British Beekeepers Association
| Abbreviation | BBKA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 16 May 1874 |
| Founder |
|
| Registration no. | Charity No: 1185343 |
| Legal status | Charitable organisation |
| Purpose | To further and promote the craft of beekeeping |
| Headquarters | The National Beekeeping Centre, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG |
Region | United Kingdom |
| Membership | 26,555 (2018) |
Chair | Diane Drinkwater |
Vice Chair | Clare McGettigan |
Key people |
|
Main organ | Board of Trustees |
| Website | www |
The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales that was founded in 1874, by Thomas William Cowan and Charles Nash Abbott. It held its first meeting on 16 May. It is made up of 75 associations in England & Wales plus one in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Jersey. At end of 2018 there were 26,555 members. Its patrons include the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers and Jimmy Doherty.
The BBKA is an independent charity with a membership formed of 75 associations and 170 branches. It acts as an umbrella group for them and co-ordinates a swarm collection service for the public, administers training for beekeepers including a new scheme to encourage more beekeepers to use locally raised queens, administers grants for researchers looking at aspects of bee health and welfare and has recently encouraged the setting up of Asian Hornet Awareness Teams.