apiculture  n. beekeeping

apiarist n. one who keeps bees

apiary n.  a place where bees are kept

© Okehampton Branch of the Devon Beekeepers Association 2024 - Registered Charity 270675

Not a member?

 Non-members are welcome to come along to any of our winter meetings; just turn up and introduce yourself.  The Village Hall in Whiddon Down is on the road exiting the A30 in the direction of Moretonhampstead.  The Village Hall is next to the Post Inn pub and there is a good-sized car-park.

If you are considering taking up beekeeping and want to see what it's like to work with live bees then you will be welcome to join one of our summer apiary meetings. However, you will need to contact us beforehand so we can arrange for suitable protective clothing to be provided

Apiary Meetings

Okehampton branch doesn't have its own apiary. Summer meetings are held at members apiaries. One advantage of this is that meetings are held all over our area so there should be a meeting nearby to all members at some time during the summer. Another advantage is that we get to see different styles of beekeeping in action.

Okehampton Branch’s Summer Programme

2026/7

Okehampton Branch Winter/Spring  Programme

Thursday October 8. Whiddon Down Village Hall at 7:30 pm. Judith Norman, Sue Baxter and Simon O’Sullivan will be revisiting the Yellow Legged Asian Hornet threat, with a nest now discovered in Somerset – so it has reached the southwest. Sue Baxter has had direct experience of the hornet whilst assisting teams of hornet hunters in Jersey. Simon will be reiterating the importance of YLAH identifiers.

Thursday November 12. Whiddon Down Village Hall at 7:30 pm. Okehampton Beekeepers AGM. This fulfils a mandatory requirement for the branch to re-elect branch officers and a branch committee for the coming year. The meeting commences with this statutory branch business, but as an added incentive, this will be followed by a (Bee Themed) quiz with prizes and (seasonal?) refreshments.

Thursday December 10. Whiddon Down Village Hall at 7:30 pm. Richard Crocker, one of our members will talk about his experiences and knowledge gained in developing his own wildflower meadow, with associated benefits for bees, other pollinators and wildlife in general.

Thursday January 14. Whiddon Down Village Hall at 7:30 pm. Hilary Thomson and Ruth Stainer-Smith will introduce the topic of Swarm control using a Wally Shaw recommended method that does not involve finding the queen. This was tried it at Hilary's apiary and found to be straightforward. This approach is suitable for beginners and seasoned beekeepers alike. 

Thursday February 11. Whiddon Down Village Hall at 7:30 pm. Dr Cathy Horsley from Devon Wildlife Trust (and she previously worked with the bumblebee trust) discussing the relationship between honeybees, forage and other pollinating insects. She may also discuss her PhD on Himalayan Balsam.

Thursday March 11. Whiddon Down Village Hall at 7:30 pm. Still to be finalized – but may be another auction of beekeeping equipment. This is likely to include a good second-hand WBC with National Brood Box, supers and 4 lifts. Also, several good bee suits, hive tools, good British National supers, some contact feeders (and a few more obscure hive parts, feeders?), unfamiliar to me???) Not as much stock as was auctioned off for Richard or Malcolm – but it is generally newer.