Summer Visits - May 2025 (Note: to minimise the spread of infection for all visits please make sure your bee suit and accessories are clean)
Check out the LATEST NEWS tab for the planned 2025 Summer Programme
July
12th July 2pm Sam Smith, 5 Ruilick, Beauly. IV47AB
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Record Keeping is to be one of the themes of this session. Sam uses 'Pin Stock cards' whish are attached to his hives.
Car sharing from Beauly is advisable as Parking is limited
Please contact the secretary to let her know you're coming
26th July 2pm Arthur and Eilidh at Scatwell.
The hall committee will do refreshments for us again to raise funds for the hall and the hall will be the venue for an indoor meeting if the weather is poor.
Office Bearers and Committee for 25/26
The Association AGM was held on the 16th April 2025
President: Angie Dunn (president.dingwallbeekeepers@gmail.com)
Secretary: Barbara Gray (dingwall.beekeeping@gmail.com)
Treasurer: Sam Smith (treasurer.dingwall.beekeeping@gmail.com)
Vice President: Stuart Young
Committee:
Angie Dunn
Stuart Young
Barbara Gray
Sam Smith
Roger Piercy
Don Fraser
Julia Garrison
Bill Cormack
Pravin Whiles
Emma Hickey
Caroline MacKenzie
Bruce Taylor
Here are some pics of the recent AGM in Dingwall
The "Latest news" column will be regularly updated with what's new for the Association.
We will continue to keep you up to date with emails. Feel free to use our Facebook page to communicate with your fellow members.
Recent events
June
Saturday 28th June
Jo & Stuart Young at Aigas Beauly. An indoor event due to a very windy summer day. The talking points were.....Why pollen is important and the best sources of nectar (thanks Jo)
an introduction to queen rearing using Abello’s new mini-nuc (thanks David)
and a refresher on using a nuc to do splits (thanks Barbara)!
Wednesday 18th June,
Andrea & Chris Goddards at Muir of Ord. A busy evening of queen marking and dealing with Queen Cells.
May
Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May.
RHET Schools Day at the Black Isle Showground Jo & Stuart Young and Elspeth did a short presentation on Pollination & bees to 16 different groups of Primary School Children from the area.
Saturday 24th May
2.00pm Highland Deephaven with Angie and David Edes
Saturday 10th May
1.45pm Barbara Gray's Apiary at Schoolcroft, Culbokie
Wednesday16th April
7.30pm AGM and Quiz, St Clements Hall. A straightforward AGM with three new committee members and then tea & cake. The evening ended with a few rounds of the Presidents Annual Quiz
Wednesday 19th March
Bron and David Wright came up from Edinburgh to speak to us at St Clements Hall about 'Bees and Trees'.
Thursday 6th March
Jack Sillberrad gave a very interesting and informative ZOOM talk entitled "99p or EFB". There was lots of good info related to EFB and other bee ailments.
There was a recording of the meeting so contact the secretary if you are interested in viewing it.
Thursday 23rd January 7.30pm
Alan Riach from SBA will gave an interesting and entertaining talk entitled "Beekeeping - My Methods and Experiments". This ZOOM meeting was recorded so may be available for members to watch
Wednesday 27th November 7.30pm
Caroline MacKenzie gave an entertaining presentation entitled "Honey Delights". There were many flavoured honeys along with the many 'add ins' that can be used to suit your palate. Barbara Gray gave a short demo on honey butter.
After the presentations there were lots of tastings of the different honeys, butters and also some of the honey samples that members brought to add to the mix.
Jo Young did a short presentation on the candle moulds that the association have for members use.
Certificates were presented to a number of members who completed their Basic Bee Keeping Certificate.
Saturday 19th 2.00pm Candle Making with David Edes. David ran a candle making workshop for up to 8 members.
Thursday 10th October - Angie gave a talk to Primary 6/7 classes at Avoch Primary School.
Saturday 5th October - D&DBKA Honey Show - judge was Alan Riach, Education Officer, SBA. Held at Munro's Nurseries, Munlochy.
Wednesday 18th September - Arthur Hill gave a short talk on 'A Victor Meldrew vision of modern beekeeping' before introducing Clifford Smith, our friendly Environmental Health Officer who talked about safely processing our honey. Caroline Mackenzie will then give a chat about preparation and tips for the Honey Show.
Saturday 7th September - Feil Maree - a community event in Dingwall. Photos available in Gallery.
Saturday 24th August - Black Isle Food and Drink Festival - a well-attended demonstration of honey-associated products conducted by Caroline Mackenzie and Barbara Gray. Photos available in Gallery.
Friday 9th August - Barbara Gray hosted a meeting on the subject of assessing varroa levels and treatment options. Photographs, courtesy of Angie and David, are available here and in the Gallery.
Monday 5th August - Angie gave a talk to the Fortrose Guides. Photograph in Gallery.
Saturday 27th July- Arthur Hill's apiary at Scatwell. Refreshments were made available at the Community Centre for a donation to the community. It was great to be able to enjoy the conditions and get to socialise on this, the first outdoor session of the year - remarkable!
Saturday 29th June- Kay Liston Apiary visit - Loch Carron. Again another indoor chat due to poor conditions.
Wednesday 19th June - Jo and Stuart Young Apiary visit, Aigas. Poor conditions so an indoor chat.
Friday 31st May- Barbara Gray held a 2nd session for Beginners at her Culbokie Apiary.
Wednesday/Thursday 29th/30th MayThe Association was invited by RHET to provide educational sessions for some S1 children on at the Black Isle Showground for Primary 5-7 on the Importance of Pollinators to Food Production.
Friday 17th May - Barbara Gray hosted a session for Beginners at her Culbokie Apiary.
Tuesday 14th May The Association was invited by RHET to provide educational sessions for some S1 children at Fortrose Academy on 14th May on Food.
Saturday 27th April AGM of SBA - Spectrum Centre, Inverness. Our Association and Inverness-shire co-hosted the event at the Spectrum Centre in Inverness. The SBA AGM business will take place in the morning and there was 3 talks in the afternoon with something to interest all beekeepers.
Saturday 20th April 10am-4pm at Culloden Baptist Church, Wellside, Balloch IV2 7GS. Andrew Card of Loch Ness Honey organised a visit from Abelo with their Equipment Trade Show. We were delighted with our reception at the Show, meeting members and prospective new members and spending more money than intended! Thanks, Andrew Card.
Memberships are renewed as from the April AGM. A link to the membership/ renewal form can be found on the "Joining the Association" page. A new password will be forwarded to you by the Membership Secretary.