Meetings and Events

At our monthly meetings members have the opportunity to discuss a variety of beekeeping issues and ideas.  We try to include a presentation spot focusing on key topics such as swarm control, queen rearing and varroa, or talks/demonstrations from guest speakers.

Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the Community Room at Southport Fire Station, PR9 0LH. There are four flights of stairs up to the room, but a lift is available. There is a vending machine and toilets situated nearby on the same floor. We also provide the means to make yourself a drink, tea, coffee etc. but you do need to remember to bring your own mug. Entry to the fire station is opposite Cathay Garden Chinese restaurant. As we have to sign in there will be someone manning the door so please try to be on time if possible.

Next  Branch Meetings

All meetings start at 7.30pm unless stated otherwise

Speakers will be announced once confirmed.

Thursday 14th May

Thursday 11th June

Thursday 9th July

Thursday 13th August - Flower Show Preparations

Thursday 10th September - Andrea Ku, Reading the Hive: Community Cues to Bee Health

Hive health shows up first in the small, physical signs you can see and feel, especially in a busy community setting where people are learning by noticing. 

Flight traffic at the entrance, calm or defensive behaviour, pollen coming in, steady fanning, different smells, dead bees or silent stillness all tell a story about stress, food, weather, disease risk and the wider environment the hive is living in. In a shared urban landscape, these cues become a simple, collective way to track wellbeing, link the hive to local planting and climate and build confidence through hands-on observation.

Thursday 8th October

Thursday 12th November - Branch AGM - BBKA President, Diane Drinkwater will be our speaker.

Thursday 10th December - Branch Christmas Social

There are also regular events at other branches of the Lancashire & North West Beekeepers Association that are open to us to attend. To find out what is available visit the Lancashire Beekeepers website https://www.lancashirebeekeepers.org.uk/branches  

Young people at Events

Southport & District Beekeepers (S&DBK) welcomes the attendance of under 18s at our events but due to child protection requirements we require that either a guardian or parent also attends. If a child is attending an event without their parent or legal guardian, but with another guardian (older brother or sister, or a friend of the family) S&DBK requires a letter from the legal guardians/parents confirming that the other party is acting as the guardian of the child at the event.

Photography and Video taking at S&DBK Events

Please note that photographs and footage may be taken at Southport & District Beekeepers apiary, the Southport Flower Show and other meetings. These may be used by S&DBK for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and in social media or in any third-party publication. Please contact: vanessa.wakefield@southportbeekeepers.co.uk  if you have any concerns or if you wish to be exempted from this activity.

Your rights:
Should you see an image containing a picture of yourself on our website or Social Media then you have the right to request S&DBK stop using your image at any time, in which case it will not be used in future publications but may continue to appear in publications already in circulation. If you wish to exercise this right please write to:  vanessa.wakefield@southportbeekeepers.co.uk