## **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).
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**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.
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## **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
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## **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_
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