Recovering from Winter: Practical Beekeeping Insights from Stewart Spinks
This report summarises key messages and practical advice from the recent webinar delivered by Stewart Spinks of the Norfolk Honey Company, focusing on spring colony management, swarm control, and post-winter recovery. The recording has been emailed to YBKA members- this is accessible for two weeks. Understanding Spring Build-Up in Honey Bee Colonies One of the […]
Clarification from NBU
Following several queries from members regarding the reported sighting near Doncaster, the Regional Bee Inspector for North East England, Dhonn Atkinson, has clarified the situation. The report has been assessed as a credible sighting, meaning it met the National Bee Unit’s criteria: it was submitted through the Asian Hornet Watch app with a photograph and […]
County Coordinator YLAH Update 11/03/26
Unconfirmed, credible sighting in Doncaster There has been a credible but currently unconfirmed sighting of a yellow-legged Asian hornet in Doncaster. Following notification of the sighting, I have been in communication with the Doncaster Beekeepers’ Association Asian hornet coordinator to support their response planning. As a precautionary measure, we have marked the approximate location on […]
Asian Hornet Update – Doncaster and Surrounding Areas
Circulated to all Members. Dear Member, Members in Doncaster and the surrounding areas are advised of a recent unconfirmed report of a suspected Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) submitted via the Asian Hornet Watch app. At present, the sighting is considered credible but remains unconfirmed. There is no confirmed specimen and no confirmed nest. This does […]
Spring Beekeeping Management: Expert Guidance from Master Beekeeper Lynfa Davies – YBKA Webinar 17th February 2026
Spring is the most critical period in the beekeeping calendar. In this Yorkshire Beekeepers Association webinar, Master Beekeeper Lynfa Davies shares expert guidance on spring inspections, colony build-up, Varroa management, shook swarms, feeding strategies, and preparing colonies for a productive season.
Asian Hornets in the UK: How Sound Detection Could Help Save Honeybees
Asian hornets represent one of the most serious emerging threats to honeybees in the United Kingdom. These invasive predators, originally from Southeast Asia, have spread across Europe and are now appearing in Britain with increasing frequency. Their impact on pollinators is profound, but new research offers a surprising and hopeful tool. Sound. Scientists at the […]
Lynne Ingram – The Truth About Honey
What beekeepers and consumers need to know Honey is one of the most remarkable natural foods on the planet. Produced entirely by bees, shaped by landscape, weather, forage, and season, it is a product of place in the truest sense. Yet, as Lynne Ingram made clear in her compelling and unsettling talk, honey is also […]
Pollen, Protein and the Secret Life of Honey Bees: Highlights from Lesley Jacques’ Talk on Bee Nutrition
When Master Beekeeper Lesley Jacques joined the Yorkshire Beekeepers’ webinar – after a brief mix-up over the start time – she more than made up for it with a fascinating exploration of honey bee nutrition and the hidden beauty of pollen. Drawing on her award-winning work “Where Do the Bees Go?”, Lesley revealed how pollen underpins colony health, why not all pollens are equal, and how beekeepers can use simple microscopy to uncover the floral stories within their honey. It was an evening of science, humour, and golden insight into the world of bees and blooms.
Credible Asian Hornet Sighting – South Yorkshire
Regional Bee Inspector Dhonn Atkinson has confirmed a credible sighting of a Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) in the Nether Edge area of South Yorkshire. The report was submitted via the Asian Hornet Watch app, and the National Bee Unit (NBU) is awaiting further details from the reporter to verify and investigate. In the meantime, […]
YLAH – Reacting to the Emerging Threat: Learning from Kent
Kent has spent several seasons on the frontline of the Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet incursion, developing practical methods for early detection, selective trapping and community mobilisation. In this webinar, Michelle Elliott — volunteer with AsianHornetAlert.org and Apiary Manager for Gravesend Beekeepers — shared what it means to respond to the threat at scale: from building a “silent army” of local observers to identifying high-risk entry routes, forming partnerships with councils and landowners, and adopting safe, ethical monitoring practices. Her message to Yorkshire beekeepers was clear: awareness and preparation now will buy us vital time later. This recording provides a wealth of guidance for associations beginning to plan their response strategies.