WHO ARE WE？
North Somerset Beekeepers supports local beekeepers by promoting practical skills in beekeeping a well as a better understanding of key environmental issues which affect the health and well-being of bees. Members are encouraged to improve the local genetic pool through careful husbandry of honeybee colonies.
We provide training, promote best practice and offer advice, support and education to beekeepers and the public.
Over the years our members have made – and continue to make - an impressive contribution to British beekeeping at both national and county level.
Over the years our members have made – and continue to make - an impressive contribution to British beekeeping at both national and county level.
Welcome to the CLUB langford Apiary
The teaching apiary at Langford is open to all members of the North Somerset branch of Avon Beekeepers. Space is limited and priority is given to members who have completed the Introductory course.
The apiary provides hives for teaching groups of newcomers. Members who have completed the Introductory course may keep their first colony at the apiary, under supervision, for the first year after completing the course. In this way club members can be gradually introduced to beekeeping through gentle steps, assuming more and more individual responsibility for the management of honey bees.
You must be a full member of the club, in your first year of beekeeping, and have completed the Introductory Course, to keep your hive at the apiary.
If weather conditions prevent the apiary opening a message will be posted on the Announcements page of North Somerset Beekeepers’ Community WhatsApp group.
Here are rules for using the club apiary:
In case of emergency please contact the apiary manager, Tom
The apiary provides hives for teaching groups of newcomers. Members who have completed the Introductory course may keep their first colony at the apiary, under supervision, for the first year after completing the course. In this way club members can be gradually introduced to beekeeping through gentle steps, assuming more and more individual responsibility for the management of honey bees.
You must be a full member of the club, in your first year of beekeeping, and have completed the Introductory Course, to keep your hive at the apiary.
If weather conditions prevent the apiary opening a message will be posted on the Announcements page of North Somerset Beekeepers’ Community WhatsApp group.
Here are rules for using the club apiary:
- You must be a full member of the club in the first year of beekeeping to keep your hive in the apiary. This ensures adequate insurance cover for both your bees and other members' colonies. Stand positions will be allocated by the apiary manager.
- Do not use the apiary alone, in your first year you must always be accompanied by an experienced beekeeper.
- Familiarize yourself with the apiary location in case you have to call the emergency services.
- Ensure that you are wearing suitable protective clothing before entering the apiary. This should include boots and gloves. Leather gloves are not recommended.
- Clean your hive tools regularly. Please clean and disinfect your hive tool in the solution buckets provided before touching another hive.
- Keep the apiary clean and tidy. Remove all waste wax and wash away spilt honey and syrup.
- Maintain the hive record sheets up to date. Each hive has a record sheet on which are written all the observations and actions undertaken during inspections. Contact details for the hive owner should be available, too.
- No hives should be opened without the authorization of the apiary manager or their assistant.
In case of emergency please contact the apiary manager, Tom
Please refer to the following documents for more details
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North Somerset Beekeepers Apiary,
Langford Campus, Bristol University Veterinary School,
Langford, BS40 5DU
Langford Campus, Bristol University Veterinary School,
Langford, BS40 5DU
History
Founded in 1952 North Somerset Beekeepers have a rich 66 year history.
-L. E. Snelgrove
A Somerset Beekeepers’ Association has been in existence almost continuously since 1876. It was in 1905, however, that L.E. Snelgrove, a young schoolmaster at Weston-super-Mare, became the Honorary Secretary of the former Bristol, Somersetshire and South Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association. He set about re-forming it into one that was viable, effective in fulfilling its function, and covering the whole of the county of Somerset.
By 1920 there were 20 branches. The rules were re-drawn and the branches were placed into five Divisions: Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central.
The County of Avon was created on 1 April 1974, as a result of the Redcliffe-Maude Report, by merging parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset with the City of Bristol. The northern branches of Somerset joined with Bristol, Bath and Keynsham and formed a new Association affiliated to the BBKA. At that time Blagdon and Clevedon combined into one, leaving Weston as a separate branch. It was in 2015 that a proposal was made to Avon BKA to rename the branch, North Somerset Beekeepers to represent the whole of the North Somerset area.