North Ayrshire Beekeepers Association

23/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CXQg8rXzm/

A crowded audience late yesterday at the BBKA Spring Convention panel discussion on producing more locally bred queens in the UK

05/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E2rqrCA8Q/

A reminder of the international standard queen marking colours.
2026 is white
The popular mnemonic used by beekeepers is "Will You Raise Good Bees" (WYRGB)

05/03/2026

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Joe Ibbertson's lecture 'Free Living Bees Solving the Varroa Problem' will be released on this Friday, 6th March, at 5.15pm UK local time. https://www.youtube.com/user/nationalhoneyshow
In his 15th season beekeeping, Joe is a long term non treatment beekeeper. He has primarily used swarms from Free Living sources as his colonies. This has led him to establishing a conservation project of Free Living colonies in woodland and urban areas local to him. He has developed a simplistic but effective method for tracking these colonies and works as a research partner with Prof Grace McCormack’s Galway Honey Bee Research Centre.

In this lecture, Joe discusses the conservation project and its aims, delving into the survival and genetic data so far. His observation methods for survival and Varroa resistant behaviours in Free Living colonies are crucial to assessing Varroa resistance. He also discusses how he has removed interference of natural dynamics within his management, to work in tandem with the free living population and select for locally adapted, Varroa resistant colonies and his observations from this.

19/02/2026

We would like to thank the author for the kind donation of their amazing book " the legend of the hive" . This book will be added to the current library of books available to all the beekeepers in our North Ayrshire Beekeepers Association and a copy will be given to Dalry Library.
With thanks to who requested it for our group ❤️🐝

17/02/2026

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Buying a nucleus colony (nuc)
As spring slowly approaches, thoughts, especially for newer beekeepers, can turn to acquiring bees.
This updated National Bee Unit guidance gives good advice.
https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/3_Resources_for_beekeepers/Best_practice_guidelines/BPG08_Sale-of-nuclei.pdf

11/02/2026

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25/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CL2ZVq79h/

30/11/2025

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The National Bee Unit has recently update its Best Practice Guidance on The Essence of Beekeeping.

https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/3_Resources_for_beekeepers/Best_practice_guidelines/BPG_1_The_Essence_of_Beekeeping.pdf

17/11/2025

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Tropilaelaps - Lifecycle, identification & detection

https://www.woah.org/fileadmin/Home/fr/Health_standards/tahm/3.02.06_TROPILAELAPS.pdf

18/09/2025

Here is our exciting NABA winter programme. If you would like to join us and learn more about beekeeping please email the address below and we will be delighted to give you information on our membership 🐝

[email protected]