HERTFORD AND WARE BEEKEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION CIO
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Registered Charity No: 1187139
www.HWBees.org.uk
@HWBeekeepers
Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO ("HWBKA")
Chair's Report
My beekeeping year didn’t start well as I lost all but one of my colonies over winter, but I bought a nuc in March and didn’t look back. We split both in the spring and by the end of the summer we were taking bumper crops of lime honey. I know that many of you had a similar experience. Swarm season was also late this year but we managed to catch quite a few for our Members.
New Members and then Members who have lost colonies over winter will take priority for any swarms that we catch. Please contact either Paul or me if you are in need of a swarm and we will add you to the Swarm List.
Our Association thrives because of the Members who volunteer their time to help organise or take part in events. I would like to extend my personal thanks to everyone who helped last year and for your continued support and enthusiasm.
Member Communications: Our WhatsApp group is always active with lots of questions, and everyone sharing ideas and helping each other. If you’re not already in the group, please let us know and we will add you.
Equipment: We have an assortment of equipment which is free for Members to borrow. Our shared equipment includes an oxalic acid vaporiser, a wax melter for making candles, children’s bee suits (sorry that I temporarily lost these), adult bee suits, manual 2 frame extractor and electric 12 frame extractor and a new uncapping tray with knife. Please feel free to ask!
Training: Training is at the heart of our activities to keep our established Membership refreshed and to share knowledge and in particular to welcome newcomers to beekeeping via our annual Beginners Course. We held two beginners' training courses early in the season and as a result welcomed some new Members. We will run another introduction course this year and already have a list of people wanting to attend. In June, we welcomed Geoff Willcox who gave a fascinating talk on the use of the Snellgrove method of swarm control. We also had 2 county events where we had several speakers and also competitions for honey (where our Ian Munro triumphed at the Spring Show), wax, photography and crafts. We’re Beginners training in the new planning to have more activities this coming year. Hertford apiary
Rachel Daffern demonstrates how to place a Snellgrove baord under Geoff's watchful eye
Farmers Markets: We set up stall at the Hertford Farmers' Market on the 2nd Saturday of every month, we attended the summer events in Hertford and Ware and we also attended the Hertford Christmas market. These events provide an outlet for Members to sell surplus honey and bee produce such as candles. This year we’ve seen more Members producing a wider range of products; in 2024 the number of Members selling increased from 6 to 10 which was great to see. If you would like to sell some of your surplus honey, please get in touch.
Public Engagement: These markets are also an important opportunity to talk to the public about bees. Lots of people are keen to learn about bees as well as buying our excellent produce. We will continue to share our enthusiasm for bees and to promote their importance to the environment.
Rebecca Feeney to learn about bees as well as buying our excellent produce. We will with her continue to share our enthusiasm for bees and to promote their winning importance to the environment. entry in the 2024 Apiary: We acquired a new apiary in Hertford which is now our Honey principal home for some club hives, for training and also to provide Tasting honey which raises funds for the Association. We retain the Essendon site for Members to use for their own colonies.
Our Ian Munro is presented with the trophy for Best Honey at the Hertfordshire Beekeepers Spring Show
Social: We enjoyed a social get together at the Bengeo Club after the AGM and a late Christmas get together at the Woolpack in January 2025. Many thanks to Paul and Alison Cassidy for hosting a garden party for the Association again this year. The honey tasting was very popular and the competition was won by Rebecca Feeney, a beginner beekeeper, and it was a great opportunity for Members to meet and share beekeeping hints and tips.
And finally: I would like to extend my thanks to my fellow committee Members and trustees who give their time to keep HWBKA going, and to the other Members who volunteer to help setting up our market stall, engaging with the public and selling. We are always keen to involve more Members who can spare a few hours to help to participate in the running of the Association; please don't be shy about coming forward! I wish you all a successful beekeeping year in 2025 and hope to see you all at some of the events this year.
John Daffern Chair
Some of the swarms attended by our Members in 2024 - in every location imaginable!
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In a bush - August -
June - In a pub In a tree - July - 20 foot up! late swarm
Ladder required
carpark
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On a wall - April - In a tree - early May - On a fence in a field - early swarm! low but huge! late May
Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO ("HWBKA")
Report of the Trustees to Members for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
| Management | Trustees | **Committee ** | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Daffern | | | Chair | |
| Paul Cassidy | | | Treasurer | |
| John Hartley(appointed 20 March 2024) | | Secretary | ||
| Jane Rowley | | |||
| Murray Quinney | | |||
| Rachel Daffern | | |||
| Basia Zacharuk | | |||
| Solle Zacharuk | | |||
| Veronica Fraser | | |||
| Oliver Riley(joined 13 February 2024) | | |||
| Matt O'Conner(joined 13 February 2024) | | |||
| Tony Smith(joined 13 February 2024) | | |||
| Independent Examiner: | Peter Knowles | |||
| Registered Charity No: | 1187139 | |||
| Bank: | Lloyds Bank | PLC | ||
| Membership | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Full Registered | 43 | 40 | ||
| Partner | 5 | 8 | ||
| Country | 9 | 5 | ||
| Total Regular Members Beginners' Course |
57 9 |
53 9 |
||
| Total All Members | 66 | 62 |
Annual General Meeting: The 5th AGM of HWBKA took place on 20 March 2024 at The Bengeo Club, Hertford; the 6th AGM will take place at The Bengeo Club on `19 March 2025 at 8pm.
Trustees: The trustees and Committee members (opposite) served throughout 2024 and remain in office except where otherwise stated.
Objectives: The objectives of HWBKA, as set out in its constitution, are " to promote and further the craft of beekeeping within the area defined broadly as the towns of Hertford and Ware and their surrounding villages and countryside (“area”) and to advance the education of the public within the area in the importance of bees in the environment. "
Activities: HWBKA furthered its objectives during the year by running a training course for beginner beekeepers and a course on the Snellgrove method of swarm control, promoting public engagement through regular attendance at the Hertford farmers' markets and local carnivals and attending members of the public to catch swarms of bees which were transferred to the HWBKA apiary and then rehomed. Activities are fully described in the Chair's Report.
Financial: the net assets of the Association have increased to £6,916 as a result of the surplus income of £198 (2023: £311) for the year. As stated in previous years the Committee's objective is to operate broadly at a break-even level; excluding the contribution of £200 arising from writing off unused Beginners' Course vouchers from previous years, this objective would have been almost exactly achieved. The Committee has therefore decided to maintain maintain the same fee levels for 2025 as charged in 2024, making permanent the discounts introduced in 2022.
Assets: The existing electric extractor began to show signs of wear during the year with two breakdowns experienced. Our healthy financial position enabled the Committee to authorise the purchase of a new, more advanced, electric honey extractor in advance of the 2025 honey season.
Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO ("HWBKA")
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of HWBKA
I report on the accounts of HWBKA for the year ended 31st December 2024 (''Accounts'').
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the Accounts. It is my responsibility to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by HWBKA and a comparison of the Accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the Accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not expressed an audit opinion on the view given by the Accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to (a) keep accounting records and (b) prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records have not been met; or
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2) to which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the Accounts to be reached.
Peter Knowles
Independent Examiner
10 February 2025
Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO
Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
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INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
2024 2023 AS AT 31 DECEMBER
Net Net
2024 2023
Income Expense Income Income Expense Income
Membership Fees NET ASSETS
HWBKA Membership Fees £1,633 £1,633 £1,549 £1,549 Fixed Assets
BBKA & HBKA Membership Fees -£1,283 -£1,283 -£1,212 -£1,212 Original Cost £3,516 £3,886
Gift Aid £183 £183 £198 £198 Cumulative Depreciation -£2,326 -£2,299
Membership Fees Total £1,816 -£1,283 £533 £1,747 -£1,212 £535 Fixed Assets Total £1,191 £1,588
Training Current Assets
Beginners' Course £820 -£462 £359 £1,040 -£445 £596 Stock £174 £279
Unused Course Vouchers £200 £200 Debtors £112 £198
Other Training -£30 -£30 -£100 -£100 Cash At Bank & In Hand £5,598 £4,953
Training Total £1,020 -£492 £529 £1,040 -£545 £496 Current Assets Total £5,885 £5,430
Farmers' Market & Events Current Liabilities
Sales of Own Product £453 -£295 £158 £262 -£16 £246 Creditors -£10
Commission on Member Sales £300 £300 £257 £257 Deferred Income -£160 -£290
Event Hire -£479 -£479 -£349 -£349 Current Liabilities Total -£160 -£300
Giveaways -£136 -£136
Other Selling Costs -£87 -£87 -£109 -£109 NET ASSETS Total £6,916 £6,717
Farmers' Market & Events Total £753 -£997 -£245 £519 -£475 £44
HWBKA FUNDS
Other Income Endowment £3,565 £3,565
Donations £54 £54 £107 £107
Bank Interest £4 £4 Net Income
Other Income Total £58 £58 £107 £107 2020 Net Income £1,395 £1,395
2021 Net Income £1,347 £1,347
Operating Costs 2022 Net Income £100 £100
Depreciation -£397 -£397 -£560 -£560 2023 Net Income £311 £311
Small Equipment -£40 -£40 -£92 -£92 2024 Net Income £198
Apiary Costs -£88 -£88 -£73 -£73 Net Income Total £3,350 £3,152
Governance -£86 -£86 -£63 -£63
Member Social Events -£56 -£56 -£63 -£63 HWBKA FUNDS Total £6,916 £6,717
Miscellaneous -£10 -£10 -£21 -£21
Operating Costs Total -£676 -£676 -£871 -£871
Net Income £3,646 -£3,448 £198 £3,413 -£3,102 £311
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The Accounts are presented on an accruals basis, i.e. matching income with expenditure by time period.
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Assets which will be used over several years are depreciated at 25% p.a. based on the depreciated value at the start of each year.
John Daffern, Chair Paul Cassidy, Treasurer 10 February 2025