About us
Membership benefits
Become a member

About us

Winchester and District Beekeepers’ Association (WDBKA) exists to promote the craft of beekeeping and increase public awareness of bees and their contribution to the ecology around Winchester, Hampshire.

Whether you are an experienced beekeeper, new beekeeper or just thinking about keeping bees, you are most welcome to join us as a member. We cover a wide catchment area, including Alresford, Bramdean, Hursley, Itchen Abbas, Owslebury, Ropley, Sparsholt, Twyford, Chandlers Ford and Winchester, or to find your local beekeeping association: https://www.bbka.org.uk/find-beekeeping-near-you. You are also welcome to join us for a few meetings before becoming a member to see if beekeeping is something you would like to do: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will lend you a bee suit and you can get some experience handling bees.

Membership benefits

Membership includes membership of  Hampshire Beekeeping Association (HBA) and  British Beekeepers Association (BBKA).
BBKA is the national organisation for beekeeping and beekeepers in the UK. You will receive a monthly copy of BBKA News and have access to a large online library of reference and training materials.

Practical experience and formal education: WDBKA encourages its members to keep up to date with current advice and research in apiculture. We offer continuing education both through apiary visits and supported individual studies for the BBKA practical and theory exams. We encourage all our beekeepers to take the Basic Assessment within 2-3 years of starting beekeeping.

Insurance: as a full and as a junior member of WDBKA you get public liability insurance. WDBKA is also a member of the Bee Diseases Insurance (BDI) plan, which gives you a level of cover against losses if your colonies are affected by certain bee diseases - more information about insurance.

Meetings and apiary visits: WDBKA has a regular programme of meetings throughout the year.

Mentors: We can usually allocate our new members a mentor, an experienced beekeeper, who can offer you practical seasonal experience, even before you start keeping bees.

Equipment available to borrow*: e.g. heated uncapping tray, motorised extractors, microscope.

Apiaries: there are some Association apiaries where members can keep their hives, or we can help to find a suitable site.

WDBKA monthly newsletter*: a round up of local and national news, seasonal tips and upcoming events.

WhatsApp group*: an informal group for our members to get beekeeping advice and other beekeeping information.

WDBKA clothing*: members can buy T shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts and fleeces.
* Members: login to Member's area for more details.

Become a member

Email our Membership Secretary, giving your full name, phone number and address - include which type of membership you require. Applications are online, we will send you the relevant link and details of how to pay This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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