Meon Valley Beekeepers

Winter Meeting (Itchen Abbas)
2025-02-11 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Itchen Abbs Village Hall, Main Road, Itchen Abbas, Winchester SO21 1BQ, SO21 1BQ, United Kingdom
Professor Lars Chittka will be talking in-person about The Mind of a Bee. This is a joint event with Winchester BKA so we hope you will be able to join us.

Winter Meeting (Warnford)
2025-03-06 19:30 - 21:00 | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
Come along to one of our in-person winter meetings where we will hear Brad Davies talk about honey show judging. He will give a live honey and wax judging demonstration. Brad was the judge for our honey show in 2024 so come along and learn where you went wrong!

BBKA Modular Exams
2025-03-22 09:00 - 12:30, 2025-11-15 09:00 - 12:30 | Hampshire

Winter Meeting (Warnford)
2025-04-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
Our last winter talk of the season will be given by Dylan Gussman, on the theme of a colony murder mystery. We will find out about working out the cause of colony collapse and how to prevent this happening in the future.

Bee Health clinic
2025-04-27 10:00 - 13:30 | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
Join us at Warnford for this drop-in style event. Bring along a sample of 30 dead bees and get them tested for nosema, and bring a few more to try out an acarine dissection. All equipment can be provided and training will be given in using the microscopes and what you need to do to keep your bees healthy as the season begins.

MVBKA Annual Auction
2025-05-03 | Greatham Village Hall, Petersfield Road, Greatham, Hampshire, GU33 6EY., United Kingdom

Maintence Monring
2025-06-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Hampshire

Meonstoke Fete
2025-07-05 | Hampshire

Kidstreet Bishop's Waltham
2025-07-06 | Hampshire

HBA Spring Convention and Honey Show
2025-07-30 | Sparsholt College, Sparsholt College Hampshire, Westley Ln, Sparsholt, Winchester SO21 2NF, SO21 2NF, United Kingdom
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hampshire-beekeepers-association-honey-show-convention-2025-tickets-1435085221529?aff=oddtdtcreator

Seasonal Skill Session
2025-08-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Hampshire
Join us for our next skill session led by our local bee inspector — a fantastic opportunity to meet her and learn directly from the expert! She’ll be covering how to carry out brood disease inspections, a timely and valuable topic as hives start to contract and may be united before winter.
🗓️ When: 10am📍 Where: Our training apiary
Whether you’re new to beekeeping or have years under your belt, this is a session you won’t want to miss! 🌼🐝 #Beekeeping #BroodInspection #BeeHealth #SeasonalSkills

Alresford Show/MVBKA Honey Show
2025-09-06 | Hampshire

Bereleigh Show
2025-09-14 09:30 - 17:00 | Bereleigh Estate, GU32 1PH
Bereleigh Estate, East Meon Near Petersfield, GU32 1ES
Sunday 14th September 2025 – Gates Open 9.30am

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Wax Day
2025-10-11 09:00 - 17:00 | Meon Hall, Meonstoke, Pound Lane, Meonstoke, Hampshire, SO32 3NP, United Kingdom
More details will be posted shortly.

SSS Day - Wax Processing (£5)
2025-10-11 10:00 - 15:00 | Meon Hall, Meonstoke, Pound Lane, Meonstoke, Hampshire, SO32 3NP, United Kingdom

National Honey Show
2025-10-23 08:00 - 2025-10-26 17:00 | Sandown Park Racecourse, Portsmouth Road, Esher, KT10 9AJ, United Kingdom

Winter Talk (Zoom)
2025-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Hampshire
Rational Varroa Control – David Evans
Varroa remains the greatest threat to bees and beekeeping. The mite, and the viruses it transmits, are responsible for most overwintering colony losses. To avoid these mite levels must be minimised. This presentation discusses some of the science behind why Varroa and viruses are a threat to our bees before moving on to practical beekeeping considerations including how and when to control Varroa in your hives. Many beekeepers treat at the wrong time of the season, or use the wrong treatment, for maximal effect. In addition to a late summer and midwinter treatment (which should be all that are needed for successful Varroa management) the opportunities to treat in the middle of the season, the importance of managing Varroa in swarms and the strategic, landscape-scale, management of Varroa are also discussed.

Zoom details within the members area

Winter Talk (Warnford)
2025-11-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
The Bee Head in Detail – James Donaldson

A complementary talk to the ‘full body’ one given to Winchester beekeepers in October. This session sees James focus in on the head of a bee, guiding us through a live dissection and explaining just what we’re looking at. A fascinating insight into the micro-world of our bee’s anatomy,

Christmas Party and AGM
2025-12-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Hampshire

Winter Talk (Warnford)
2026-01-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
Honey Bee Guarding Behaviour – Dylan Gussman

Find out how the dedicated guards recognise nestmates and detect intruders. We’ll examine the strategies honeybees use to protect their colonies, from vigilant patrolling to active defense tactics. Insights from Asian honeybee species will offer alternative perspectives on nest protection, highlighting unique and ingenious adaptations. The session will conclude with practical guidance on managing aggressive colonies, equipping beekeepers with multiple approaches to maintain safety and pleasurable beekeeping in the apiary.

Winter Talk (Zoom)
2026-02-05 19:00 - 21:30 | Hampshire
Beekeeping Tech – Christophe Brod

Join the CEO of Bee Futures to hear about the work they’re doing and learn about wider developments in beekeeping technology that are either already here, or might come in the future

Zoom joining insutrctions found in the members area

Winter Talk (Zoom)
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Hampshire
Beekeeping in Morocco – Lynne Ingram
Just as our thoughts are turning to planning summer holidays, here’s a talk to give you some great ideas & to broaden our horizons on beekeeping practices in other countries.
Lynne has worked with Moroccan beekeepers for over a decade and was instrumental in supporting the Atlas Cooperative for Beekeeping & the Environment in their breakthrough breeding programme for the endangered Yellow Saharan Bee

Zoom joining details can be found on our members area

Winter Talk (Warnford)
2026-04-02 19:00 - 21:30 | Warnford Village Hall, Lippen Lane, Warnford, Hampshire, SO32 3LB, United Kingdom
First hand experience with Asian Hornets – Alan Baxter

A veteran of the Royal Marines, Alan’s 23 years in the Loire Valley saw his apiary experience heavy predation by Asian Hornets and he developed techniques to help his bees survive the onslaught. He moved to England in 2020 and now manages 20 colonies of gentle bees in 3 Hampshire apiaries. He founded & runs the Fareham BKA teaching apiary and has completed all the BBKA Modules, holding the General Beekeeping Husbandry Certificate. He continues studying to be a BBKA Master Beekeeper and is halfway through Cornell University’s Master Beekeeper Program.

MVBKA Annual Auction
2026-05-02 | Greatham Village Hall, Petersfield Road, Greatham, Hampshire, GU33 6EY., United Kingdom
We look forward to seeing you at our annual auction. More details will be published nearer the time regarding how to submit lots and the catalouge.
