About Suffolk Beekeepers

Suffolk Beekeepers' Association is a thriving community of over 700 beekeepers, with 6 branches in Suffolk. It's purpose is to promote good beekeeping. This involves crop pollination and the collection, sale, showing and use of honey and wax. Read more

Special Notice

- Suffolk Beekeepers Association Honey Show will be held at the Suffolk Show on 31 May with viewing of the entries on 31 May and 1 June.
  
  The Schedule for the show is here with online entry form.
- Beekeeping Best Practice Day at Wickhambrook Village Hall Cemetery Road, Newmarket CB8 8XP rom 9.30 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday 25 June 2022. More information is available here.
- Streamed Video Content of training and educational sessions by the Ipswich team for beekeepers:
  - Look inside a Beehive
  - Swarm control
  - Honey Extraction
  - Grafting
  - Look inside a top bar hive
  - Mucking about with queens

See Videos

Join Us

Interested in becoming a beekeeper?

Contact your local branch:

Ipswich Suffolk Coastal Stowmarket Waveney West Suffolk Norwich & District Bee Keeping Association

Branch Map

Hot Tips

Seasonal advice for the beekeeper

The colony should be growing very quickly now so food supply will need to be maintained. Feed with syrup if the hives are light.
On a warm day remove the eke, entrance block and mouse guard if fitted. Check the floor, and clear or replace it with a clean one as necessary.
If the weather is mild regular brood box inspections can begin: every 14 days if the queen is clipped, every 7 days if she is not.
Late in the month remove the feeder (if any) and put on a queen excluder and at least one super to give space for the growing numbers. If your bees can reach oilseed rape, they will start foraging on it towards the end of the month and will need storage space.
Be vigilant. Swarming can begin in late April!
Consider putting one or more 'bait hives' in the apiary to catch swarms.

Begin thorough and regular inspections of the brood comb.
Work old comb to the outside so that it can be removed and replaced. Old comb harbours disease and should be replaced systematically as good practice. Aim to change one third of the frames each year.
Place new frames and foundation either side of the brood nest to allow the queen to increase her nest size. Congestion can cause swarming. If necessary remove outside frames, but ensure enough food and pollen remains. (Frames with food can be given back in the Autumn after storing in a freezer.)
Check whether your bees are making honey from oilseed rape: if so remove and extract the supers as soon as they are full. (Oilseed rape honey will crystallise very quickly in the comb.)
Consider one or more 'bait hives' in the apiary to catch swarms.

Continue to examine at 7 or 14 day intervals for any signs of disease or swarming.
The brood should be able to fill most of the brood chamber this month.
Swarming will continue through June so continue to be vigilant.
You may be able to take off some frames of capped honey or even complete supers. Ensure you have empty frames or supers to replace those taken but remember that in this area there can be a 'June gap' when there is little forage for the bees - don't take off all the stores.

Ipswich & East Suffolk Spring Newsletter

Ears3 Project Summary

The Association

The Association is a thriving community of over 700 beekeepers, with branches in Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal, Stowmarket, Waveney, West Suffolk and the Norwich & District Beekeepers Association. It's purpose is to promote good beekeeping. This involves crop pollination and the collection, sale, showing and use of honey and wax. We provide instructions and demonstrations in these subjects, leading to an understanding of these fascinating insects and how to keep them healthy. There are facilities for courses in beekeeping and nationally recognized examinations can be taken. There are also branch libraries with beekeeping books. Come and meet us at the Suffolk Show and other local agricultural shows.
Regular indoor meetings are held at Kesgrave, Barsham and Bury St Edmunds with practical apiary meetings, social gatherings and events at other locations in the county during the year. Attendance at these events is open to non-members and more information about these meetings can be found on the events page.
The annual subscription is about £26.00 but may vary from branch to branch. This includes affiliation to The British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) which provides representation, help and expert advice at a national level and a public liability insurance cover for up to £10 million. There is also cover in case of the more serious bee brood diseases.

Beginners and those who are just curious are particularly welcome. There are one-day events for those who are interested to find out more about bees and beekeeping. The best way to find out what beekeeping entails is to have a closer look.

Officers