2025-12-31-accounts - The Hertfordshire Beekeepers Association [CIO]

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The Hertfordshire Beekeepers Association (CIO)

Report and Accounts 2025

Registered Charity No. 1184766

The Her�ordshire Beekeepers Associa�on (CIO) (“HBKA”)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Trustees

John Palombo Chair John Daffern Secretary Les Riley Peter Wilson Laurence Longe Robert Cro�

Execu�ve Commi�ee

John Palombo Chair John Daffern Secretary and represen�ng Her�ord & Ware BKA Laurence Longe Treasurer Robert Cro� Examina�ons Secretary and represen�ng Bishops Stor�ord BKA Steve Smith Training and Represen�ng Central & South Herts BKA Patrick Maxwell Membership Chris Mercer Co-opted member Les Riley Represen�ng St Albans BKA Diane Bruce Represen�ng West Herts BKA David Townsend Represen�ng South East Herts BKA Gary Bellamy Represen�ng North Herts BKA

Independent Accounts Examiner: Thomas Meadows

Bankers: Lloyds Bank

Objec�ves

The objec�ves of HBKA, as set out in its cons�tu�on, are "to promote and further the cra� of beekeeping within the County of Her�ordshire and to advance the educa�on of the public within the County of Her�ordshire in the importance of bees in the environment."

Affiliated Local Associations (“ALA”)

Seven regional beekeeping associations covering Hertfordshire are affiliated to HBKA pursuant to clause 9 of the constitution; affiliation provides automatic membership of HBKA to members of the ALA in designated classes and this in turn provides membership of the British Beekeeping Association ("BBKA") to those members. Paid members for 2025 were 831 (2024: 790).

Activities

2025 was another mixed year for beekeeping in Hertfordshire with many beekeepers having high winter losses coming into the year. We had a mild spring with the bees getting going early, but that was soon followed by the early arrival of large numbers of wasps that stressed small and medium sized colonies and many beekeepers reported poor honey yields for the year. 2025 was also a record year for Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet in the UK. We are fortunate that we haven’t had any sightings in Hertfordshire yet, but there were large numbers found in Kent, so they are surely coming our way.

During the year HBKA ran a full set of training and events. We started the season with our Spring Show and AGM in March where we had a presentation from Stewart Spinks and a Honey Competition. Over the summer we ran several training classes, including a Module 1 Revision group. Finally, HBKA ran its fourth annual Honey Show in the autumn, with competition in twelve different classes and speaking sessions from Sean Stephenson, Paul Verrier and Phil Stevenson.

In addition to running events, HBKA has continued to provide a number of other services to Hertfordshire beekeepers, including:

running module and prac�cal exams on behalf of BBKA;
preparing for Yellow Legged Asian Hornet sigh�ngs in Her�ordshire; and
enabling membership of BBKA, including par�cipa�on in the BBKA Annual Delegates Mee�ng.

Governance

Subject to a small number of reserved matters, the Trustees have delegated management of HBKA to an Executive Committee which comprises most of the trustees plus function leads and representatives of each ALA. The committee met four times during 2025; in addition the trustees usually meet once a year on their own to cover certain narrowly governance focussed matters.

Annual General Meeting

The next AGM of HBKA will take place on 21[st] March 2026 at the Christchurch Peartree Hall, Welwyn.

The Her�ordshire Beekeepers Associa�on (CIO) ("HBKA")

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of HBKA

I report on the accounts of HBKA for the year ended 31st December 2025 (“Accounts”).

Respec�ve responsibili�es of trustees and examiner

As trustees you are responsible for the prepara�on of the Accounts, it is my responsibility to state whether par�cular ma�ers have come to my a�en�on.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examina�on includes a review of the accoun�ng records kept by HBKA and a comparison of the Accounts presented with those records. It also includes considera�on of any unusual items or disclosures in the Accounts and seeking explana�ons from you as trustees concerning any such ma�ers. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the Accounts.

Independent Examiner's statement

In connec�on with my examina�on, no ma�er has come to my a�en�on:

1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to (a) keep accoun�ng records and (b) prepare accounts which accord with the accoun�ng records have not been met; or

2) to which in my opinion a�en�on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the Accounts to be reached.

Thomas Digitally signed by Thomas Meadows Meadows Date: 2026.03.07 16:04:14 Z Thomas Meadows Independent Examiner 7[th] March 2026

10 Monks Horton Way, St Albans, Herts AL1 4HA

The Hertfordshire Beekeepers Association CIO Receipts & Payments Accounts

Year Ended 31 December

Member Capitation Subscriptions Events & Training AGM & Spring Show Autumn Honey Show Queen Rearing Course Microscopy Course National Honey Show Examinations Events & Training Totals Operating Costs Trophies & Equipment Administration - Meeting rooms Gift Aid South East Herts Operating Costs Total Net deficit Statement of Assets at 31 December	2025 2024 Received Paid Net Receipt Received Paid Net Receipt £ £ £ £ £ £ 17,511 15,849 1,662 16,847 15,267 1,580 29 502 -473 32 284 -251 15 612 -597 53 1,032 -979 1,992 2,088 -96 227 227 100 -100 80 -80 281 -281 550 -550 271 1,495 -1,224 2,077 4,033 -1,956 598 -598 141 -141 57 -57 55 -55 354 354 0 0 655 -655 354 551 -196 17,782 18,000 -217 19,278 19,850 -573 2025 2024	2025 2024 Received Paid Net Receipt Received Paid Net Receipt £ £ £ £ £ £ 17,511 15,849 1,662 16,847 15,267 1,580 29 502 -473 32 284 -251 15 612 -597 53 1,032 -979 1,992 2,088 -96 227 227 100 -100 80 -80 281 -281 550 -550 271 1,495 -1,224 2,077 4,033 -1,956 598 -598 141 -141 57 -57 55 -55 354 354 0 0 655 -655 354 551 -196 17,782 18,000 -217 19,278 19,850 -573 2025 2024

Bank Account Balance brought forward 1 January Net deficit for year Balance carried forward 31 December Initial 2020 Endowment Annual surplus brought forward Deficit for year Surplus carried forward Net HBKA Funds		£ £ 10,822 11,395 -217 -573 10,605 10,822 9,178 9,178 1,644 2,217 -217 -573 1,427 1,644 10,605 10,822

Approved by the Trustees on 23 February 2026