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OXFORDSHIRE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

Registered Charity No. 100584

Information Sheet

Honorary President: E B McConnell

Association Officers

Chairman: Roland Wastie
  Leys Farm, Cumnor, Oxon OX2 9QF
  (01865 862079) RWastie@btopenworld.com
   
Secretary: Sally Moyes
  The Grange, 31 Acre End Street, Eynsham, Oxon OX29 4PF
  (01865 880288) Sallymoyes@aol.com
   
Treasurer: Peter Randall
  23 Conduit Hill Rise, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2EJ
  (01844 215658)
   
Membership Secretary: Shaun O’Sullivan
  97 High Street, Wheatley, Oxon OX33 1XP
  (01865 872077) shaun.0sullivan@ntlworld.com
   



Subscription Rates:

The 2004 annual subscription rate is £34 for ordinary membership, but for those who wish to waive their monthly copy of Beecraft (see below), the rate is £17. Also, those who belong to another BBKA-affiliated Association, which pays a BBKA capitation fee for them, may opt for 'associate' status, whereby they have the normal rights of non-BeeCraft members, but no BBKA capitation is paid for them by the OBKA.  The annual associate subscription is currently £7. The subscription rate is open to annual review. New subscriptions paid after the end of September cover membership until the end of December of the following year, and will be at the following year’s rate.

Charity Status:

OBKA was registered as a Charity on 14 November 1991. This means that the Association can reclaim income tax at the basic rate from the Inland Revenue on most members' subscriptions. The membership application and renewal forms include gift aid declarations to enable tax recovery where possible.

Website:

Visit the OBKA website on www.oxfordbeekeepers.org

Facilities available to Members:

Meetings

Field meetings are held during the summer months, and include regular apiary demonstrations.  Other events include an autumn/winter function, and lectures during the winter.  An OBKA Honey Show is held in November and the Annual General Meeting in March.

Notices and Publications

An annual programme card is published giving details of all lectures, demonstrations, meetings and other events organised by the Association.  A monthly Newsletter is also distributed, which contains full details of forthcoming events, and also topical stories, notices and information, and advertisements for the sale or purchase of bees and beekeeping items.

Members receive by post: BeeCraft - a monthly journal (optional: see above)
  The monthly Newsletter
  BBKA News - a  newsletter appearing six times per year.
British Beekeepers Association

Members benefit by indirect membership of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), and also of the National Honey Show. Details are published in BBKA News.


Insurance
(a) The annual subscription includes cover under the Bee Disease Insurance (BDI) Scheme A against loss from foul brood disease under the Bee Diseases Control Order 1982 to two hives; additional hives must be covered for a small extra premium.  Beekeepers with 40 or more colonies have to insure under a separate scheme (Scheme B), and should contact Sharon Blake (BDI) on 01460 242124.
(b) OBKA members as indirect members of the BBKA  have automatic cover from the insurance policies arranged by the BBKA.  These are:
  • Public Liability: cover is up to a limit of £5 million for any one incident against action arising from members' beekeeping activities. There is an excess of £250 for any claims that relate to property.
  • Product Liability: members are covered to a limit of £5 million in any one year and any one incident. This covers claims arising from the provision of beekeeping products.
  • All Risks Insurance: for a modest additional premium members may also participate in a preferential arrangement made between the BBKA and NFU Mutual that provides an all-risks insurance for beekeeping property. Rates vary between 1% and 2% depending on the situation and the items. The individual member must negotiate details of the policy with NFU Mutual. Phone 0845 704 5031.
Spray Warning

Members may participate in a county spray warning scheme.  Details are published annually in the Newsletter.  The current OBKA Spray Warning Liaison Officer is Harry Jessup (01491 682645).

Bee Health
(a) Fumidil B for nosema control and Bayvarol or Apistan for varroa control may often be purchased at an economic price through advertisement in BeeCraft.
(b) Any beekeeper suspecting foul brood in his/her hives should contact the Southern Regional Bee Inspector of the CSL National Bee Unit, Ian Homer (01308 482161; i.homer@csl.gov.uk).
(C) Advice on Bee Health may also be obtained from (and notification of varroa detection should be sent to) the CSL National Bee Unit, Sand Hutton, York Y04 1LZ (tel. 01904 462000; fax 01904 462111).  The NBU maintains a free hive sample examination service for varroa detection.

Teaching Apiary

The Association has a teaching apiary at the Marlborough School in Woodstock,  which now boasts a custom-made workshed, fully equipped to meet the needs of beginner beekeepers including study for the BBKA Basic Examination.  Within the apiary stands a Bee-bole, which serves to remind newcomers to beekeeping that it is an ancient craft on which they are embarking.  The Bee-bole also highlights the development of bee management techniques (from skeps to the modern hive) as well as pointing out the value of changing comb regularly.

Regular beginners courses are held at the teaching apiary, and members of OBKA are on hand not only to induct newcomers into the craft, but to give advice and talks from time to time to interested groups.  When there is a demand for it, classes are held in preparation for the BBKA examinations.  For further information contact the Education officer, Terry Thomas (01865 558679).

Adjacent to the teaching apiary is the Bee-garden, an area still under development that will ultimately display the main species of plants that all types of nectar-seeking insects (including bees) favour.  This extension to the apiary is meant to provide not only an educational resource, but also an area where staff, students, members and visitors can relax and enjoy the moment.

Library Facilities and Equipment on Loan

The Association has an expanding Library of books, videos and posters; books are available from the Library at OBKA meetings.  For information, contact the Librarian, Dana Josephson (01993 773487).  An OBKA dissecting microscope is held at the Marlborough School apiary in the care of the Education Officer, Terry Thomas, to whom enquiries should be addressed (01865 558679).


The Association has a manual honey extractor and a steam wax extractor, which are available for hire to members at a nominal charge (£2 per day).  They are in the keeping of the Membership Secretary, to whom enquiries should be addressed. (01865 872077)  Guidance notes on its use come with the wax extractor.



Stocks, Swarms and Secondhand Equipment
The Association provides assistance in the purchase or disposal of unwanted stocks, and swarms; details are published in the Spring. The current Swarms Officer is Ian James whose mobile telephone number is: 0787 982 3225.  Details of secondhand equipment for sale are published regularly in the Newsletter.


New Beekeeping Equipment - Local Agent

John Harris - a member of OBKA - is a main agent for EH Thorne, and can supply most beekeeping equipment.  Contact John at 95 Buckingham Road, Bicester, OX26 3ES (01869 252098).


November 2003