Events for your Diary
Throughout the year, Preston and District Beekeepers Association run a programme of lectures, demonstrations and social events. You are most welcome to come along and meet us.
Our meetings aim to cater for all standards of beekeeper from beginner to advanced.
Some of the practical demonstrations are held at the Joe Birkby teaching apiary, where you may be given the opportunity to handle bees.
We also attend local shows, providing information about beekeeping and demonstrating the variety of products that can be made using the contents of a hive.
We often take an observation hive so that you can watch the queen laying eggs and see all her workers up close, safely behind glass.
For more information, see the list below or contact us using the form on the Contacts page.
The Events Calendar for 2023 is currently being planned – more details to follow in due course.

January 2023:
Mid-Winter Social event
Please join us for our PBKA Mid-Winter Meal on Saturday 7th January 23 in the Stumble Inn, Myerscough College (next to the visitors car park at the opposite end of the campus from the Plant centre – see campus map https://www.myerscough.ac.uk/media/8881/myerscough-college-campus-map.pdf
Time: 12 for 12.30.
Cost: £5 per person (partners welcome) Please make payment by BACS to the club bank account.
Account Name: Lancashire & North West Beekeepers Association Preston Branch
Sort Code: 20-69-85 Account Number: 30429783 Ref Xmas 22
Lunch will be a buffet with tea/coffee. Please let us know beforehand if you have any dietary requirements. The bar will be open – but drinks are not included in the price!
The lunch will follow the usual winter walk-about in the Apiary from 11am
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Talk
Wednesday 18th January 2023 at 7.45pm .
Speaker, Janet Murray will provide some top tips about how to prepare your bees to take advantage of the Spring pollen and nectar
Janet is a member of Blackburn Beekeepers and an experienced beekeeper. Her talk will be useful to both new and experienced beekeepers alike.
Location: Tanterton Village Centre, Tanterton, Preston PR2 7BX
February:
Talk: Wednesday 15th February 2023 at 7.45pm
Location: Tanterton Village Centre, Tanterton, Preston PR2 7BX
Viki Cuthbertson, Master Beekeeper and Voluntary Apiary Manager will be talking about Professor Stephen Martin’s findings on developing Natural Varroa Resistance in Honeybees. There are a variety of ways of managing colonies for varroa and learning these have become an integral part of every beekeeper’s knowledge. However, many of these focus on the use of the invasive chemical compounds. There is growing interest in ways of achieving biological control wherever possible and Viki’s talk will explore the latest research done by Professor Martin and his team which looks at ways in which bees and the mites can co-exist.
March:
Lancashire Beekeepers Association Spring Convention
Saturday 4th March, 9am to 4.30pm
At Archbishop Temple School, Preston.
Includes lectures, stalls and lunch, £17 per person (if booked by 25/2)
More information, and booking at
www.lancashirebeekeepers.org.uk
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Talk: Wednesday 15th March, via Zoom, 7.45pm
Chris Park
Beekeeping Folklore and Mythology
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86268006637?pwd=bXNGaEFWbmZTdWQ3dmtwTExycWtEZz09
Meeting ID: 862 6800 6637
Passcode: 429932
April:
Talk: Wednesday 19th April 7.45pm via Zoom
Dr Gerry Brierley
Medicinal Apitherapy
A journey into the healing hive-the therapeutic values of 8 key bee products. Including an insight into Vet-Apitherapy.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84823105773?pwd=b0JNK0N4QTZWRmtmbE0wczlERldSQT09
Meeting ID: 848 2310 5773
Passcode: 586000
MAY:
Beekeepers Question Time and Social event
Wednesday 17th May at 7.45pm
At Tanterton Village Centre, Preston.
Ask your burning questions to a panel of experienced and Master beekeepers to answer those questions the books don’t explain
(It would be helpful to submit your questions before May 15th to allow us to better prepare, please)
There will be light refreshments and opportunity to chat after the session.
June:
Apiary Practical Session: Saturday 24th June, 1.30pm
Topic: How to make up a nucleus
Further details to follow.
July:
Apiary Practical Session: Saturday 22nd July at 1.30pm
Topic: Wax Extraction
Further details to follow.
August:
Apiary Practical Session: Saturday 19th August, 1.30pm
Topic: Producing, Chunk honey, Cut comb and Sections.
Further details to follow.
September:
Preston & District Beekeepers Association Honey Show
Saturday 23rd September
Show speaker Gerry Collins will talk about Pollen.
Further details to follow.
October:
Talk: Wednesday 18th October at 7.45pm via Zoom
Education for Beekeepers with Diane Drinkwater (current Chair BBKA)
Diane will give us an overview of the BBKA Modules and the exam system.
November:
Preston & District Beekeepers Association
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 29th November
Further details to follow.
December:
Christmas event to be confirmed