Guildford Beekeepers has a full programme of events during the year.
Apart from its weekly meetings at the Association Apiary on Saturdays during the Spring, Summer, and Autumn there are many social events.
See below for our current programme which is added to on a regular basis.
Guildford Beekeepers Events 2026
The aim of GBKA events is to promote awareness of bees, other pollinators, and pollinator friendly plants.
We have an educational theme, with the experience of seeing live bees in an observation hive and the opportunity of sampling and purchasing lovely honey. Children’s activities include drawing, colouring and badge making, all about bees. We also offer information on our training courses and, of course, information on our division and membership.
We aim to help and entertain you, the public, and look forward to meeting you at the following events:
Saturday 27th June Cranleigh Carnival
Monday 31st August Peaslake Fete
Sat/Sun 12th & Sun 13th September Surrey Hills Wood Fair, Cranleigh Showground
Sunday 4th October GBKA Honeyfest. Shalford Village Hall
BBKA November Talk
The next in our monthly series of Zoom talks is: ‘Forage: why the what, how and when matters for a colony’ with Adam Leitch on Tuesday 17th November at 7pm.
Adam Leitch is currently Treasurer and former Chairman of the National Diploma in Beekeepers (NDB), and a member of Reigate Beekeepers in Surrey. He passed his NDB exam in 2015, having already obtained his BBKA Master Beekeeper and Microscopy Certificate. He has taught practical and theory at all levels. He runs 10-20 colonies which fluctuates according to life outside beekeeping – mainly due to family & work commitments.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/
81233819992?pwd= DYMZxTImJjpRCLJjYjvbIxgybQQdSZ .1
Meeting ID: 812 3381 9992 Passcode: 527929A recording of this talk will be available on the BBKA Member Hub at a later date for those unable to watch live.
Apiary Sessions – GBKA members only
From October fortnightly sessions, with one themed session per month, will be held at the Association Apiary near Bramley. Everyone is welcome to attend all sessions; the barn is open from 10:15 so that we can start any work in the apiary at 10:30 am. Once completed we aim to sit down with some refreshments and start the talk/discussions between 11:15 – 11:30, finishing around 12:30. If further information is required then please contact me.
Susan Kimber [email protected]
Upcoming Apiary Sessions – GBKA members only
| 03/10/2026 | Apiary Session – Winter Preparations |
| 10/10/2026 | No session |
| 11/10/2026 | Yellow Legged Hornet Tracking Session |
| 17/10/2026 | Apiary Session – Final winter preparations and clearing up |
| 24/10/2026 | No session |
| 31/10/2026 | Apiary Session – Clearing apiary area |
| 07/11/2026 | No session |
| 14/11/2026 | No session |
| 21/11/2026 | Apiary session – Wax – Cleaning to Candles (tbc) |
| 28/11/2026 | No session |
| 05/12/2026 | Apiary Session |
| 12/12/2026 | No session |
| 19/12/2026 | Apiary Session – plus mince pies |
| 26/12/2026 | No session |
| 02/01/2027 | Apiary Session |
BBKA Practical Assessments.
It is planned that the two practical assessments, Honey Bee Health Certificate and Basic Assessment, will again be run at the apiary this summer. If you are interested in taking either assessment please contact Jacqueline Tolley ( [email protected] ), for the Honey Bee Health Certificate, or Geoff Lane ( [email protected] ), for the Basic Assessment, for further details.
BBKA Courses – BBKA Members Only
The BBKA run a number of courses which are very popular
BBKA Member Hub
The BBKA Member Hub, previously known as BBKA Online Learning, is a digital platform for members, where you will find details of the regular monthly Zoom talks, training resources including module study material and training courses, when available.
For more information and to book places, please visit the shop on the BBKA website
Beekeeper Training – open to all
For anyone considering becoming a beekeeper it is essential to do both a Theory and a Practical Course. Guildford Beekeepers Association (GBKA) has been running both Theory and Practical Courses for many years and our experience in this field is exemplary. We take pride in providing a solid grounding in the craft so that beginners have the confidence to manage bees on their own. Trainees are further supported by automatic membership with GBKA during the course, with access to the Association Apiary at weekends. When the trainees acquire their bees, there is a mentoring scheme through which they can contact a more experienced member to help them through the first years.