Advancing the education of the public and beekeepers in the craft of beekeeping.
Welcome
The North Dorset Beekeepers Association (NDBKA) is passionate about bees, honey and the enjoyment you can find through keeping bees and harvesting the produce. Our aim is to encourage the craft of beekeeping, provide high quality training, and advise, help support and encourage beekeepers.
We are a Registered Charity (Number 1193201), and we are fully affiliated with the Dorset County Beekeepers Association and the British Beekeepers Association. We currently have around 145 active members.
If you are interested in keeping bees, find out about the courses and training we offer.
Our New Home - The Honey Bee Centre (HBC)
We have nearly completed work on an ambitious project to create an inclusive, educational space near Blandford which anyone will be able to visit to improve their knowledge of honey bees.
The North Dorset Honey Bee Centre will provide a learning and community centre for training new beekeepers, developing skills, and education about the role of the honey bee in food production and the wider environment for visiting schools and other groups. It will also be a base for our social and community activities.
After meeting our fundraising goal, we broke ground in late 2024 and the centre will be officially opened by Bob Maurer on the 9th May 2026.
Key Dates for 2026
10-11th January - Bee Microscopy Course with Sean Stephenson
11th February - making hive products, hand cream & lip balm with Lesley Gasson
21st February - Hive Making 09:00-12:00 with Gordon Grant & Ron Briggs
21st March - BBKA Module Exams
28th March - Second year course 1st session with Geoff Buckland, Lesley Gasson, Lynne Richley
29th March - Healthy Bees Day Course with Lynne Richley, Lesley Gasson, Geoff Buckland
11th April - Beekeeping Introductory Day 10:00-16:00
17-19th April - BBKA Convention
9th May - Official Honey Bee Centre Opening by Bob Maurer
28-30th May - Bath & West Show
30th May - Bee Experience Day
31st May - Queen Raising Course starts
13th June - Bee Diseases with Dan Etheridge RBI, at Shillingstone Church Centre
13th June - Bee Experience Day
27th June - Bee Experience Day
11th July - Beekeepers BBQ at the Honey Bee Centre
19-20th August - NDBKA at Shaftesbury & Gillingham Show
5-6th September - Melplash Show
12th September - Visit to Quince Honey Farm Devon
12-13th September - Dorchester Show
1st October - Please pay your subscription
7th October - Problems with Queens by Geoff Buckland
22-24 October - National Honey Show
20 November - AGM and Supper
9th December - Review of the Year