Club Programme 2026

Date	Lead	Event	Location	Time
JANUARY 24/01/2	Chris Morton	Talk – “Hive Monitoring Systems”	Churchill Memorial Hall	14:00
FEBRUARY 16/02/26	Heather Pitch	Committee Meeting	The George, Backwell	19:30
21/02/26	David Capon	Branch Honey Show	Tickenham Village Hall	13:30
MARCH 02/03/26	Eric Sortwell	Avon Association Meeting	-	-
21/03/26	Lynne Ingram	Talk – “Honey Adulteration”	Tickenham Village Hall	14:00
28/03/26	-	Avon Spring Day School	Shipham Village Hall	09:00-16-00
APRIL ​20/04/26	Heather Pitch	Committee Meeting	The George, Backwell	19:30
25/04/26	Geoff Blay	Talk “How global warming relates to bee management and behaviour”	Churchill Memorial Hall	14:00
MAY ​04/05/26	Michelle Blackborow Claire Daily	North Somerset Show our main show event	Wraxall Show Ground – stand kindly sponsored by Hans Wilson, Chew Valley Hire	All day
04/05/26	Eric Sortwell	Avon Association Meeting	-	-
JUNE ​15/06/26	Heather Pitch	Committee Meeting	The George, Backwell	19:30
JULY ​25/07/26 to ​ 26/07/26	David Capon	Portishead Show	Clapton Lane, Portishead BS20 7RA	-
AUGUST ​15/08/26	David Capon	Tickenham Flower Show	Tickenham Village Hall	12:30
29/08/26 ​to ​30/08/26	Michael Batchelor	Clevedon Show	Salthouse Fields, Clevedon BS21 7TR	-
SEPTEMBER ​07/09/26	Eric Sortwell	Avon Association Meeting	-	-
​14/09/26	Heather Pitch	Committee Meeting	The George, Backwell	19:30
TBA	-	Winscombe Show	-	-
OCTOBER ​27/10/26	Heather Pitch	Committee Meeting	The George, Backwell	19:30
NOVEMBER ​21/11/26	Rob Francis	AGM	Churchill Memorial Hall-	14:00
DECEMBER 06/12/26	-	Christmas Social	Old Farmhouse, Nailsea	18:45
07/12/26	-	Avon Association Meeting	-	-
14/12/26	Heather Pitch	Committee Meeting	The George, Backwell	19:30

Introductory CoursE 

If you would like to be added to the 2026 list, please email the address at the bottom.

This course is for absolute novices with no prior experience of beekeeping. We run one course annually. It consists of 10 theory sessions, one a week (a weekday evening) from January to March. This is followed by regular practical sessions starting in late April running through the summer. These are held weekly on Sunday mornings at our teaching apiary in the grounds of the Bristol Veterinary School at Langford.

The cost of the course in the past few years has been £135 but may vary in future. You will be told the exact cost when you apply. The fee pays for course attendance, and one year’s membership of NSBK and the British Beekeepers Association including third party liability insurance.

It is usual for attendees to obtain their first colony of bees during the summer after the theory lessons. They can – if they wish – keep their hive in the NSBK apiary, where they learn practical skills under the supervision of experienced beekeepers. They then take their hive home in the winter. There is a thriving community of new beekeepers and more experienced members always willing to help.

How to apply: If you would like to put your name down for next year’s course, or just want some more information, please email:
​[email protected]

Improvers' CoursE 

If you have been keeping bees for a season or more then this is an excellent way of sharing your experience while expanding your knowledge and understanding.  We meet for 7 sessions on every other Thursday in St Andrews Church Hall in Backwell. It’s fun as well. At the end of the course you will have the opportunity of taking the BBKA Basic Assessment which acts as a gateway to further assessments. However, there are some who just take the course to gain further understanding about the craft of beekeeping. The fee, payable at the first session is £20 which includes course materials. If you are interested then contact Rob Francis and he’ll add your name to the group and provide you with further information.