things I’d like to do.
I turned up at BeeSpace in the summer of 2020 and Phil very kindly said I could shadow him
in the apiary, so I learned from an expert. I haven’t turned into a very good beekeeper as
yet, but I am working on it! I have had a period when I lost confidence completely and came
close to giving up, but with the help of a few calm knowledgeable people I think I have
overcome that now. Like the garden I keep saying that next year will be better.
I have been on the BeeSpace committee now for 4 years, and primarily helping out at
member events, doing the garden when it is not raining, assisting with the honey show, and
arranging the winter programme of speakers

25/11/2025

Next up as we introduce our trustees one you may already know. Phil Collett our secretary, apiary manager and long standing volunteer who gives up a great deal of his own time to teach what he knows to others.

I started beekeeping in 2015, initially being persuaded to go along to an SSBKA taster day. Immediately hooked by the enthusiastic teachers and the wonders within the beehive I immediately signed up for the full beginners course. Bee fever struck and I attended as many meetings and events as possible. Asked to join the committee in 2016 I said yes on the basis I'd tag along and learn, helping where possible. Completely stitched up I left the first meeting as Secretary. They've not been able to shift me since... I moved to full time beekeeping in 2022 and as demanding as that is I still love volunteering at SSBKA. Helping new beekeepers is a joy and I never tire of seeing more experienced beekeepers learning new things.

06/11/2025

It's trustees week and here is one of the best ever. Debbie has mentored many of us and we certainly wouldn't be where we are now without her. A true gem.
Hi, I’m Debbie Parke, current Chair of the SSBKA.
My beekeeping journey began in 2012 when a neighbour gifted me a swarm of bees. What started as a plan for a couple of hives in my orchard soon became a lifelong passion.
After joining the SSBKA and completing the beginners’ course, I was soon persuaded to join the committee and later became Secretary. Alongside Angela Roberts, the Chair at that time, and the other trustees, I helped to secure funding to develop a bespoke training apiary/facility. We found an old farm building and developed BeeSpace at Killyling, which was officially opened on the 14th April 2019—a proud milestone for everyone involved. Covid slowed things down but we soon got back up and running in 2021 with Lorraine and Phil at the helm.
Throughout this period, I worked full-time as a Biologist with the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust while apprenticing with John Mellis, a commercial beefarmer. His mentorship helped me turn my hobby into a small bee farming enterprise, Nith Valley Bees, managing 50 colonies and supplying honey to local retailers.
After stepping down as secretary, and taking on the position of Treasurer, I was elected Chair of the SSBKA in 2023. Over the last decade, it has been a great to see the association grow and develop a strong support network for new and old beekeepers alike, and I hope that we can continue to do so during my term as Chair.
Outside of beekeeping, I’m restoring a two-acre walled garden and cottage—a challenging but rewarding project that’s temporarily scaled back my bee business and keeping.
I look forward to meeting members over the coming winter meetings.

28/10/2025

The next of our get to know our trustees is John.
John Mellis can remember when the SSBKA used to meet in a small room upstairs in the Tam o’ Shanter Inn in Dumfries. On a good night there might have been 12 people crammed inside .Summer visits were to one member’s apiary or another and the highlight of each visit was the sumptuous afternoon tea which was a staple component. That was in the 1980’s and he has been a SSBKA member ever since..

At the start he had 10 or 12 hives but decided to try to make his living from his bees in 1988 and jumped to 100 hives within a year. For the last 35 years has been managing between 300 and 350 hives producing on average 10 tons of honey a year.

His particular contribution as a trustee comes from his long experience and good contacts within beekeeping. He is able to access competitive supplies of equipment, jars and winter feed which can be passed on to SSBKA members.

John is also our honorary President and has supported thousands of beekeepers on their bee journey and facilitated many visits to his apiaries and honey house. He is the font of experienced knowledge.
John Mellis

21/10/2025

Introducing our trustees. First up Esther

Hi, I'm Esther. I got interested in bees after a couple of swarms landed in my garden years ago; the beekeeper who came to collect them was so interesting and keen to chat about bees, and through the SSBKA, it's been a delight learning more about bees and meeting fascinating Beeks!
I've been keeping bees for about 4 years now, at first in the secondary school in Dumfries where I worked, and now at Lochanhead. In school, we had a junior bee club, and senior pupils could obtain an NPA award in beekeeping (SCQF level 5).
I'm one of the trustees of the SSBKA, and orgainse the jar and feed sale, and the honey show . Please come and say hi; I may not know the answer to any questions you may have, but I'll always try to find out!

07/10/2025

Sadly the time of year has come when it's time to admit there really is a big pile of kit that needs cleaning and repairing. Have fun!

01/08/2025

Lack of nectar in late summer inevitably leads to robbing, whether that’s wasps or your own honeybees.

If you do have issues with wasps, the Scottish Government has recently published some advice on managing wasps, which can be downloaded via the link below

https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Managing-Wasps-Advice.pdf

29/07/2025

Only THREE DAYS left to buy discounted tickets for our annual beekeeping convention on 10th & 11th Oct in Kinross.
The theme is Quality Matters & we've some wonderful speakers lined up, Prof Stephen Martin & Megan Denver as well as fun practical workshops on the Friday night.
Discounted tickets are £30 for adults til this Thursday (31 July) or £15 for juniors/students.

To buy tickets at this price please visit

https://buytickets.at/sba/1634650