Devon Beekeepers Association. Registered Charity No 270675 General Secretary Judith Norman Email: gensec@devonbeekeepers.org.uk
General Secretary's Annual Report 2025 on behalf of the Executive Council
1) Executive Council Meetings: five meetings have been held over the course of 2025.
2) Annual Delegates’ Meeting:
This is an annual on line meeting organised by BBKA with a representative from every Association.
In January 2025, several propositions were approved:
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Increased annual fee
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Policies to be printed more transparently
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Exemption from sections of the full General Husbandry assessment for those who have already completed assessments in diseases and breeding.
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An improvement for the voting mechanism for trustees to prevent an unsuitable candidate from being appointed simply because a
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vacancy would otherwise be unfilled.
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The name of the Executive Council to be changed to Board of Trustees to clarify accountability
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An investigation into the practicalities of external examination accreditation.
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Phase 2 funding of honey testing to curb sales of adulterated honey.
( Follow up from last ADM - there has since been a change in BBKA’s approach to the problem of adulterated honey being sold in the UK: they will be promoting locally produced honey rather than confronting the problem of adulterated honey directly, to avoid BBKA being associated in the public mind with “adulteration”. A more direct approach will be taken by a group of stakeholders, the Honey Authenticity Network, who are in the process of registering as a charitable organisation.)
This year, Simon O’Sullivan is our representative at the meeting on 10th January 2026.
We have agreed to the voting for all three awards, all five trustees and two members of the examinations board since all proposed candidates are known to have produced good work for the BBKA.
ADM 2026 propositions - all approved by the EC:
P1) Increase in capitation fee: BBKA do have significant investments but it would not be sensible to rely upon those alone for income. Our Devon Treasurer advises that this is a reasonable request for fees. The central office is not overstaffed. All appear to be working hard.
P2) Improved material for the learning platform about officers’ posts. New officers would benefit from advice about how to proceed.
P3) Guidance for YLA Hornet coordinators. This is already in progress.
P4) Monthly on line meeting for YLAH coordinators to update and exchange views.
P5) BBKA to continue as an association of associations: this proposal may have risen due to a misunderstanding. BBKA do not plan to alter the present structure.
3) Education:
We are grateful to Kathy Lovegrove, our association education officer, and the branch education coordinators, who work hard to keep us all informed of better ways to care for our bees. You will receive a separate written education report.
4) Yellow Legged Asian Hornet:
There is a real possibility that 2026 could be the year when we see a significant influx of the invasive hornet into Devon. We all need to be making sure that anyone we know who ventures outdoors knows how to tell the difference between our native hornet and an invader, so that sightings can be reported accurately. Every branch has a YLAH coordinator who can help in cases of uncertainty, and give you a supply of ID leaflets.
Expenses - since our only incursions in Devon so far have been sporadic, we are well under budget for YLAH expenditure; Trappit has been the main cost, held in reserve by each branch in case of unsubstantiated reports needing to be verified by the use of monitoring with bait.
A South West conference on the YLAH has been scheduled by the SW Beekeepers’ Forum, to take place on 24th January at Bridgwater in Somerset.
5) Devon County Show:
We had a much better show this year with a more prominent marquee, and made a good surplus of £4000.
Our long standing show coordinator, Liz Westcott, is standing down, and the committee will now be chaired by Tammy Skinner of the South Hams branch.
6) President’s Day:
As usual this was a fascinating day, with three main speakers:
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Professor Robert Pickard on bee brains, and other bee wonders,
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Steve Riley on monitoring for varroa resistant traits
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Alex Paines on gardening for wildlife.
7) 150 year celebration:
Elegant badges with our DBKA logo were given free of charge to DBKA members.
8) “Beekeeping”- the Devon magazine:
As ever we are hugely grateful to Robert Blackmore for editing “Beekeeping”, our Devon magazine. He welcomes contributions - for example, even descriptions of branch activities may inspire other branches to try similar events.
This year Robert has been helped on the admin side by Michaela Eckenberger of the Newton Abbot branch, to manage invoicing of advertisers, getting diary dates from branches, and uploading the digital version on to the website.
9) DBKA website:
To make our website more user friendly, an upgrade is under way. We hope to be announcing the completion soon!
10) eR2:
This is the “e” Return 2 database hosted by BBKA, which Devon officers use to send emails to the membership and keep records. See ADM proposal No 2 - guidance on this will be most welcome!
BBKA has sought views on admin being centralised. A forum will be arranged to provide appropriate support to officers.
11) Allergy research "Beekeeper Tolerance study" University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust:
DBKA has agreed to fund up to £3 500 for consumables used in testing beekeepers, as part of a project designed to help clarify why some beekeepers develop life threatening allergic responses and others don’t.
LIRIGHT OAK Al-.I-.C)UNTIc Independent Examiners ReporttD theTnLsiees of DevoD BeekeepeTsA55wation Charity no.. 270675 I report to the rrustees on Y exafflination ofthe at¢ounts of the Devon Beekeepers knociatiotl Trust Cthe Trust) for the year ended 30th September 2025. Responsibilities and b&sis of rep)rt As the charity trustee5 ofthe Trustyou are tEsponslble for the preparation olthe accounts in accordance with the requirements ofthe Charities Art 2011 ('the Arf). report in respert ofmy LYamin2tion olthe Trusvs accounts carried out under5ection 145 ofthe 2011 Art 3nd in carrying ollt my examitlltion. I have followed all the applirable DirertiOll5 given bythe Chatity Commrssion llnder Section 145(5)Ib) ofthe Art Independentexaminersstatement I have completed rny examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my allention in connection the Èxamination Eiving me (2use 10 believe that in any material respectt Accounting record5 were nat kept in tÈspect oftheThLStas required by secrion 130 oltheA¢' or ThÈ accollnts do not accord with those record& I have no concerns and have ¢<ime across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this reportts) enable a proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached. Lyrtsey Hamlyn-whlte MAAT 18Th December 202S Te101626 821027 ETDail." nickllyEW@bnghtoakaccountin8.co.uk BrightOakAccountiJ]8 Ltd Co Reg 12156296 Rw"sred orfitÈAddress'. LurtombÈ. Bi£knrtgn. NewthJ)AbbDt. Dew)nTQ12 61A N I Smith ts licejjcedaftd reEu]adbYtheAATllder Cen number90S9 Ll Hamtyn.Whiteis licencedand ZEgulated by theAATUndCrli(en RuJnbEr 1006917
County General - Account 1
| Income Interest Rec'd Gross Autumn Lecture Guest Lecture DBKA levy on Branches BBKA Capitation Fees BBKA Voluntary Contributions DBKA Levy on Branches for IMYB 2017 Special Events Other income AHAT President's Fund Members day Raffle Gift Aid Received 8,410 Submitted to Branches 8,410 Expenditure BBKA Capitation Fees 27,848 Pres Day, AGM & Meetings 1,300 Post, Telephone & Stationery 18 Subs & Donations 50 Officers Travelling Expenses - Educ & Exams 128 Auditors Fee 350 - BBKA Research Fund Conts - Web Site Maintenance 203 DBKA Contribuion to IMYB 2017 - Guest lecture - Special Events - - NA branch - President's Fund - AHAT 619 Sundry expenses 626 (Deficit)/Surplus for year |
2025 694 - - 4,000 27,848 - - - 921 - - 339 - - 33,802 31,142 2,660 |
8,081 8,081 27,749 2,092 - 50 36 1,575 392 - - 171 - - - - - - 3,402 - |
2024 704 - - 3,995 27,749 - - - 1,162 - 20 378 - - 34,008 35,467 (1,459) |
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Devon County Show - Account 2
| Income Honey & product sales Taste of Honey Candle Rolling Commisions / Rents Expenditure Honey & product sales 8,356 Taste of Honey 959 Candle Rolling 650 Admissions, Membership etc 98 Prize money 945 Insurance 506 Equipment & transport hire - Miscellaneous 653 (Deficit)/Surplus for year Notes 1. Capital reserve - Balance 30.09.24 Asset Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Balance 30.09.25 |
2025 10,795 2,699 2,016 237 15,747 12,167 3,580 9,653 (133) 9,520 3,580 13,100 |
6,924 778 671 92 771 489 - 531 |
2024 8,710 2,520 1,806 101 13,137 10,256 2,881 7,202 (430) 6,772 2,881 9,653 |
|---|---|---|---|
Beekeeping Magazine - Account 3
| Income DBKA Members Subs Independent Subscribers Advertising Revenue Refund to branches 2023 Other Expenditure Printing costs Direct mailing of magazine Editors expenses Ind Subs Secretary expenses Sundry expenses (Deficit)/Surplus for year |
5,046 - - - - |
2025 3,870 - 2,625 - - 6,495 5,046 1,449 |
4,617 2,919 88 - 11 |
2024 3,618 - 1,896 - - 5,514 7,635 (2,121) |
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Statement of Consolidated Monetary Assets and Liabilities
| 2025 Cash & bank at 01.10.24 186,491 County General - Account 1 2,660 Devon County Show - Account 2 3,580 Beekeeping - Account 3 1,449 Devon County Show - Capital expenditure (133) Branches Surplus / Deficit 14,656 Rounding Adjustment - Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 208,703 Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 County 63,932 Branches 144,771 208,703 Sundry Debtors - Liabilities Sundry Creditors 89 Statement of Non Monetary Assets 2025 Trophies 35,681 Books / videos etc 3,718 Apiary Equipment 47,216 Stocks ( Honey, labels, etc) 8,032 Sundries 25,337 Investment in Bee Craft Ltd 1 119,985 |
2024 210,288 (1,459) 2,881 (2,121) (430) (22,668) - 186,491 56,376 130,115 186,491 - 485 2024 35,742 3,092 49,796 6,680 26,790 1 122,101 |
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Trophies Books / videos etc Apiary Equipment Stocks ( Honey, labels, etc) Sundries Investment in Bee Craft Ltd |
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Branch Income and Expenditure
| Income Members' Subs (incl basic BDI) Extra BDI Gift Aid refund Other donations President's Fund donations Training courses Apiary Income Interest received Other Income Members Day Raffle Corrections and rounding adjustments Expenditure BBKA Capitation 27,851 DBKA Levy 3,838 Beekeeping Magazine 3,870 BDI 4,558 President's Fund donations 340 Apiary expenses 18,776 Training Courses 4,139 Officers' expenses 113 Donations 376 Other expenditure 31,284 IMYB - Members Day Raffle - Sutera from DBKA AHAT - - - - Rounding correction (3) (Deficit)/Surplus for year Monetary Assets Cash & Bank at 01.10.24 130,115 Add surplus / deduct deficit 14,656 Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 144,771 Sundry Debtors - Liabilities Sundry Creditors 89 Non Monetary Assets Apiary Equipment 47,216 Books/Videos etc 3,718 Trophies 25,731 Stocks 8,032 Other equipment 16,853 Sundries 6,923 108,473 |
2025 43,415 1,942 8,409 2,735 362 18,546 11,277 524 22,589 - - - - (1) 109,798 95,142 14,656 |
27,752 3,867 3,618 4,537 298 47,005 4,573 274 288 37,814 - - - - - - (4) 152,783 (22,668) 130,115 - 70 49,796 3,092 25,792 6,680 17,923 11,194 114,477 |
2024 43,020 2,081 8,083 2,715 296 14,347 14,455 529 21,831 - - - - (3) 107,354 130,022 (22,668) |
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Statement of Non Monetary Assets and Liabilities - County
| 2025 Cash & bank at 01.10.24 56,376 County General - Account 1 2,660 Devon CountyShow - Account 2 3,580 - Cap Exp (133) - Beekeeping - Account 3 1,449 Rounding Adjustment - Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 63,932 Current Account 13,123 Savings Account 50,809 Rounding Adjustment - 63,932 Sundry Debtors - - - Liabilities Sundry Creditors - - - - - - Statement of Non Monetary Assets - County Trophies 9,950 - Equipment - Devon County Show 1,561 Investment in Bee Craft Ltd 1 11,512 |
2024 57,505 (1,459) 2,881 (430) - (2,121) - 56,376 6,261 50,115 - 56,376 - - 415 - - 9,950 - 1,878 1 11,829 |
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LIRIGHT OAK Al-.I-.C)UNTIc Independent Examiners ReporttD theTnLsiees of DevoD BeekeepeTsA55wation Charity no.. 270675 I report to the rrustees on Y exafflination ofthe at¢ounts of the Devon Beekeepers knociatiotl Trust Cthe Trust) for the year ended 30th September 2025. Responsibilities and b&sis of rep)rt As the charity trustee5 ofthe Trustyou are tEsponslble for the preparation olthe accounts in accordance with the requirements ofthe Charities Art 2011 ('the Arf). report in respert ofmy LYamin2tion olthe Trusvs accounts carried out under5ection 145 ofthe 2011 Art 3nd in carrying ollt my examitlltion. I have followed all the applirable DirertiOll5 given bythe Chatity Commrssion llnder Section 145(5)Ib) ofthe Art Independentexaminersstatement I have completed rny examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my allention in connection the Èxamination Eiving me (2use 10 believe that in any material respectt Accounting record5 were nat kept in tÈspect oftheThLStas required by secrion 130 oltheA¢' or ThÈ accollnts do not accord with those record& I have no concerns and have ¢<ime across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this reportts) enable a proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached. Lyrtsey Hamlyn-whlte MAAT 18Th December 202S Te101626 821027 ETDail." nickllyEW@bnghtoakaccountin8.co.uk BrightOakAccountiJ]8 Ltd Co Reg 12156296 Rw"sred orfitÈAddress'. LurtombÈ. Bi£knrtgn. NewthJ)AbbDt. Dew)nTQ12 61A N I Smith ts licejjcedaftd reEu]adbYtheAATllder Cen number90S9 Ll Hamtyn.Whiteis licencedand ZEgulated by theAATUndCrli(en RuJnbEr 1006917
County General - Account 1
| Income Interest Rec'd Gross Autumn Lecture Guest Lecture DBKA levy on Branches BBKA Capitation Fees BBKA Voluntary Contributions DBKA Levy on Branches for IMYB 2017 Special Events Other income AHAT President's Fund Members day Raffle Gift Aid Received 8,410 Submitted to Branches 8,410 Expenditure BBKA Capitation Fees 27,848 Pres Day, AGM & Meetings 1,300 Post, Telephone & Stationery 18 Subs & Donations 50 Officers Travelling Expenses - Educ & Exams 128 Auditors Fee 350 - BBKA Research Fund Conts - Web Site Maintenance 203 DBKA Contribuion to IMYB 2017 - Guest lecture - Special Events - - NA branch - President's Fund - AHAT 619 Sundry expenses 626 (Deficit)/Surplus for year |
2025 694 - - 4,000 27,848 - - - 921 - - 339 - - 33,802 31,142 2,660 |
8,081 8,081 27,749 2,092 - 50 36 1,575 392 - - 171 - - - - - - 3,402 - |
2024 704 - - 3,995 27,749 - - - 1,162 - 20 378 - - 34,008 35,467 (1,459) |
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Devon County Show - Account 2
| Income Honey & product sales Taste of Honey Candle Rolling Commisions / Rents Expenditure Honey & product sales 8,356 Taste of Honey 959 Candle Rolling 650 Admissions, Membership etc 98 Prize money 945 Insurance 506 Equipment & transport hire - Miscellaneous 653 (Deficit)/Surplus for year Notes 1. Capital reserve - Balance 30.09.24 Asset Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Balance 30.09.25 |
2025 10,795 2,699 2,016 237 15,747 12,167 3,580 9,653 (133) 9,520 3,580 13,100 |
6,924 778 671 92 771 489 - 531 |
2024 8,710 2,520 1,806 101 13,137 10,256 2,881 7,202 (430) 6,772 2,881 9,653 |
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Beekeeping Magazine - Account 3
| Income DBKA Members Subs Independent Subscribers Advertising Revenue Refund to branches 2023 Other Expenditure Printing costs Direct mailing of magazine Editors expenses Ind Subs Secretary expenses Sundry expenses (Deficit)/Surplus for year |
5,046 - - - - |
2025 3,870 - 2,625 - - 6,495 5,046 1,449 |
4,617 2,919 88 - 11 |
2024 3,618 - 1,896 - - 5,514 7,635 (2,121) |
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Statement of Consolidated Monetary Assets and Liabilities
| 2025 Cash & bank at 01.10.24 186,491 County General - Account 1 2,660 Devon County Show - Account 2 3,580 Beekeeping - Account 3 1,449 Devon County Show - Capital expenditure (133) Branches Surplus / Deficit 14,656 Rounding Adjustment - Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 208,703 Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 County 63,932 Branches 144,771 208,703 Sundry Debtors - Liabilities Sundry Creditors 89 Statement of Non Monetary Assets 2025 Trophies 35,681 Books / videos etc 3,718 Apiary Equipment 47,216 Stocks ( Honey, labels, etc) 8,032 Sundries 25,337 Investment in Bee Craft Ltd 1 119,985 |
2024 210,288 (1,459) 2,881 (2,121) (430) (22,668) - 186,491 56,376 130,115 186,491 - 485 2024 35,742 3,092 49,796 6,680 26,790 1 122,101 |
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Trophies Books / videos etc Apiary Equipment Stocks ( Honey, labels, etc) Sundries Investment in Bee Craft Ltd |
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Branch Income and Expenditure
| Income Members' Subs (incl basic BDI) Extra BDI Gift Aid refund Other donations President's Fund donations Training courses Apiary Income Interest received Other Income Members Day Raffle Corrections and rounding adjustments Expenditure BBKA Capitation 27,851 DBKA Levy 3,838 Beekeeping Magazine 3,870 BDI 4,558 President's Fund donations 340 Apiary expenses 18,776 Training Courses 4,139 Officers' expenses 113 Donations 376 Other expenditure 31,284 IMYB - Members Day Raffle - Sutera from DBKA AHAT - - - - Rounding correction (3) (Deficit)/Surplus for year Monetary Assets Cash & Bank at 01.10.24 130,115 Add surplus / deduct deficit 14,656 Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 144,771 Sundry Debtors - Liabilities Sundry Creditors 89 Non Monetary Assets Apiary Equipment 47,216 Books/Videos etc 3,718 Trophies 25,731 Stocks 8,032 Other equipment 16,853 Sundries 6,923 108,473 |
2025 43,415 1,942 8,409 2,735 362 18,546 11,277 524 22,589 - - - - (1) 109,798 95,142 14,656 |
27,752 3,867 3,618 4,537 298 47,005 4,573 274 288 37,814 - - - - - - (4) 152,783 (22,668) 130,115 - 70 49,796 3,092 25,792 6,680 17,923 11,194 114,477 |
2024 43,020 2,081 8,083 2,715 296 14,347 14,455 529 21,831 - - - - (3) 107,354 130,022 (22,668) |
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Statement of Non Monetary Assets and Liabilities - County
| 2025 Cash & bank at 01.10.24 56,376 County General - Account 1 2,660 Devon CountyShow - Account 2 3,580 - Cap Exp (133) - Beekeeping - Account 3 1,449 Rounding Adjustment - Cash & Bank at 30.09.25 63,932 Current Account 13,123 Savings Account 50,809 Rounding Adjustment - 63,932 Sundry Debtors - - - Liabilities Sundry Creditors - - - - - - Statement of Non Monetary Assets - County Trophies 9,950 - Equipment - Devon County Show 1,561 Investment in Bee Craft Ltd 1 11,512 |
2024 57,505 (1,459) 2,881 (430) - (2,121) - 56,376 6,261 50,115 - 56,376 - - 415 - - 9,950 - 1,878 1 11,829 |
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