New Forest & District Beekeepers’ Association (NF&DBKA) is one of the oldest and largest beekeeping associations in the region and is affiliated to the Hampshire Beekeepers’ Association (HBA) and the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA).
Membership applications are welcome from anyone in the New Forest area of Hampshire, who keeps bees or who wishes to learn the craft of beekeeping.
Becoming a member of NF&DBKA has many benefits. Please contact our Membership Secretary for more details or see our Membership FAQS for more details.
Membership Benefits
We have different types of membership to suit your needs
NF&DBKA offers different membership types to suit your requirements and each type of membership comes with different benefits (see membership form for benefit details).
Training and education
The popular ‘Introduction to Beekeeping for Beginners’ runs each year and there are opportunities for more experienced beekeepers to extend their knowledge throughout the year. If you are visiting our apiary on a training course, we have beekeeping suits that you can use.
Meetings and events
Regular apiary visits are held during the season, where practical beekeeping skills are demonstrated and explained.
Monthly meetings usually take place at Lyndhurst Community Centre on the third Thursday of each month starting at 7:30pm. Varying topics are included throughout the year and can range from expert talks on a wide range of beekeeping subjects to social events and bring and buy sales.
In addition to the monthly meetings, experts are sometimes booked for additional weekend or evening sessions for which a nominal fee may apply to cover costs.
Honey Shows
At the annual New Forest and Hampshire County Show held each July, the NF&DBKA; runs the very popular Honey Show where members can enter and sell their honey and honey related products. We also hold our own Honey Show each year with classes for novices and experts alike.
Affiliated membership of the British Beekeepers Association
By joining the NF&DBKA as a Registered, Partner or Country member you will also be a member of BBKA and will be able to access their online members area with a range of benefits.
Public & Product Liability insurance
Registered or Partner membership of NF&DBKA are covered by the BBKA Public and Product Liability insurance cover with a limit of £10 million in liability.
Bee Disease Insurance
Registered members are automatically covered against losses of up to three colonies of bees due to notifiable diseases through Bee Disease Insurance. Additional colonies may be covered at a very cost effective rate.
Hire extractors and heather presses
As a member, you can hire NF&DBKA’s honey extractors and heather presses for a nominal cost.
Beekeeping equipment and supplies
NF&DBKA also bulk buys high quality syrup and offer our members discounted prices for Belgosuc, Ambrosia/Invertabee syrup. From time to time we may offer other items for sale at discounted prices. Surplus and secondhand equipment is also regularly offered for sale or exchange.
NF&DBKA also send out regular email newsletters and maintain an active and growing community on the Association’s Facebook page.
Access to our swarm list
Each year our swarm collectors catch many swarms – some of these will need a new home. Members can go on our swarm waiting list.