Lampeter Beekeepers Association - Honey Fete

The Lampeter Beekeepers Association was formed in the 1940s and at its height was supported by around 100 members. Sadly, over the years membership has dwindled to around 28 members due to illness and members moving out of the area. The LBKA is affiliated to the Welsh Beekeepers Association and liaises greatly with this organisation to promote beekeeping. The LBKA convenes  monthly meetings at the Lampeter University on the second Wednesday of each month from September until the following March when the club holds its Annual General Meeting to discuss club affairs. Between April and September some members of the club gather to organise the annual Honey Fete. This is a small committee which meets at the Norwood Gardens in Llanllwni to arrange activities. 

The Honey Fete attracts interest from local people, tourists, encourages new members and is supported by beekeepers from across the county and members of the LBKA as well as attracting those who are curious about the fascinating world of beekeeping. The aim of the LBKA is to promote responsible beekeeping due to the fact that bees are having a very difficult time at present. This is a global phenomenon which has been identified as getting worse each year and affects crops and local gardeners. There are many beautiful gardens across the county and this is down to the fact that some 80% of the bee population harvest the pollen locally which encourages plants to produce stronger healthier seeds, leading to more plants and better crops of fruit such as apples.

Bees are invaluable to gardeners, and many beekeepers find that after becoming apiarists they discover new plants and flowers popping up all over the garden. It is not just the flowers which benefit from bees - vegetable growers also enjoy the work done by bees which pollinate their plants.

Bees are not only suffering from climate change but also battling with the dreaded veroa mite, which is the bane of beekeepers all over the world, and it is this small bug which spreads a deadly virus among the colonies of bees. Bad weather causes a drop in the bee population and if they swarm the queen may not mate properly and this too causes a colony to become weak and die out. Therefore, it is every beekeepers duty to look after their hives and attract more people to keep bees and help grow the population of bees in the local area and across the country. Through such educational means the benefits of beekeeping and the healthy beneficial properties of honey is passed on throughout West Wales. Bees also allow other products to be made from their activities such as wax to make candles and with a healthy population of bees hard at work across the region plants will thrive.