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2024-12-31-accounts

THE WELSH BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

CYMDEITHAS GWENYNWYR CYMRU

Established/Sefydlwyd 1943 Registered Charity/Elusen Gofrestredig – No/Rhif 509929

Adroddiad Blynyddol

1 Ionawr 2024 i 31 Rhagfyr 2024

Ymddiriedolwyr: Cadeirydd Caroline Mullinex (etholwyd CCB 2022) Is-Gadeirydd Karen Pratt (etholwyd CCB 2022 ymddiswyddodd CCB 2024) Trysorydd Graham Wheeler (ailetholwyd CCB 2024) Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol Jenny Shaw (ailetholwyd CCB 2023) Christopher Clarke (ailetholwyd CCB 2021 ymddeolodd CCB 2024) David John Bowles (ailetholwyd yn Ymddiriedolwr CCB 2023) Keith Davies (ailetholwyd CCB 2023) David Grace (etholwyd CCB 2022) Paul Pearce (etholwyd CCB 2024) Alan Burford (etholwyd CCB 2024) Selwyn Runnett (cyfetholwyd 15 Mai 2024)) Ceri Joyner (cyfetholwyd 11 Medi 2024)

Swyddogion: Llywydd David John Bowles (etholwyd CCB 2021 ymddeolodd CCB 2024) Jill Wheeler (etholwyd CCB 2024) Is-lywyddion Fred Eckton Ysgrifennydd Aelodaeth Trish Calderbank Ysgrifennydd Cofnodion swydd wag Ysgrifennydd Digwyddiadau Jill Wheeler Ysgrifennydd Arholiadau Liz Childerley Rheolwr y Wefan Alison Mason (ymddeolodd Ebrill 2024) Roger Boyle (penodwyd Ebrill 2024) Golygydd Basil Wolf Is-olygydd Cymraeg Elin Meek Prawfddarllenydd Chris Clarke Swyddog Technegol Wally Shaw Swyddog Yswiriant John Bowles Swyddog Rhywogaethau Estron Goresgynnol – John Bowles (creu’r swydd yn 2024) Swyddog Iechyd a Diogelwch John Pilgrim Archif CGC Karen Pratt Swyddog IMYB Richard Pett Swyddog Ysgolion Sue Taylor (penodwyd Mawrth 2024)

Aelodau Arbenigol:

Gardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru BIBBA (Cymdeithas Gwella Gwenyn a Magwyr Gwenyn)

Noddwyr:

Yr Athro Robert Pickard Master Wax Chandler (CCB 2024)

Mae pob un o ymddiriedolwyr a swyddogion CGC yn rhoi ei amser yn wirfoddol heb dderbyn tâl neu fanteision eraill. Mae CGC yn ddyledus i’r gwirfoddolwyr hyn am eu hewyllys da a’u hymdrechion

1 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

parhaus ar ran y Gymdeithas.

Mae’r ymddiriedolwyr wedi ystyried yr arweiniad a gyhoeddodd y Comisiwn Elusennau ynghylch lles y cyhoedd.

Ein Nodau a’n Hamcanion:

Annog, gwella a hyrwyddo cadw gwenyn ledled Cymru drwy:

Gweinyddu

Mae’r Ymddiriedolwyr yn y rhestr uchod yn cwrdd fel Tîm Rheoli Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru. Ceir rhestr lawn o’r cyfarfodydd yn ystod y flwyddyn ar ddiwedd y rhan hon o’r adroddiad hwn.

Cyfarfu’r Ymddiriedolwyr â Chyngor CGC dair gwaith (ym misoedd Mawrth, Mehefin, a Thachwedd) i adrodd ar weithredu’r Tîm Rheoli ac i gael arweiniad gan yr aelodaeth. Cynhaliwyd pob un o’r cyfarfodydd ac eithrio un mis Mawrth yn rhithiol. Ym mhob un o’r cyfarfodydd hyn roedd o leiaf 63% (12) o’r Cymdeithasau sy’n Aelodau o CGC wedi’u cynrychioli ac at ei gilydd mynychodd 90% (17) Cymdeithas o leiaf un cyfarfod. Dosbarthwyd cofnodion pob un o gyfarfodydd y Cyngor drwy Ysgrifenyddion y Cymdeithasau. Cynhelir cyfarfodydd y Cyngor ar 8 Mawrth, 28 Mehefin ac 1 Tachwedd yn 2025. Er mwyn lleihau hyd cyfarfodydd y Cyngor, mae adroddiadau’r Swyddogion yn cael eu hysgrifennu a’u cylchredeg cyn y cyfarfod. Mae arweinwyr yr is-bwyllgorau’n cyfeirio at y rhain fel y bo angen yn ystod eu hadroddiadau cryno. Mae cyfle i Gynrychiolwyr y Cyngor i holi cwestiynau ac i roi sylwadau ar yr adroddiadau.

Cafodd y Tîm Rheoli gyfarfod naw gwaith yn ystod 2024 ac er mwyn lleihau’r teithio, roedd pob un o’r cyfarfodydd yn rhai rhithiol. Bydd y Tîm Rheoli’n cwrdd o leiaf bedair gwaith yn 2025, gyda’r cyfarfod cyntaf i fod ar 10 Ionawr. Mae dull a dyddiadau’r cyfarfodydd y Tîm Rheoli’n adlewyrchu argaeledd a chyfeiriadau cartref yr Ymddiriedolwyr er mwyn sicrhau bod cynifer ag sy’n bosibl yn gallu mynychu a bod cyn lleied o gostau teithio ag sy’n bosibl. Rhwng y cyfarfodydd y Tîm Rheoli sydd wedi’u hamserlennu, cytunwyd ar weithdrefnau er mwyn cael cytundeb yr ymddiriedolwyr ar gyfer unrhyw faterion brys. Cytunwyd ar fformat agenda safonol ac fe’i mabwysiadwyd. Dosbarthwyd cofnodion llawn pob cyfarfod y Tîm Rheoli drwy ysgrifenyddion y Cymdeithasau. Adnewyddwyd trwyddedau’r Gweminarau a’r cyfarfodydd rhithiol ym mis Hydref 2024 a bydd y rhan fwyaf o gyfarfodydd y Tîm Rheoli’n parhau i gael eu cynnal yn rhithiol fel bod llai o angen teithio. Mae’r trwyddedau ar gyfer cyfarfodydd rhithiol ar gael i Aelod-Gymdeithasau CGC i’w defnyddio ar gyfer eu cyfarfodydd nhw.

Lle mae’n briodol i’w rolau, gwahoddwyd swyddogion CGC nad ydyn nhw’n Ymddiriedolwyr i fynychu cyfarfodydd y Tîm Rheoli yn ystod 2024 er mwyn helpu gyda gwaith yr ymddiriedolwyr.

Mae polisïau CGC wedi’u diweddaru a’u diwygio lle roedd angen. Mae dogfennau cyfarwyddyd am Iechyd a Diogelwch, Diogelu a DBS ar wefan CGC er mwyn rhoi arweiniad i aelod-gymdeithasau ac mae’r rhain yn cysylltu â’r ddeddfwriaeth a’r arweiniad cyfoes sy’n berthnasol yng Nghymru. Mae hyn

2 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

er mwyn helpu cymdeithasau i sicrhau bod eu gweithgareddau’n cydymffurfio. Hefyd, cytunwyd ar arweiniad i Swyddogion CGC sy’n rhoi cyflwyniadau neu adroddiadau am CGC i gyrff allanol.

Mynychodd un o Ymddiriedolwyr CGC Weminar Diogelu Data ar 4 Tachwedd wedi’i redeg gan Swyddfa Cymru y Comisiwn Gwybodaeth (ICO). Mae CGC yn parhau i archwilio i’r angen am gofrestru gyda’r ICO er mwyn prosesu data ac ynghylch y ffordd orau i newid ei Pholisi Diogelu Data er mwyn sicrhau ei bod yn cydymffurfio’n llawn. Rydyn ni’n edrych ar gyrff elusennol eraill er mwyn ceisio gweld beth yw’r arferion gorau ymarferol heb glymu CGC wrth faen melin fiwrocrataidd.

Mae CGC wedi gweithio gyda Anaphylaxis UK i helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o adwaith alergaidd difrifol i bigiadau gwenyn. Hefyd, mae’r Tîm Rheoli wedi ystyried sut mae’n bosibl annog perchnogion tir i roi gwybod i wenynwyr am unrhyw blaleiddiaid y maen nhw’n bwriadu eu defnyddio ar eu tir. Dydy gwenwyno gwenyn mêl gan blaleiddiaid ddim yn ymddangos yn broblem arwyddocaol yng Nghymru. Bydd dogfen ganllawiau yn cael ei rhoi ar wefan CGC yn 2025.

Yn 2023 cafodd adolygiad o strwythur CGC ei gwblhau a’i weithredu. Mae cylch gorchwyl pob isbwyllgor CGC wedi cael ei adolygu’n rhan o hyn. Nawr, mae’r rhan fwyaf o fusnes bob dydd CGC yn cael ei wneud gan bedwar is-bwyllgor a phob un wedi’i gadeirio gan un o Ymddiriedolwyr CGC ac yn adrodd i’r Tîm Rheoli. Mae rhestr o’r is-bwyllgorau hyn a’u haelodau isod: -

Gweinyddu a Chymorth: Cadeirydd – John Bowles (Ymddiriedolwr a Swyddog Yswiriant a Swyddog Rhywogaethau Estron Goresgynnol), Graham Wheeler (Ymddiriedolwr a Thrysorydd), Jenny Shaw (Ymddiriedolwr ac Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol), David Grace (Ymddiriedolwr a Swyddog Diogelu), Paul Pearce (Ymddiriedolwr), Trish Calderbank (Ysgrifennydd Aelodaeth ac ysgrifennydd cofnodion i’r isbwyllgor), John Pilgrim (Swyddog Iechyd a Diogelwch), Keith Davies (Ymddiriedolwr).

Dysgu a Datblygiad: Cadeirydd – Paul Pearce (Ymddiriedolwr) (Caroline Mullinex (Ymddiriedolwr tan fis Mehefin), Jenny Shaw (Ymddiriedolwr ac ysgrifennydd dros dro i’r is-bwyllgor), Ceri Joyner (Ymddiriedolwr), Liz Childerley (Ysgrifennydd Arholiadau), Sue Taylor (Swyddog Ysgolion), Wally Shaw (Swyddog Technegol), Roger Boyle (Gwefeistr), Lynfa Davies, Trisha Marlow.

Digwyddiadau: Cadeirydd – Alan Burford (Ymddiriedolwr), Graham Wheeler (Ymddiriedolwr a Thrysorydd), Keith Davies (Ymddiriedolwr), Jill Wheeler (Ysgrifennydd Digwyddiadau), Vicky Davies, Martin Anderson, Steve Bromwich.

Golygyddol: Cadeirydd – Jenny Shaw (Ymddiriedolwr), Caroline Mullinex (Ymddiriedolwr), Selwyn Runnett (Ymddiriedolwr) Chris Clarke (prawf ddarllenydd), Basil Wolf (Golygydd), Sue Taylor (Swyddog Ysgolion), Elin Meek (Golygydd Cymraeg), Wally Shaw (Swyddog Technegol), Jill Hill (ysgrifennydd i’r is-bwyllgor), Jill Wheeler.

Ceir rhagor o wybodaeth am waith pob is-bwyllgor yn ddiweddarach yn yr adroddiad hwn ac mae eu cylch gorchwyl ar wefan CGC.

Yswiriant: Mae sicrwydd Yswiriant CGC yn seiliedig ar sawl amod, gan gynnwys yr angen am dalu ffioedd y pen yn brydlon a bod y rhai sy’n dod o dan y polisi yn cael eu cofnodi’n unigol ar system aelodaeth eR2. Mae’r Cymdeithasau i fod i dalu ffioedd y pen erbyn 1 Ionawr bob blwyddyn, ond rhoddir lwfans, dim ond i’r holl arian dyledus gael ei dderbyn erbyn 31 Mawrth yn y flwyddyn honno. Atgoffir Aelod-Gymdeithasau fod angen i’r taliad gael ei wneud yn brydlon. Ceir rhagor o wybodaeth yn yr Adroddiad Yswiriant ac Iechyd a Diogelwch yn nes ymlaen yn y ddogfen hon.

Yn dilyn cais gan Gyngor CGC, adolygwyd a diwygiwyd categorïau aelodaeth CGC yn 2022 er mwyn sicrhau bod pob un o Aelodau Anuniongyrchol CGC wedi’u cynnwys o dan ein polisi yswiriant. Mae’n bleser gennym adrodd bod ein hyswiriant bellach yn cynnwys gwenynwyr o dan 18 oed.

3 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Cronfeydd wrth Gefn: Mae’r polisi Cronfeydd Wrth Gefn yn dweud y bydd yr Elusen (CGC) yn cadw cronfa wrth gefn o £10,000 i £13,000. Mae angen y gronfa wrth gefn hon yn ôl y Gyfraith Elusennau i dalu am gostau gweithredol a chytundebol petai’r angen yn codi. Caiff y polisi hwn ei fonitro a’i ddiweddaru’n flynyddol.

Defnyddir yr arian yng nghyfrif cyfredol HSBC nid yn unig i dalu am gostau rhedeg y Gymdeithas ond i ariannu amryw o brosiectau fel rhedeg gweithdai/cyrsiau a lledaenu gwybodaeth, drwy amryw o ddulliau fel y wefan, llyfrynnau a chyhoeddiadau eraill. Mae adroddiad ariannol manwl yn cyd-fynd â’r ddogfen hon.

Llywodraethiant: Yng Nghyfarfod Cyffredinol 2024, ymddeolodd John Bowles fel Llywydd CGC a phenodwyd Jill Wheeler i’r rôl. Ymddeolodd Chris Clarke ac ymddiswyddodd Karen Pratt fel ymddiriedolwyr yng Nghyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol 2024. Cyfetholodd y Tîm Rheoli ddau ymddiriedolwr newydd, Selwyn Runnett (Mai 2023) a Ceri Joyner (Mehefin 2023). Bydd y penodiadau hyn yn cael eu cyflwyno i’r aelodaeth i’w cadarnhau yng Nghyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol 2025 ar 8 Mawrth. Cymerodd Cadeirydd CGC a benodwyd, Caroline Mullinex, absenoldeb tosturiol o’r rôl ym mis Mehefin 2024 oherwydd salwch teuluol ac yna profedigaeth. Ymgymerodd ymddiriedolwyr â rolau ychwanegol yn ystod absenoldeb Caroline – cadeiriodd Selwyn Runnett y Tîm Rheoli, cadeiriodd Alan Burford gyfarfodydd y Cyngor, cadeiriodd Paul Pearce yr is-bwyllgor Dysgu a Datblygiad a llwyfannodd John Bowles weminarau.

Ar hyn o bryd, mae gennym y nifer llawn, sef deg ymddiriedolwr CGC, ond mae Caroline Mullinex yn dal i fod ar absenoldeb tosturiol.

Penodwyd Master of the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers yn noddwr CGC yng nghyfarfod cyffredinol 2024.

Yn y CCB ym mis Mawrth 2024, ymddeolodd Alison Mason fel gwefeistr CGC ac ymgymerodd Roger Boyle â’r rôl. Rydym yn diolch iddyn nhw i gyd am eu gwaith ar ran gwenyna yng Nghymru. Llenwodd Sue Taylor swydd y Swyddog Ysgolion (Mawrth 2024). Mae gan bob Swyddog CGC ddisgrifiadau swydd eglur ac wedi’u diweddaru erbyn hyn ac mae’r Tîm Rheoli hefyd yn parhau i edrych ar gynlluniau dros dro ar gyfer swyddi allweddol os yw swyddog yn ymddiswyddo neu’n methu gwneud y gwaith am gyfnod o amser. Cydnabyddir nad yw dod o hyd i wirfoddolwyr i ymgymryd â rolau gwirfoddol yn dasg hawdd.

Mae gwaith wedi dechrau i ddiffinio’r strategaethau sydd eu hangen i gyflawni amcanion CGC fel bod modd mesur perfformiad.

Heb newid, derbyniwyd Cyfansoddiad CGC gan yr aelodaeth yng Nghyfarfod Blynyddol CGC yn 2024. Yn ystod 2024 bu’r Ymddiriedolwyr yn ystyried y cam o droi CGC yn Gymdeithas Elusennol wedi’i Hymgorffori (Charitable Incorporated Association, CIO). Gan nad yw CGC yn cyflogi unrhyw staff sy’n cael eu talu na chwaith yn berchen ar adeiladau neu dir, penderfynwyd nad oedd angen y newid hwn ar hyn o bryd. Bydd y penderfyniad hwn yn cael ei adolygu petai amgylchiadau CGC newid yn y dyfodol.

Aelodaeth: Mae gan CGC bedair ar bymtheg o Aelod-Gymdeithasau sy’n cynrychioli 2084 o Aelodau Cofrestredig, 332 o Aelodau Partner, 4 Aelod Gwlad a 38 o Aelodau Iau a dau grŵp o Aelodau Arbenigol. Fel rhan o’r aelodaeth y pen a godir ar bob Aelod-Gymdeithas, mae’r aelodau Anuniongyrchol yn elwa drwy dderbyn pedwar rhifyn o Gwenynwyr Cymru ac Yswiriant Atebolrwydd Cyhoeddus a Chynnyrch trydydd parti. Ar hyn o bryd mae 33 Aelod Unigol ac 8 Aelod Anrhydeddus o Gymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru. Mae dadansoddiad manwl o’r aelodaeth yn dod gyda’r adroddiad hwn.

4 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Rydyn ni’n dal i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae Kathleen Carroll (Llywodraeth Cymru) a Daniel Baxter (Gwasanaeth Archwilio Gwenyn) wedi mynychu o leiaf un cyfarfod o Gyngor CGC yn 2024 er mwyn cynghori.

Yn dilyn ymholiadau gan Aelod-Gymdeithasau, adolygodd Cyngor CGC gategorïau aelodaeth CGC er mwyn sicrhau eu bod nhw’n bodloni eu gofynion. Nawr mae’n ofyniad mai un enw’n unig sy’n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer pob cofnod yn eR2 ac mai’r person hwnnw a enwir yn unig fydd yn gymwys i ddod o dan yswiriant CGC. Mae partneriaid sy’n byw yn yr un cyfeiriad ag aelod wedi’i gofrestru ac sy’n rheoli’r un gwenyn wedi’u hyswirio os ydyn nhw wedi’u cofnodi’n unigol yn system eR2. Hefyd, dylai aelodau iau o dan 18 oed gael eu rhestru ar wahân yn eR2. Aelodau iau a enwir yn unig fydd yn cael eu hystyried i gynrychioli CGC yng Nghyfarfod Rhyngwladol y Gwenynwyr Ifanc. O fis Ionawr 2024 roedd gofyn i aelodau partner CGC dalu aelodaeth flynyddol y pen o £6 a chododd y ffi i aelodau cofrestredig i £12 y flwyddyn. Y cynnydd hwn oedd y cyntaf mewn dros 10 mlynedd ac roedd yn adlewyrchu’r sefyllfa economaidd bresennol.

Defnyddir aelodau gwlad i bob heb wenyn sy’n dymuno bod yn Aelodau Anuniongyrchol o CGC ac eto dylen nhw ymddangos fel cofnodion unigol yn eR2. Y categori aelodaeth olaf yw Aelodau Lleol a ddylai ymddangos eto yn eR2 fel cofnodion unigol. Does gan Aelodau Lleol ddim gwenyn ac maen nhw’n aelodau o’r Aelodau Gymdeithas ond dydyn nhw ddim yn aelodau Anuniongyrchol o CGC a does dim hawl ganddyn nhw i unrhyw fanteision sy’n dod o fod yn aelod o CGC. Mae mwyafrif AelodGymdeithasau CGC bellach yn defnyddio gwasanaeth aelodaeth eR2 a daliodd Trish Calderbank, Ysgrifennydd Aelodaeth CGC ati i ddarparu hyfforddiant i ddefnyddwyr. Hoffem ddiolch i Trish am ei gwaith caled parhaus yn cynorthwyo Cymdeithasau. Mae Kerry Cox wedi cefnogi Trish Calderbank yn ei rôl o gynorthwyo cymdeithasau CGC i ddefnyddio eR2. Mae CGC yn parhau i weithio gyda BDI i sicrhau bod system eR2 yn diwallu gofynion Cymdeithasau yng Nghymru.

Gwefan: Mae’r wefan, a lansiwyd yn 2022, yn cael ei diweddaru’n rheolaidd ac mae data dadansoddi diweddar yn dangos cynnydd yn nifer yr ymwelwyr i’r safle. Mae’r wefan yn adlewyrchu polisi iaith CGC. Rydyn ni’n diolch i Roger Boyle am ei waith yn datblygu ac yn cynnal a chadw ein gwefan.

Cylchgrawn Gwenynwyr Cymru: Llwyddwyd i gyhoeddi pob un o’r pedwar rhifyn chwarterol yn ystod y flwyddyn. Hoffem ddiolch i’n Golygydd, Basil Wolf, am ei ymroddiad i gynhyrchu’r cylchgrawn. Hefyd, rydym yn ddiolchgar i’r llu o aelodau CGC sydd wedi rhoi erthyglau a ffotograffau i’r cylchgrawn. Mae’n bosibl lawrlwytho pedwar copi diweddaraf y cylchgrawn o wefan CGC ac mae rhifynnau electronig blaenorol ar gael gan yr archifydd, Karen Pratt, fel ffeiliau electronig archivist@wbka.com.

Cyhoeddiadau: Mae’n bosibl i Gynrychiolwyr Cymdeithasau gasglu copïau wedi’i hargraffu o bob un o’r llyfrynnau a’r cardiau clefydau a gyhoeddwyd gan CGC, a hynny yng Nghyfarfod y Cyngor ym mis Mawrth neu mae’n bosibl eu harchebu ymlaen llaw yng Nghynulliad Blynyddol CGC ddiwedd mis Mawrth. Bydd cyflenwadau’n cael eu hanfon at gymdeithasau os ydyn nhw’n cytuno i dalu am y costau sy’n codi.

Mae’r Ymddiriedolwyr wedi gweithio gyda nifer o asiantaethau allanol yn ystod 2024 i sicrhau bod gwenynwyr Cymru yn cael gwybodaeth lawn ac yn cael eu cefnogi ar lefel Cymru, y DU ac Ewrop. Rhoddir rhestr o’r cyfarfodydd allanol a fynychwyd gan CGC yn nes ymlaen yn yr adroddiad hwn.

Fforwm Ymgynghorol Iechyd Gwenyn (Y DU): Mae’r Bee Health Advisory Forum (BHAF) yn gyfarfod wedi’i drefnu gan Lywodraeth y DU lle mae cynrychiolwyr o bob Cymdeithas Wenyna yng Nghymru a Lloegr, yn ogystal â NBU, APHA, Llywodraeth Cymru, Cyfarwyddiaeth Meddyginiaethau

5 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Milfeddygol, ac ati. Mae’n cynnig cyfle i drafod a dylanwadu ar faterion cyfredol ac arfaethedig a all fygwth lles ein gwenyn. Mae’r eitemau a drafodwyd yn ystod y flwyddyn a aeth heibio wedi’u cynnwys yn fwy manwl mewn adroddiad ar wahân.

Fforwm Peillwyr Cymru: Fforwm o dan nawdd Llywodraeth Cymru yw hwn sy’n dod ag amrywiaeth o grwpiau ynghyd sy’n cynrychioli mudiadau sydd â diddordeb mewn diogelu’r amgylchedd gwyllt a gwella rheoli tir er lles peillwyr o bob math, yn amrywio o ieir bach yr haf, pryfed hofran i gacwn a gwenyn mêl. Rydym ni’n credu y bydd beth bynnag sy’n dylanwadu ar y dirwedd gorfforol a rheolaeth y tir i unrhyw beilliwr, ac yn ei wella, hefyd o fudd i wenyn mêl.

CONBA (Cyngor Cymdeithasau Gwenyna Cenedlaethol): Mae Cymdeithasau Gwenyna Cymru, Lloegr, yr Alban ac Ulster yn ogystal â Chymdeithas Ffermwyr Gwenyn (Bee Farmers Association) gyda’i gilydd yn ffurfio CONBA (Council of National Beekeeping Associations) sy’n cefnogi buddiannau pob gwenynwr a gwenyna yn y DU. Mae Ffederasiwn Gwenynwyr Iwerddon, sy’n cynrychioli gwenynwyr yn Iwerddon, yn mynychu cyfarfodydd CONBA hefyd. Mae’n rhoi cyfle inni ddatblygu strategaethau ar y cyd i ymdrin ag amrywiaeth o faterion gan gynnwys cynlluniau’r llywodraeth.

Sioe Amaethyddol Frenhinol Cymru (RWAS): Fe’i sefydlwyd yn gyntaf yn 1904 ac yna fel Sioe Amaethyddol Frenhinol Cymru yn Llanelwedd yn 1963 gan gynnwys y Sioe Fêl y mae CGC yn cynnig cymorth a chefnogaeth.

Sioe Fêl Genedlaethol (y DU) / National (UK) Honey Show (NHS): Yn 2022 daeth CGC yn aelod o’r Sioe Fêl Genedlaethol, sef y corff sy’n trefnu ac yn rhedeg Sioe Fêl flynyddol y DU sy’n agored i bob gwenynwr gymryd rhan ynddi. Mae’r NHS yn cynnal Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol o’i aelodau ar y cyd â’r Sioe Fêl.

NDB (Diploma Cenedlaethol mewn Gwenyna): Mae CGC yn cael ei chynrychioli yng Nghyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol y corff sy’n rheoli ac yn dyfarnu’r cymhwyster ‘lefel gradd’ mewn gwenyna yn ogystal â rhedeg nifer o gyrsiau byr i addysgu gwenynwyr yn y DU.

Cyfarfodydd a Fynychwyd yn 2024

Cyfarfodydd Mewnol CGC yn 2024:

6 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

C ynrychiolaeth CGC mewn Cyfarfodydd Allanol yn 2024:

Jenny Shaw (J.S.), John Bowles (J.B.), Wally Shaw (W.S.), Keith Davies (K.D.), Alan Burford (A.B.) Paul Pearce (P.P)

7 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

ADRODDIADAU

Adroddiad Trysorydd CGC, Blwyddyn Ariannol 2024

Cyllideb Diwedd Blwyddyn yn erbyn Cyllideb 2024

Y sefyllfa ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn oedd bod colled o £2.6k yn erbyn colled wedi’i chyllidebu’n wreiddiol o £5.1k, cyfrannodd nifer o ffactorau at hyn gyda gwariant yn is na’r disgwyl mewn nifer o feysydd yn gwrthbwyso incwm wedi’i chyllidebu a oedd yn is na’r disgwyl.

Cyllideb 2025

8 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Canlyniad wedi’i Ragamcanu

Mae’r gyllideb ddrafft fel mae wedi’i chyflwyno yn rhagweld y bydd ychydig o arian dros ben ar gyfer 2025.

Rhagamcanu Cyllideb 2026 a’r Cynnig Aelodaeth y Pen

Er mwyn llywio’r drafodaeth ynghylch Aelodaeth y Pen ar gyfer 2026, mae rhagamcan ar gyfer 2026 wedi’i gwblhau. Mae incwm y pen yn seiliedig ar gyfraddau 2024 ac aelodaeth 2024. Mae gwariant ar bob prif eitem yn cynyddu 5%. Y canlyniad o ran incwm yw sefyllfa lle rhagwelir adennill costau yn 2026.

Ar sail y rhagamcaniad hwn a’r colledion is na’r disgwyl ar gyfer 2024, argymhellwyd i’r Cyngor ym mis Tachwedd y dylai lefelau anuniongyrchol y pen ar gyfer aelodau ar gyfer 2026 gael eu cadw ar lefel 2025. Cymeradwyodd Cyngor mis Tachwedd yr argymhelliad, i’w gymeradwyo yn y Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol.

Gweinyddu a Chymorth – gan gynnwys yr Adroddiadau Yswiriant, Iechyd a Diogelwch a Diogelu

Sefydlwyd Pwyllgor Gweinyddu a Chymorth CGC (ASC) yn 2023 i fod yn Bwyllgor “hidlo” cyffredinol a fyddai’n cynrychioli agweddau amrywiol ar rôl CGC. Er bod y rolau gweithredol yn cael eu gadael ar lefel y Cyngor a’r Tîm Rheoli, mae ASC yn ystyried agweddau amrywiol ar ein gwaith ac, i ddechrau, mae’n gwneud argymhellion ynghylch opsiynau i’r Tîm Rheoli. Mae gan y Pwyllgor aelodau sy’n Ymddiriedolwyr ac eraill sy’n swyddogion. Bydd unrhyw swyddog sy’n cymryd rhan yn cael disgrifiad swydd. Mae cylch gorchwyl wedi’i lunio i’r Grŵp. Etholwyd John Bowles i’r Gadair ac mae Trish Calderbank ein Hysgrifennydd Aelodaeth wedi cytuno’n garedig i fod yn Ysgrifennydd Cofnodion.

Er mai’r bwriad gwreiddiol oedd cwrdd 3 gwaith y flwyddyn yn unig, cafodd y Pwyllgor 5 cyfarfod arlein yn 2024. Bydd swmp y gwaith sydd ei angen yn pennu i raddau helaeth pa mor aml bydd yn cwrdd yn ystod y flwyddyn nesaf.

Cyllid yw un o’r pynciau yng nghylch gorchwyl ASC, ond y rôl yw cynorthwyo’r Trysorydd i ffurfio prosesau ac ati. Wedyn bydd y cyngor a ddatblygir yn cael ei roi i’r Pwyllgor Rheoli ac yna i’r Cyngor. Bydd adroddiad Cyllid llawn yn cael ei ddarparu mewn man arall yn rhan o’r Adroddiad Blynyddol.

Mae Aelodaeth hefyd yn rhan o gylch gorchwyl ASC, a gwnaed rhai mân newidiadau i’r ffurflen gais aelodaeth er mwyn gwneud pethau’n gliriach i’r ymgeiswyr tro cyntaf. Mae’r adroddiad aelodaeth yn annibynnol yn yr Adroddiad Blynyddol.

Diogelu

Mae gan CGC bolisi ac arweiniad ar Ddiogelu ar ei gwefan a byddwn yn cynghori cymdeithasau i nodi’r argymhellion hyn. Yn ystod 2024 ni chafodd unrhyw faterion Diogelu eu hadrodd neu eu nodi. Cafodd Polisi Diogelu CGC a’i Harweiniad i Gymdeithasau eu hadolygu ym mis Tachwedd 2024 ac mae’n dal i fod heb ei newid.

9 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Yswiriant

O egluro ymhellach, yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, y diffiniadau o’r mathau o aelodau sydd gennym yn CGC, bu’n bosibl i ni sicrhau bod pawb sydd ag angen yswiriant yn ei gael am gost sy’n gyfartal i bawb.

Eleni gofynnon ni am ddyfynbrisiau gan ddau frocer, Jensten, a oedd yn arfer bod yn frocer i ni tan y llynedd a’n brocer presennol Howden (a fu gydag Aston Lark), y cwmni sy’n frocer i’r BBKA. Gwrthododd Jensten roi dyfynbris eleni a rhoddodd Howden ddyfynbris wedi’i gefnogi gan AVIVA, ychydig yn fwy na’r llynedd yn unig, sef £1837.51 am ein Hatebolrwydd Cyhoeddus a Chynnyrch. Hefyd, cafodd yr yswiriant i aelodau’r Pwyllgor Cymdeithasau a’r Ymddiriedolwyr ei adnewyddu gyda’r un cwmni â’r llynedd.

Ond, fel y nodais y llynedd mai dim ond “Cynhyrchu a darparu cynhyrchion cynradd cychod” mae ein hyswiriant Atebolrwydd Cynnyrch yn ei gynnwys ac nid cynhyrchion sydd â chynhyrchion nad ydyn nhw’n rhan o gychod wedi’u hychwanegu fel rhai deunyddiau caboli, balmau, ac elïau. Mae’r arweiniad a gyhoeddwyd y llynedd yn dal yr un fath. Y cyngor gorau i unrhyw un sy’n cynhyrchu cynhyrchion fel hyn yw chwilio am yswiriant arall.

Yr unig newid arall fu cytundeb i yswirio aelodau am weithgareddau sy’n gysylltiedig ag olrhain nythod y Cacwn Asia, ond nid, hyd yma, â’u dinistrio nhw.

Iechyd a Diogelwch

Oherwydd amgylchiadau, fuodd hi ddim yn bosibl i John Pilgrim, ein Swyddog Iechyd a Diogelwch, ddarparu adroddiad llawn.

Er mwyn ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedwyd y llynedd:

Yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf rydym wedi adolygu ein Polisi Iechyd a Diogelwch ac wedi cynghori bod ein Haelod-Gymdeithasau’n gwneud y canlynol:

a. Cynhyrchu dogfen debyg

b. Enwebu aelod o’r Pwyllgor i fod yn gyfrifol am sicrhau bod asesiadau risg priodol yn cael eu cynnal ac unrhyw gamau angenrheidiol yn cael eu cymryd yn unol â’r awgrymiadau a wnaed yn “Asesiadau Risg – Canllaw syml” sydd ar ein gwefan.

Hyd yn hyn dydy pob Cymdeithas ddim wedi cynhyrchu tystiolaeth o eu bod yn cydymffurfio â’r arweiniad hwn sydd wedi’i fwriadu’n dda.

Bydd peidio â chymryd camau i nodi risgiau a sicrhau bod y rhai sydd angen gwybod beth a ddisgwylir ganddynt yn golygu na ddangosir tystiolaeth o’r ddyletswydd gofal sy’n ofynnol. Byddwn i’n awgrymu, lle nad yw’r canllawiau sylfaenol hyn yn cael eu dilyn, fod hyn yn dangos amarch tuag at ddiogelwch ac iechyd y cyhoedd ac aelodau, yn enwedig aelodau newydd y gallan nhw fod yn anymwybodol o’r risgiau y maen nhw’n eu hwynebu.

Nid adroddwyd am unrhyw Ddigwyddiadau o ran Iechyd a Diogelwch yn 2024.

Dysgu a Datblygu (L&D) – yn cynnwys Adroddiad yr Ysgrifennydd Arholiadau

Cyfarfodydd

Daliodd yr is-bwyllgor Dysgu a Datblygu ati i gynnal cyfarfodydd rhithwir chwarterol rheolaidd trwy gydol 2024.

10 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Bu nifer o newidiadau eleni i aelodaeth yr is-bwyllgor. Mae’r cadeirydd, Caroline Mullinex, ar absenoldeb tosturiol o bob rôl CGC ers mis Mehefin 2024 ac rydyn ni’n ddiolchgar i Paul Pearce sydd wedi camu i rôl y cadeirydd. Ymddeolodd Karen Pratt o rôl ysgrifennydd Dysgu a Datblygu yn nechrau mis Mawrth 2024. Hyd yma, dydyn ni ddim wedi dod o hyd i unrhyw un i ymgymryd â’r rôl hon y mae Jenny Shaw yn ei gwneud ar hyn o bryd. Rydyn ni’n croesawu Sue Taylor a benodwyd i swydd y Swyddog Ysgolion ym mis Mawrth 2024 a Ceri Joyner a fydd yn dod yn Ysgrifennydd Arholiadau yn 2025 pan fydd Liz Childerley yn gorffen gwneud y swydd. Disgwylir y bydd y trosglwyddo’n ddidrafferth.

Mae’r pwyllgor Dysgu a Datblygu wedi parhau i weithio gyda’r Pwyllgorau Golygyddol a Digwyddiadau i roi cynnwys i’r cylchgrawn a mewnbwn i Raglen Cynulliad y Gwanwyn.

Diolchwn i bawb sy’n rhoi o’u hamser a’u harbenigedd i ddatblygu a chyflwyno cyfleoedd dysgu i wenynwyr yng Nghymru a thu hwnt.

Arholiadau ac Asesiadau

Llwyddodd 24 o aelodau i basio Asesiad Sylfaenol CGC yn 2024, llawer â chlod ac ychydig â rhagoriaeth.

Llwyddodd 14 o aelodau iau i basio Asesiad Iau CGC yn 2024 ac mae’r arweiniad i aseswyr ar gyfer y dyfarniad hwn yn cael ei adolygu ar hyn o bryd mewn pryd i asesiadau 2025.

Er mwyn hwyluso’r rôl o benodi aseswyr a threfnu asesiadau, cytunwyd, o 2025, y byddai’r dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau i sefyll Asesiadau Sylfaenol neu Iau CGC yn cael ei wneud yn gynharach o 1 Mai i 1 Ebrill.

Bu 4 aelod CGC yn llwyddiannus wrth ennill Tystysgrif Iechyd Gwenyn (BHC) BBKA yn 2024. Cafodd digwyddiadau Hyfforddi’r Hyfforddwr Iechyd Gwenyn BBKA a oedd i fod i ddigwydd yn 2024 eu gohirio tan 2025 ac mae rhai aelodau CGC wedi sicrhau lleoedd ar y digwyddiadau a aildrefnwyd er mwyn gallu cefnogi’r gwaith o baratoi ymgeiswyr i sefyll y Dystysgrif Iechyd Gwenyn. Os bydd nifer aelodau CGC sy’n sefyll yr asesiad hwn yn cynyddu yn y dyfodol, mae’n debygol y byddai cael rhagor o aseswyr yng Nghymru yn ddefnyddiol.

O ran y modiwlau, unwaith eto cafodd aelodau CGC rai canlyniadau da yn 2024. Llwyddodd 7 ym mis Mawrth gyda 3 ar lefel clod. Ym mis Tachwedd cafwyd llwyddiannau gyda 7 modiwl hefyd – 2 gyda chlod a 3 gyda rhagoriaeth. Dyfarnwyd y Dystysgrif Ganolradd i 2 aelod CGC yn 2024.

Darparon ni 1 lleoliad arholiad ym mis Mawrth a mis Tachwedd i ymgeiswyr nad oedden nhw’n dymuno sefyll arholiadau’r modiwl ar-lein ac rydyn ni wedi parhau i gefnogi aelodau CGC sy’n sefyll arholiadau ac asesiadau BBKA trwy dalu ffioedd aelodaeth arholiadau drostyn nhw.

Rydyn ni’n llongyfarch pob un o’r ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus ac yn diolch i bawb sydd wedi helpu i hwyluso’r arholiadau a’r asesiadau hyn i’n haelodau.

Yn hydref 2024 dechreuodd y BBKA drafod â CGC er mwyn adolygu sut mae aelodaeth arholiadau BBKA yn cael ei darparu, sydd wedi galluogi aelodau CGC i sefyll modiwlau ac asesiadau BBKA heb fod rhaid iddyn nhw fod yn aelodau BBKA yn barod. Mae’r trafodaethau i gael darpariaeth yn lle aelodaeth arholiadau BBKA yn parhau.

Gweminarau

Digwyddodd 6 gweminar byw arall yn 2024 ar amrywiaeth o bynciau, gan ddod â chyfanswm gweminarau CGC a gyflwynwyd bellach i 49. Ers i ni ddechrau’r gyfres gweminarau yn 2020, mae tua 10,000 wedi cofrestru i’w dilyn. Fel arfer, rydyn ni’n gallu rhoi dolen i unrhyw un sydd wedi cofrestru

11 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

er mwyn gwylio ar “dal i fyny” am gyfnod cyfyngedig fel nad oes angen i unrhyw un golli allan oherwydd gwrthdaro yn y dyddiadur neu oherwydd cysylltedd gwael.

Rydyn ni’n dal i fod yn hynod ddiolchgar i bawb sydd wedi cyflwyno yn ein gweminarau, ac i bawb sydd wedi’u cefnogi nhw, o fewn CGC a thu hwnt.

Ysgolion

Mae’r gwaith yn parhau o hyd i ddarparu adnoddau ar gyfer gwenyna mewn ysgolion. Mae arweiniad a gwybodaeth ar gael oddi wrth y Swyddog Ysgolion ar schools@wbka.com

Arian Grant Wax Chandler

2024 oedd blwyddyn olaf cyfnod y cyllid grant 3 blynedd a, gyda chymorth uniongyrchol y cyllid hwn, llwyddon ni gynnal/cefnogi’r digwyddiadau canlynol i aelodau CGC: -

Mae’r adroddiad adborth blynyddol olaf i’r Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers yn cael ei baratoi a bydd hwn yn cael ei gyhoeddi mewn rhifyn o Gwenynwyr Cymru yn ystod 2025.

Unwaith eto, rydyn ni’n diolch i bawb sydd wedi helpu i gyflwyno a hwyluso’r digwyddiadau hyn ac yn ategu ein diolch i’r Wax Chandlers y mae eu cyllid hael wedi gwneud y rhaglen hon yn bosibl.

Llyfrynnau

Dechreuon ni weld a fyddai hi’n bosibl cyhoeddi llyfryn newydd gan CGC yn ystod 2023 ond yn anffodus, bu’n rhaid gohirio’r gwaith ar hyn ond bydd yn cael ei barhau yn 2025.

Pwyllgor Digwyddiadau

Eleni cynhaliwyd Cynulliad y Gwanwyn ar 23 Mawrth. Roedd ychydig yn llai o fynychwyr o gymharu â blynyddoedd blaenorol, 379. Roedd 13 stondin Fasnach, a 5 stondin o ddiddordeb cyffredinol. Hefyd cynhaliwyd 2 weithdy yn ystod y dydd, un yn cael ei redeg gan Lynfa Davies ar ‘Ble dwi’n dechrau’, a’r llall ‘Dangos Mêl’ wedi’i redeg gan Paul Boyle. Cefnogodd 22 o stiwardiaid y gwaith o redeg y sioe ar yr y diwrnod yn ogystal â’r aelodau a helpodd i osod popeth ar y dydd Gwener. Eleni eto, defnyddion ni Sum Up ar gyfer taliadau ymlaen llaw ac ar y drws, felly roedd yr aelodau’n gallu defnyddio cerdyn credyd neu ddebyd i dalu.

Yn ystod Gŵyl y Gwanwyn, 18/19 Mai, cefnogodd 13 aelod i stiwardio’r stondin; rhannon ni’r stondin gyda thîm SBI. Helpodd aelodau o’r tîm digwyddiadau, Martin Anderson, Alan Burford, Vicky Davies, Jill a Graham Wheeler, i osod y stondin a’i thynnu i lawr. Bu’r stondin yn boblogaidd gan aelodau’r cyhoedd a gwenynwyr, a chodwyd £30 i Bees Abroad wrth rolio canhwyllau. Darparodd Alan gwch arsylwi wedi’i fenthyg oddi wrth wenynwr lleol. Erbyn hyn mae CGC wedi prynu ei chwch arsylwi ei hun.

Yn ystod y Sioe Frenhinol o 22 i 25 Gorffennaf, roedden ni yn ôl yn Neuadd De Morgannwg. Helpodd 18 aelod i stiwardio’r stondin dros y pedwar diwrnod; rhannon ni’r stondin gyda thîm SBI. Mae’n rhaid diolch i aelodau canlynol y tîm digwyddiadau a helpodd o ran gosod a rhedeg y stondin yn llwyddiannus. Martin Anderson, Alan Burford, Vicky Davies, Jill a Graham Wheeler.

12 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Mae’r gwaith i gynllunio Cynulliad Gwanwyn 2025 ar y gweill gyda masnachwyr a phedwar siaradwr wedi’u trefnu: Anerchiad agoriadol Meistr Wax Chandler, Lynda Marston-Weston.

Yr Athro Emeritws Stephen Martin (Prifysgol Salford, Manceinion, y DU): Gwyddor ymwrthedd varroa (Wedi’i noddi gan BDI)

Martin Bencsik: Dirgryniadau mewn cwch

Stephen Fleming: Hud a dirgelwch yr ardaloedd lle mae gwenyn gwryw yn ymgasglu

Christine Coulsting: Archwilio cychod

Mae’r tîm wedi cyfarfod dair gwaith yn ystod y flwyddyn ac mae Alan Burford, fel y prif ymddiriedolwr, wedi mynychu cyfarfod o Bwyllgor Sioe Fêl Genedlaethol Sioe Amaethyddol Frenhinol Cymru.

Y Pwyllgor Golygyddol – gan gynnwys Adroddiad y Golygydd.

Mae’r pwyllgor Golygyddol yn cwrdd yn rhithwir cyn pob rhifyn sydd i ddod o Gwenynwyr Cymru er mwyn edrych dros y cylchgrawn drafft, ac i gynllunio pa ddeunydd sydd ei angen neu sydd wedi cael ei dderbyn ar gyfer y rhifyn canlynol. Cynhaliwyd cyfarfodydd ym mis Mawrth, Ebrill, Mehefin, Hydref a Rhagfyr.

Mae Vicky Davies o Lŷn ac Eifionydd, yr Ymddiriedolwr Selwyn Runnett a’r Swyddog Ysgolion newydd, Sue Taylor, wedi’u croesawu i’r tîm.

Adolygodd y tîm y Cylch Gorchwyl yn ystod yr haf a hefyd cytunon nhw i godi’r ffioedd hysbysebu 10%, gyda gostyngiad yn y disgownt sy’n cael ei roi i hysbysebion ym mhob un o’r 4 rhifyn o 15 i 10%. Mae’r tîm yn rhagweld y gall fod gostyngiad yn yr incwm hysbysebu o ganlyniad i benderfyniad Cyngor CGC i atal hysbysebion i werthu gwenyn yn y cylchgrawn.

Hefyd penderfynwyd tocio'r gystadleuaeth ffotograffiaeth i fod yn un flynyddol. Mae clawr blaen pob rhifyn am y flwyddyn yn dangos un o’r 4 cynnig gorau.

Golygyddol

Rydyn ni wedi cynhyrchu tri rhifyn 48 tudalen o’r cylchgrawn eleni ac un (rhifyn y gaeaf) gyda 32 tudalen gydag amrywiaeth dda o erthyglau ymarferol, technegol a difyr, ac adolygiadau llyfrau. Rydyn ni wedi cefnogi Cynulliad Gwanwyn CGC drwy hysbysebu a chynhyrchu erthyglau gan y siaradwyr. Rydyn ni wedi cael Swyddog Cydlynu ag Ysgolion newydd, sef Sue Taylor a fydd yn rhoi bywyd newydd i’r tudalennau gwenynwyr ifanc ac mae John Bowles yn cyfrannu diweddariad rheolaidd ynghylch y sefyllfa o ran Cacynen Felyngoes Asia – cefnogwyd yr olaf gan erthygl ar gylchred bywyd y gacynen wedi’i godi o BBKA News. Rydyn ni’n ddiolchgar i BBKA News am ganiatâd i ddefnyddio nifer o erthyglau ar bynciau fel mêl amrwd a chyfres lawn gwybodaeth Joyce Nesbit am grwybrau ac adrannau wedi’u torri. Cefnogwyd y penderfyniad i beidio â chynnwys hysbysebion i werthu gwenyn gan erthygl gan Lynfa Davies ynghylch prynu a dod o hyd i wenyn. Hefyd rydyn ni wedi cefnogi’r elusennau Bees Abroad a Bees for Development gydag adroddiadau o’u gwaith. Denodd y gystadleuaeth ffotograffiaeth rai cyfraniadau da o nifer cyfyngedig o ymgeiswyr, a symudon ni i gael cystadleuaeth flynyddol, nad yw wedi codi’r diddordeb gan ddarllenwyr eto. Diolch i Vita Bee Health am noddi’r gystadleuaeth. Yn olaf, diolch i’r Tîm Golygyddol am eu cefnogaeth ac i Vicky Davies am ymgymryd â rôl Golygydd Cynorthwyol ac am ei gwybodaeth arbenigol.

IMYB (Cyfarfod Rhyngwladol Gwenynwyr Ifanc/International Meeting of Young Beekeepers)

13 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Cynhaliwyd cyfarfod IMYB yn 2024 yn Dubai ym mis Rhagfyr 2024. Roedd teithio i’r digwyddiad yn ddrud iawn a chytunwyd y byddai’n rhaid i unrhyw fynychwyr o Gymru dalu drostyn nhw eu hunain. Gofynnwyd i’r Aelod-Gymdeithasau a oedd ganddyn nhw unrhyw aelodau iau a fyddai â diddordeb mewn mynychu’r digwyddiad a doedd dim unrhyw ymatebion cadarnhaol. Aeth dim tîm o CGC i IMYB 2024. Cynhelir cyfarfod nesaf IMYB yn 2026 mewn lleoliad nad yw wedi’i gyhoeddi eto.

Gwefeistr

Cawson ni Wefeistr newydd yn ystod yr haf: sylwodd neb ar y newid, sy’n ddelfrydol. Mae gwefan y Gymdeithas yn drefnus ac mae’n rhaid cydnabod gwaith deiliaid cynharach y swydd.

Mae ystadegau mynediad manwl yn cael eu casglu’n rheolaidd ac mae croeso i bawb eu cael oddi wrth y Gwefeistr. Mae’r defnydd yn sefydlog r y cyfan – yn fisol gallen ni ddisgwyl 5000-6000 o ymweliadau oddi wrth 4000 o bobl wahanol. Mae mwyafrif llethol defnyddwyr y wefan o’r DU, ac mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r ymweliadau’n fyr iawn (llai na 1 funud). Mae amrywiaeth o gyhoeddiadau wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol i bobl eu lawrlwytho, yr amlaf yw “Rheoli Heidiau”.

Ychydig iawn y mae cynnwys y wefan wedi newid, ac eithrio diweddariadau rheolaidd o bryd i’w gilydd fel y cylchgrawn. Bydd croeso i unrhyw awgrymiadau am bethau ychwanegol neu newidiadau. Felly hefyd, mae’n bosibl postio eitemau sy’n ddiddorol o ran newyddion yn gyflym iawn.

Hefyd, mae’r gwefeistr yn gweinyddu cyfeiriadau e-bost CGC – eleni bu sawl ymgais i we-rwydo ( phishing ) rhai o’r rhain ond mae modd defnyddio synnwyr cyffredin bron bob amser i’w baglu nhw. Serch hynny, rydyn ni’n atgoffa pawb i drin negeseuon electronig anarferol yn ofalus: byddai’n llawer iawn gwell gennym gael neges am rywbeth sy’n ddiniwed yn y pen draw na bod unigolion di-fai yn cael eu denu i sgam.

Rhywogaethau Estron Goresgynnol

Ar ôl trafodaeth hir, penderfynodd y Tîm Rheoli y dylai CGC benodi Swyddog Rhywogaethau Estron Goresgynnol o blith ei Hymddiriedolwyr er mwyn arwain ar weithgaredd y Gacynen Felyngoes (Asia) yng Nghymru. I ddechrau, roedd y drafodaeth am benodi arweiniad ar Gacynen Asia, ond gan fod chwilen fach y cwch yn bresennol yn Ewrop a Tropilaelaps yng Ngogledd Ewrop, penderfynwyd ehangu’r swydd / ei gwneud yn addas i’r dyfodol. Bydd Wally Shaw yn dal i arwain ar bolisi ac arweiniad ar Varroa.

Y brif eitem y byddwn yn ei hystyried yma, serch hynny, fydd ein hymateb i fygythiad posibl y Gacynen Felyngoes i wenyna a bioamrywiaeth yng Nghymru. Byddwch yn sylwi ein bod ni nawr yn defnyddio’r term Cacynen Felyngoes yn hytrach na Chacynen Asia gan fod llawer o Gacwn Asia ond dim un Gacynen Felyngoes (un o’i nodweddion mwyaf amlwg). Mae’r term Cacynen Asia yn aml yn creu dryswch gyda’r cyfryngau’n ei chymysgu â Chacynen Gawraidd Asia sy’n bygwth rhannau o Ogledd America ar hyn o bryd.

Does dim adroddiadau am unrhyw un wedi ei gweld yng Nghymru neu’n agos at y gororau ond o gofio pa mor gyflym yr ymledodd hi ar draws Ewrop o un wenynen feichiog wedi’i mewnforio, allwn ni ddim cau ein llygaid i’r bygythiad. Y dull y mae CGC wedi’i fabwysiadu yw gweithio gyda chyrff eraill a gofyn i bob Cymdeithas benodi Cydlynydd Cacynen Felyngoes i’w hardal, gyda chefnogaeth tîm o wirwyr yn ogystal â chodi ymwybyddiaeth ymysg y cyhoedd am y pla hwn. Byddai’r Cydlynwyr yn cwrdd bob dau i dri mis i drafod y strategaeth. Byddai ER2 drwy BDI yn helpu gyda’r cyfathrebu a’r mapio. Mae’r Grŵp wedi cwrdd dair gwaith yn 2024, ond mae’r ymateb, ar y cyfan, wedi bod yn siomedig. Dydy llawer o

14 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

gymdeithasau ddim wedi penodi Cydlynwyr ac mae’r nifer sy’n mynychu’r grŵp Cydlynwyr wedi bod yn ddarniog ar y gorau. Bydd Martin Smith o BDI yn annerch y cyfarfod nesaf ar 20 Ionawr.

Yn 2023 roedd nifer y nythod (72) a ddinistriwyd, ac ymlediad y nythod newydd hynny yn creu digalondid a’r farn bod poblogaeth o’r Cacwn Melyngoes wedi ymsefydlu’n barod yn Lloegr. Roedd hi’n amlwg bod rhai breninesau wedi’u paru wedi llwyddo i oroesi’r gaeaf yn y DU, am y tro cyntaf o bosibl, felly roedd hi’n rhyddhad clywed bod nifer y nythod a ddarganfuwyd yn 2024 (24) dipyn yn is nag yn 2023. Mae’n aneglur beth oedd wedi achosi hyn ond efallai i’r holl law a’r merddwr gyfrannu at hyn. Beth bynnag yw’r achos, dylen ni fod yn ddiolchgar. Efallai bydd yr holl law dros y gaeaf hwn ac yna’r rhew yn ein helpu eto yn y flwyddyn i ddod. Fel dywedwyd uchod, allwn ni ddim cau ein llygaid i’r bygythiad – gallai’r sefyllfa newid yn gyflym iawn. Pan fydd y gacynen yn amlwg wedi ymsefydlu, bydd hi’n rhy hwyr. Hyd yn oed os nad yw wedi ymsefydlu, bydd pwysau’r boblogaeth o’r Cyfandir ac Ynysoedd y Sianel yn ei gwneud hi’n llawer mwy tebygol y bydd breninesau’r Gacynen Asiaidd yn cael eu cludo’n uniongyrchol (ar gerbydau, mewn faniau, ar longau) i Gymru. Pan fydd cannoedd o filoedd o nythod hyfyw mewn gwledydd eraill, mae’n llawer mwy tebygol na phan oedd llond dwrn yn unig.

Mae nifer o erthyglau wedi’u cyhoeddi yn Gwenynwyr Cymru am y Gacynen Felyngoes gan gynnwys tair wedi’i hysgrifennu gan y Swyddog Rhywogaethau Estron Goresgynnol.

Swyddog Technegol

Gwasanaeth Archwilio Gwenyn - Mae ein Harchwiliwr Gwenyn Rhanbarthol (RBI) blaenorol, Maggie Gill, wedi symud i weithio ar Tropilaelaps ac yn ei lle mae Daniel Baxter wedi’i benodi dros dro – dydy’r penodiad ddim wedi’i gadarnhau’n un parhaol eto. Oherwydd na fu llawer iawn o achosion o Gacwn Asia eleni, bu llai o alwadau ar Archwilwyr Gwenyn Tymhorol (SBI) ac mae wedi bod yn bosibl cael rhaglen gymharol normal o ran archwilio gwenyn. Mae’r RBI wedi paratoi adroddiad llawn iawn o’r flwyddyn a gaiff ei gyhoeddi yn Rhifyn y Gwanwyn o Gwenynwyr Cymru . Mae’r Gwasanaeth Archwilio Gwenyn wedi bod yn bresennol hefyd mewn nifer o ddigwyddiadau ac felly sefydlwyd cysylltiadau cyfeillgar â nifer o wenynwyr.

Datblygiadau yn ystod 2024 – Dydw i ddim yn ymwybodol o unrhyw ddatblygiadau nodedig yng Nghymru yn ystod y flwyddyn. Eleni, mae llai o nythod Cacwn Asia (YLH) (yr enw newydd bellach yw Cacwn Felyngoes Asia er mwyn osgoi dryswch â nifer o rywogaethau cacwn eraill sydd yn Asia) wedi cael eu darganfod eleni, 24 o gymharu â 72 yn 2023. Dinistriwyd pob un. Dangosodd dadansoddiad genetig o’r nythod hyn bod dau yn perthyn i nythod o’r flwyddyn flaenorol. Dyma’r enghraifft gyntaf hysbys o’r gacynen wedi gallu cwblhau ei chylchred bywyd a chynhyrchu breninesau ffrwythlon a oroesodd y gaeaf. Hyd yma, dydy’r Gacynen Felyngoes ddim wedi dangos llawer o allu i ymledu tua’r gogledd (mae’r rhan fwyaf o nythod wedi bod yn ne-ddwyrain a de Lloegr) ond wyddon ni ddim o hyd a fydd hinsawdd yn cyfyngu ar y rhywogaeth yn y tymor hir. Mae’n ddiddorol ei bod hi’n ymddangos nad yw cacynen Ewrop ( Vespa crabro ) yn gallu ymsefydlu yng ngogledd orllewin Cymru, felly efallai bod rhywfaint o obaith.

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o wenynwyr yng Nghymru wedi cael cynhaeaf gwantan o fêl eleni ond mae eithriadau mewn rhai mannau. Oherwydd y gwanwyn hwyr, bu’r cytrefi’n hir cyn cynyddu eu niferoedd. Doedd hi ddim yn arbennig o gynnes ym misoedd Mai a Mehefin ac roedd mis Gorffennaf yn wlyb iawn. Rhoddodd y breninesau mewn llawer o gytrefi y gorau i ddodwy am ryw wythnos oherwydd y tywydd.

15 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Dim trin am Varroa – Bu mwy o ddiddordeb yn y pwnc hwn yn ystod y flwyddyn a dyma’r broblem. Ar hyn o bryd, mae’r Uned Wenyn Genedlaethol (NBU) yn argymell bod gwenynwyr yn parhau i drin eu cytrefi er mwyn rheoli Varroa. Mae’r cyngor hwn yn un cyfrifol er mwyn osgoi colli nifer fawr o gytrefi, a hynny o bosibl yn annerbyniol. Fodd bynnag, mae wedi dod yn eglur bod cytrefi, o dan yr amgylchiadau cywir, yn gallu meithrin ymwrthedd i Varroa drwy ddetholiad naturiol ac mae rhai gwenynwyr eisoes wedi bod yn llwyddiannus yn hyn o beth. Yn amlwg, byddai’n ddefnyddiol i CGC wneud defnydd o’r profiad hwn. Fodd bynnag, mae nifer o faterion biolegol o hyd y credaf ei bod hi’n hanfodol i ni eu deall yn well er mwyn gallu rhoi’r cyngor gorau i wenynwyr. Rwy’n siŵr y byddai’r rhan fwyaf o wenynwyr yn cytuno nad yw defnyddio cemegion yn ddymunol ac mai ymwrthedd Varroa ddylai fod yn darged i’r dyfodol.

Yn ddiweddar, cyflwynwyd adroddiad am y materion biolegol sydd heb eu datrys i Dîm Rheoli Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru ac mae’n mynd i gael ei drafod. Mae angen trafod cyn penderfynu sut dylen ni fwrw ymlaen. Hefyd, efallai bydd rhaid trafod hyn â’r Uned Wenyn Genedlaethol (NBU).

Cyfrif Cychod Blynyddol – Ailadroddwyd hwn eleni ond does dim canlyniadau ar gael wrth ysgrifennu’r adroddiad hwn.

Lefelau Varroa 2024 – Dim gwybodaeth ar gael.

Cyhoeddiadau Technegol CGC – Mae’r stoc o rai llyfrynnau CGC yn mynd yn isel ond mae angen dod i benderfyniad ynghylch sut byddan nhw’n cael eu darparu yn y dyfodol, ar ffurf print neu ddigidol.

Cyswllt Chwistrellu

Chawson ni ddim ymateb gan yr Uned Wenyn Genedlaethol i’n cais am gymorth i newid y Canllawiau Chwistrellu anghywir a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Ei Fawrhydi. Anfonwyd cais i newid y ddogfen yn uniongyrchol i dîm cefnogi Llywodraeth EF ond ni dderbyniwyd ymateb. Cafwyd awgrym y byddai rhywfaint o oedi oherwydd yr Etholiad Cyffredinol.

Ar hyn o bryd, mae unrhyw hysbysiadau y mae CGC yn eu derbyn yn cael eu hanfon ymlaen i’r gymdeithas briodol, fodd bynnag, does dim dolen sy’n gweithio o hyd o Ganllawiau Chwistrellu EF i Gymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru. Mae dolen sy’n gweithio i’r BBKA.

Fforwm Ymgynghorol Iechyd Gwenyn (BHAF)

Fforwm Ymgynghorol Iechyd Gwenyn (BHAF)

Mae’r Fforwm Cynghori ar Iechyd Gwenyn yn grŵp a noddir gan DEFRA sy’n cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o’r holl brif sefydliadau sy’n ymwneud â chadw gwenyn yn y DU. Mae’r Fforwm yn cynnwys DEFRA, FERA, APHA, yr Uned Wenyn Genedlaethol, y BBKA, Cymdeithas Ffermwyr Gwenyn, BDI a ni yng Nghymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru. Yr amcan yw cydweithio i ddatblygu ac i roi’r arweiniad gorau ar iechyd gwenyn i wenynwyr o bob math. Cynhaliodd y BHAF 5 cyfarfod ar-lein a chynrychiolwyd CGC (ym mhob un).

Cynrychiolwyd CGC gan ddau swyddog o CGC. Ein Swyddog Gwyddonol, Wally Shaw a’r Ymddiriedolwr John Bowles. Yn gynharach yn 2024 penderfynodd Wally ei fod yn dymuno ymddeol o’r rôl hon ar ran

16 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

CGC. Mae aelodau eraill y Fforwm (fel rydyn ni) yn ystyried hyn yn golled fawr i wenyna gan fod Wally, gyda’i ffraethineb a’i “sparkiness”, (nid fy ngeiriau i ond rhai Cadeirydd BHAF) wir wedi helpu i ddatblygu polisi synhwyrol a chadw ein traed ar y llawr. Bydd y Fforwm yn gweld ei eisiau. Mae Paul Pearce, Ymddiriedolwr wedi cytuno i ddod yn ei le. Mewn unrhyw un flwyddyn bydd y BHAF yn trafod nifer o bynciau ond fel y gallwch ddychmygu mae Cacynen Felyngoes Asia wedi bod yn eitem barhaus ar yr agenda a darparwyd adroddiadau rheolaidd. Mae rhagor o wybodaeth am y mater hwn wedi’i chynnwys yn yr eitem sy’n benodol ar y pwnc.

Adroddodd y Fforwm hefyd am ddiweddaru taflenni a thaflenni Cynghori ar Beebase. Mae hyn bellach yn ffynhonnell werthfawr o wybodaeth am gadw gwenyn. Trafodwyd hefyd fanteision rhannu gwybodaeth rhwng Beebase ac eR2.

Ychwanegiad newydd fu’r cyflwyniad ym mhob cyfarfod ar bapur gwyddonol diweddar ar blâu neu glefydau gwenyn. Roedd un o’r rheini ar Tropilaelaps sy’n ymddangos fel petai’n ymledu’n araf ar draws gogledd Ewrop ond nad yw’n cael ei ystyried yn risg sydd ar fin digwydd eto. Mae ymchwil yn parhau yn y DU ar hyn.

Swyddogaeth arall y Fforwm yw datblygu a monitro cynnydd yn erbyn Cynllun Gwenyn Iach 2030 sy’n berthnasol i Gymru a Lloegr. Erbyn hyn, rydyn ni bron â bod 5 mlynedd i mewn i’r cynllun presennol a byddwn ni’n cynnal ‘adolygiad ysgafn’ o gynnydd yn erbyn y cynllun yng Nghymru. Cyflwynir adroddiad i’r Cyngor ar y mater hwn yn y Flwyddyn Newydd.

Nododd yr adolygiad diweddaraf fod CGC wedi parhau i weithredu’r amcanion o dan y cynllun drwy’r canlynol:

*Darparu llyfrynnau addysgol newydd yn ogystal â darparu’r llyfrynnau presennol o’r newydd

*Y gyfres gweminarau

*Annog gwenynwyr i sefyll y Dystysgrif Sylfaenol gan gynnwys recriwtio dau Aseswr newydd

*Cynyddu’r niferoedd sydd â Thystysgrif Iechyd Gwenyn

*Gwerthuso Cwrs Cadw Gwenyn yr NDB gan y rhai sydd wedi ei ddilyn.

Roedd cyfarfod diwethaf 2024 yn un hybrid gyda rhai cynrychiolwyr yn cwrdd wyneb yn wyneb yn Llundain ac eraill yn ymuno’n rhithwir.

Adroddwyd am yr adolygiad i’r Cynllun Gwenyn Iach heb unrhyw newidiadau arwyddocaol. Cafodd llawer o brosiectau eu hadolygu ond yn fyr ac ystyriwyd bod hyn yn fusnes bob dydd. Dim ond prosiectau newydd neu arwyddocaol fydd yn cael eu hadrodd yn rheolaidd mewn cyfarfodydd.

Cafwyd diweddariad ar y 24 o nythod y gacynen felyngoes (YHL) a ganfuwyd yn 2024 a sut dinistriwyd nhw. Mae’n werth nodi’n arbennig bod dadansoddiad genetig wedi dangos bod dau o’r nythod yn cynnwys cacwn melyngoes a oedd wedi goroesi’r gaeaf. Felly, er i’r tywydd gwael leihau nifer y nythod a ganfuwyd; roedd dau wedi goroesi’n llwyddiannus o 2023.

Trafodwyd y bwlch rhwng y defnydd wedi’i reoleiddio o asid ocsalig mewn gwenyn a dim rheoleiddio mewn rhai mathau eraill o dda byw.

Mae gwaith wedi dechrau i edrych ar ddwysedd gwenyn yn y DU. Dylai hyn ddiweddaru data hŷn, nad ydyn nhw o’r DU yn aml, sy’n cael eu dyfynnu mewn astudiaethau.

Tasglu Pryfed Peillio Cymru

17 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Y materion yn gysylltiedig â gwenyn a drafodwyd yn 2024 oedd: -

  1. Rheoli ymylon ffyrdd a dolydd i gynyddu amrywiaeth blodeuol – un toriad (blynyddol) ym mis Awst a beth i’w wneud â sgil-gynhyrchion (toriadau).

  2. Pwysigrwydd coridorau i wella peillwyr ac ati, e.e. cysylltu gwarchodfeydd glöyn byw (Britheg y Gors) yn Sir Benfro a De Cymru a chynllun a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru i greu cysylltiadau cynefinoedd bywyd gwyllt ag Arfordir Penfro.

  3. Casgliad o hadau blodau gwyllt a choed i’w gwerthu a’u dosbarthu – Gardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru, Bannau Brycheiniog a Sir Ddinbych.

  4. Cynlluniau pori er lles cadwraeth er budd peillwyr a bywyd gwyllt.

  5. Taliadau’r Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy i ffermwyr.

CONBA (Cyngor Cymdeithasau Gwenyna Cenedlaethol)

Cyfarfu CONBA 4 gwaith yn 2024 a chynrychiolwyd CGC ym mhob un o’r cyfarfodydd hynny. Adolygwyd Cyfansoddiad CONBA a’i newid i gyfyngu’r pleidleisio mewn cyfarfodydd i un bleidlais i bob aelod-gymdeithas. Gosodwyd y tâl blynyddol ar bob cymdeithas aelod ar 5c fesul aelod o gymdeithas cadw gwenyn. Dylai unrhyw arian sy’n cronni gael ei ddefnyddio er budd cadw gwenyn yn y DU. Ym mis Hydref newidiodd cadeirydd CONBA o’r BBKA i Gymdeithas Cadw Gwenyn Ulster (UBKA). Crëwyd dolenni o wefan CONBA i wefannau’r holl aelod-gymdeithasau.

Trafodwyd dod yn aelod o Gymdeithas Cadw Gwenyn Ewrop sydd newydd ei sefydlu, a chytunwyd na fyddai CONBA yn dod yn aelod ar hyn o bryd. Mae’r pynciau a drafodwyd yn ystod y flwyddyn wedi cynnwys Cacynen Felyngoes Asia; mêl ffug; dyfarniad 2024 ar y term ‘mêl amrwd’; mewnforio mêl rhad; y nifer cynyddol o freninesau sy’n cael eu mewnforio i Dde Iwerddon gan ddefnyddio rheolau’r UE i osgoi’r gwiriadau ar ffiniau’r DU.

Trafodwyd digwyddiad yn y DU ar gyfer gwenynwyr ifanc yn 2025 ond hyd yma does dim sôn am unrhyw gamau pellach hyd yma.

Disgwylir i CONBA gyfarfod nesaf ym mis Ebrill 2025.

NDB (Diploma Cenedlaethol mewn Gwenyna)

Cyflwynwyd adroddiad ar ganlyniadau’r arholiadau. Nododd y Pwyllgor y canlynol i gael sylw:

Diweddarwyd y maes llafur ddiwethaf yn 2009.

Mae arholwyr yn heneiddio ac mae llai o arholwyr newydd na’r disgwyl yn cymhwyso, sy’n arwain at brinder.

Y bwriad yw rhedeg y cwrs NDB Uwch nesaf o 4 i 9 Gorffennaf.

Sioe Amaethyddol Frenhinol Cymru (RWAS)

Cyfarfu Pwyllgor y Sioe Fêl ar 8.10.24 pan drafodwyd y canlynol :-

18 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

Yr Archif

Mae Archifau CGC yn dal i gael eu cadw yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru yn Aberystwyth ac ar gyfrifiadur. Mae’r ddwy’n cael eu diweddaru’n rheolaidd.

ADRODDIADAU A ATODWYD

Atodiad 1: Aelodaeth 2024

Atodiad 2: Cyfrifon Blwyddyn Ariannol 2024

Atodiad 3: Cyllideb Diwedd Blwyddyn 2024 a Chyllideb 2025

------------------------------------------------

Datganiad: Mae’r Ymddiriedolwyr yn datgan iddynt gymeradwyo adroddiad yr ymddiriedolwyr uchod

Llofnodwyd ar ran ymddiriedolwyr yr elusen.

Llofnod:

Enw llawn: Caroline Mullinex

Swydd: Cadeirydd

Dyddiad:

19 Adroddiad Blynyddol CGC/WBKA 2024 (drafft terfynol)

THE WELSH BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

CYMDEITHAS GWENYNWYR CYMRU

Established/Sefydlwyd 1943 Registered Charity – No 509929

Annual Report

1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024

Trustees: Chair Caroline Mullinex (elected AGM 2022) Vice Chair Karen Pratt (elected AGM 2022 resigned AGM 2024) Treasurer Graham Wheeler (re-elected AGM 2024) General Secretary Jenny Shaw (re-elected AGM 2023) Christopher Clarke (re-elected AGM 2021 retired AGM 2024) David John Bowles (re-elected Trustee AGM 2023) Keith Davies (re-elected AGM 2023) David Grace (elected AGM 2022) Paul Pearce (elected AGM 2024) Alan Burford (elected AGM 2024) Selwyn Runnett (co-opted 15[th] May 2024)) Ceri Joyner (co-opted 11[th] September 2024)

Officers: President David John Bowles (elected AGM 2021 retired AGM 2024) Jill Wheeler (elected AGM 2024) Vice-presidents Fred Eckton Membership Secretary Trish Calderbank Minutes Secretary post vacant Events Secretary Jill Wheeler Exam Secretary Liz Childerley Website Manager Alison Mason (retired April 2024) Roger Boyle (appointed April 2024) Editor Basil Wolf Subeditor Elin Meek Proofreader Chris Clarke Technical Officer Wally Shaw Insurance Officer John Bowles Non-Native Invasive Species Officer – John Bowles (post created 2024) Health & Safety Officer John Pilgrim WBKA Archive Karen Pratt IMYB Officer Richard Pett Schools Officer Sue Taylor (appointed March 2024)

Specialist Members:

National Botanic Gardens of Wales BIBBA (Bee Improvement & Bee Breeders’ Association)

Patrons:

Professor Robert Pickard Master Wax Chandler (AGM 2024)

All trustees and WBKA officers give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. The WBKA is indebted to these volunteers for their continued goodwill and efforts on behalf

1 GCG/WBKA Annual Report 2024 (final)

of the Association.

The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Our Aims & Objectives:

The encouragement, improvement and advancement of beekeeping throughout Wales by:

Administration

The Trustees listed above meet as the WBKA Management Team. A list of meetings during the year can be found at the end of this section of the report.

The Trustees met with the WBKA Council three times (March, June, and November) to report on the actions of the Management Team and to seek guidance from the membership. All but the March meeting were held virtually. At each of these meetings a minimum of 63% (12) of the WBKA Member Associations were represented and overall, 90% (17) Associations attended at least one meeting. Minutes of all Council meetings have been circulated via Association Secretaries. Council meetings are scheduled for March 8th, June 28[th] and November 1[st] in 2025. To reduce the length of Council meetings, Officers reports are written and circulated before the meeting. These are referenced as required by sub-committee leads during their summary reports. Council Representatives have the opportunity to question and comment on the reports.

The Management Team met nine times in 2024 and to reduce travelling all the meetings were virtual. The Management Team will meet at least four times in 2025, and the first meeting is scheduled for January 10th. The method and date of Management Team meetings reflects the availability and home addresses of the Trustees to ensure that there is maximum attendance and that minimum travelling expenses are incurred. Between scheduled meetings of the Management Team procedures have been agreed to obtain agreement from trustees for any urgent matters. A standard agenda format has been agreed and adopted. Full minutes of all Management Team meetings have been circulated via the Member Association secretaries. Both the webinar and virtual meeting licences were renewed in October 2024 and most Management Team meetings will continue to be held virtually to reduce the requirement to travel. The virtual meeting licences are available for Member Associations of the WBKA to use for their meetings.

Where appropriate to their roles non-Trustee officers of the WBKA have been invited to attend Management Team meetings during 2024 to assist the work of the trustees.

The policies of the WBKA have been updated and amended where necessary. Guidance documents on Health & Safety, Safeguarding and DBS are on the WBKA website to guide member associations and have links to the current legislation and guidance applicable in Wales. This is to help associations to ensure that they are compliant in their activities. Guidance for WBKA Officers giving presentations or reports about the WBKA to external bodies has also been agreed.

2 GCG/WBKA Annual Report 2024 (final)

One of the WBKA Trustees attended a Protecting Data Webinar on the 4th November run by the Welsh Office of the Information Commission Office (ICO). The WBKA is continuing to investigate the need to register with the ICO for data processing and how it might best amend its Data Protection Policy to ensure full compliance. Other charitable organisations are being viewed to try to establish what is practical best practice without tying the WBKA to a bureaucratic millstone.

The WBKA have worked with Anaphylaxis UK to help raise awareness of severe allergic reactions to bee stings. The Management Team have also considered how landowners can be encouraged to inform beekeepers about any planned use of pesticides on their land. Poisoning of honey bees by pesticides does not appear to be a significant problem in Wales. A guidance document will be put on the WBKA website in 2025.

In 2023 the review of the structure of the WBKA was completed and implemented. The terms of reference for all WBKA sub-committees have been reviewed as part of this undertaking. Much of the day-to-day business of the WBKA is now undertaken by four sub-committees each chaired by a WBKA Trustee and reporting to the Management Team. These sub-committees and their members are listed below: -

Administration and Support: Chair - John Bowles (Trustee, Insurance Officer and Non-Native Invasive Species), Graham Wheeler (Trustee and Treasurer), Jenny Shaw (Trustee and General Secretary), David Grace (Trustee & Safeguarding Officer), Paul Pearce (Trustee), Trish Calderbank (Membership Secretary and minute taker for sub-committee), John Pilgrim (Health and Safety Officer), Keith Davies (Trustee)

Learning & Development: Chair – Paul Pearce (Trustee) (Caroline Mullinex (Trustee until June), Jenny Shaw (Trustee and acting Sub Committee secretary), Ceri Joyner (Trustee), Liz Childerley (Exams Secretary), Sue Taylor (Schools’ Officer), Wally Shaw (Technical Officer), Roger Boyle (Webmaster), Lynfa Davies, Trisha Marlow.

Events: Chair – Alan Burford (Trustee), Graham Wheeler (Trustee and Treasurer), Keith Davies (Trustee), Jill Wheeler (Events Secretary), Vicky Davies, Martin Anderson, Steve Bromwich

Editorial: Chair – Jenny Shaw (Trustee), Caroline Mullinex (Trustee), Selwyn Runnett (Trustee), Chris Clarke (proof-reader), Basil Wolf (Editor), Sue Taylor (School’ Officer), Elin Meek (Welsh editor), Wally Shaw (Technical Officer), Jill Hill (secretary to sub-committee), Jill Wheeler

More information about the work of each sub-committee can be found later in this report and their terms of reference are on the WBKA website.

Insurance: The WBKA Insurance cover is based on several conditions including the need for capitation to be paid on time and for those covered by the policy to be individually entered on the eR2 membership system. Payment of capitation is due from Associations on the 1st of January each year, but an allowance is made providing that all monies due are received by the 31st of March in that year. Member Associations are reminded of the need to make payment punctually. More details can be found in the combined Insurance and Health & Safety Report later in this document.

Following a request from the WBKA Council the membership categories of the WBKA were reviewed and revised in 2022 to ensure that all Indirect Members of the WBKA are covered by our insurance policy. We are pleased to report that our insurance now covers beekeepers under the age of 18 years.

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Finance Reserves: The Reserve policy states that the Charity (WBKA) shall maintain a reserve of £10,000-£13,000. This reserve is required by Charity Law to cover operational and contractual expenses should the need arise. This policy is monitored and updated annually.

Monies held on the HSBC current account are used to not only cover the running costs of the Association but to fund various projects such as the running of workshops/courses and the dissemination of information by various means such as the website, booklets and other publications. A detailed financial report accompanies this document.

Governance: The 2024 AGM saw the retirement of John Bowles as WBKA President and the appointment of Jill Wheeler to the role. Chris Clarke retired and Karen Pratt resigned as trustees at the 2024 AGM. The Management Team co-opted two new trustees Selwyn Runnett (May 2023) and Ceri Joyner (June 2023). These appointments will be presented to the membership for ratification at the 2025 AGM on March 8th. The appointed WBKA Chair, Caroline Mullinex took compassionate leave from the role in June 2024 due to a family illness and subsequent bereavement. Trustees took on additional roles to cover Caroline’s leave – Selwyn Runnett chaired the Management Team, Alan Burford chaired the Council meetings, Paul Pearce chaired the Learning and Development subcommittee and John Bowles hosted webinars.

Currently there is the full complement of ten WBKA trustees, but Caroline Mullinex continues to be on compassionate leave.

The Master of the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers was appointed as a patron of the WBKA at the 2024 AGM.

At the AGM in March 2024 Alison Mason retired as WBKA webmaster and the role was taken on by Roger Boyle. We thank all of them for their work on behalf of beekeeping in Wales. The Schools Officer post was filled by Sue Taylor (March 2024). All WBKA Officers now have clear and up to date job descriptions and the Management Team are continuing to look at contingency planning to cover key positions if an officer resigns or is incapacitated for a length of time. It is acknowledged that finding volunteers to take on voluntary roles is not an easy task.

Work has begun on defining the strategies that are needed to achieve the objectives of the WBKA so that performance can be measured.

Without change the Constitution of the WBKA was accepted by the membership at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the WBKA. During 2024 the Trustees have given due consideration to the WBKA becoming a Charitable Incorporated Association (CIO). As the WBKA neither employs any paid staff nor owns buildings or land this change was decided unnecessary at this time. This decision will be reviewed should the circumstances of the WBKA change in the future.

Membership: The WBKA has nineteen Member Associations who represent 2084 Registered, 332 Partner, 4 Country and 38 Junior Members and two Specialist Member groups. As part of the annual capitation fee levied on each Member Association the Indirect members benefit by receiving four editions of the 'Welsh Beekeeper’ and third-party Public and Product Liability Insurance. There are currently 33 Individual and 8 Honorary Members of the WBKA. A detailed breakdown of membership accompanies this report.

We continue to work with the Welsh Government. Both Kathleen Carroll (Welsh Government) and Daniel Baxter (Wales Bee Inspection Service) have attended at least one WBKA Council Meeting in 2024 in advisory roles.

Following queries from Member Associations, the WBKA Council reviewed the membership categories of the WBKA to ensure that they met their requirements. It is now a requirement that only one name

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is used for each entry in eR2 and only that named person will be eligible for appropriate WBKA insurance cover. Partners residing at the same address as a registered member and managing the same bees are insured if they are entered individually in the eR2 system. Junior members under the age of 18 should also be listed separately in eR2. Only named juniors will be considered to represent the WBKA at the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers. From January 2024 partner members of the WBKA were required to pay an annual capitation of £6 and the fee for registered members rose to £12 per year. This increase was the first in over 10 years and reflected the current economic situation.

Country membership is used for people without bees who wish to be Indirect Members of the WBKA and again they should appear as individual entries in eR2. The final membership category is for Local members who should again appear in eR2 as individual entries. Local members have no bees and are members of the Member Association but are not Indirect members of the WBKA and are not entitled to any of the benefits that accrue from WBKA membership. The majority of WBKA Member Associations are now using the eR2 membership service and training for users has continued to be made available by Trish Calderbank, WBKA Membership Secretary. We would like to thank Trish for her continued hard work in assisting Associations. Kerry Cox has supported Trish Calderbank in her role of assisting WBKA associations to use eR2. The WBKA continues to work with BDI to ensure that the eR2 system accommodates the requirement of Associations in Wales.

Website: The website, launched in 2022 is being regularly updated and recent analytics show an increase in the number of visitors to the site. The website reflects the language policy of the WBKA. We thank Roger Boyle for his work in developing and maintaining our website.

Welsh Beekeeper Magazine: All four quarterly editions have been completed during the year. We would like to thank our Editor, Basil Wolf for his dedication to producing the magazine. We are also thankful to the many members of the WBKA who have provided articles and photographs for the magazine. The last four copies of the magazine can be downloaded from the WBKA website and previous electronic editions are available from the archivist, Karen Pratt as electronic files archivist@wbka.com.

Publications: Printed copies of all the booklets and disease cards, published by the WBKA, can be collected by Association Representatives at the March Council Meeting or can be pre-ordered for collection at the annual WBKA Convention in late March. Supplies will be sent to associations if they agree to pay the costs incurred.

The Trustees have worked with several external agencies during 2024 to ensure that Welsh beekeepers are kept fully informed and supported at a Wales, UK and European level. A list of the external meetings attended by the WBKA is given later in this report.

Bee Health Advisory Forum (UK): The Bee Health Advisory Forum (BHAF) is a UK Government arranged meeting where all National Beekeeping Associations in Wales and England are represented as well as the NBU, APHA, Welsh Government, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, etc. It offers an opportunity to discuss and influence current and forthcoming issues which may threaten the welfare of our bees. The items covered in the last year are included in more detail in a separate report.

Wales Pollinators Taskforce: This is a Welsh Government sponsored forum which brings together a variety of groups who represent organizations that have an interest in protecting the wild environment and improving land management for the benefit of pollinators of all types varying from

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butterflies, hoverflies to bumble bees and honeybees. We believe that whatever can influence and improve the physical landscape and the management of land for any pollinator will also benefit honeybees.

CONBA (Council of National Beekeeping Associations): The Beekeeping Associations of Wales, England, Scotland, and Ulster as well as the Bee Farmers Association jointly form CONBA (Council of National Beekeeping Associations) which supports the interests of all beekeepers and beekeeping in the UK. The Federation of Irish Beekeepers, who represent beekeepers in Eire also attend CONBA meetings. It gives the opportunity to develop joint strategies to deal with a variety of issues including government plans.

RWAS (Royal Welsh Agricultural Show) : First established in 1904 and then established as the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show at Llanelwedd in 1963 including the Honey Show to which WBKA makes available assistance and support.

National (UK) Honey Show : In 2022 the WBKA became a member of the National Honey Show being the body that organizes and runs an annual UK Honey Show that is open to all beekeepers to enter. The NHS holds an Annual General Meeting of members in conjunction with the Honey Show.

NDB (National Diploma in Beekeeping) : The WBKA is represented at the Annual General Meeting of the organization that controls and awards the ‘degree level’ qualification in beekeeping as well as running several short courses to educate beekeepers in the UK.

Meetings Attended in 2024

Internal WBKA Meetings 2024:

16thJanuary Learning & Development Committee: virtual
10thJanuary Management Team (Trustees): virtual
26thJanuary Management Team (Trustees): virtual
20thFebruary Administration & Support Committee: virtual
2ndMarch AGM and Council Meeting, Plas Dolerw: joint face to face and virtual
12thMarch Yellow Legged Hornet Team: virtual
20thMarch Management Team (Trustees): virtual
23rd March Events Committee: face to face
9thApril Administration & Support Committee: virtual
16thApril Learning & Development Committee: virtual
20thApril Editorial Team: virtual
26thApril Management Team (Trustees): virtual
15thMay Management Team (Trustees): virtual
17thMay Events Committee: face to face

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14thJune Management Team (Trustees): virtual
29thJune Council meeting: virtual
8thJuly Yellow Legged Hornet Team: virtual
9thJuly Administration & Support Committee: virtual
16thJuly Learning & Development Committee: virtual
17thJuly Management Team (Trustees): virtual
21stJuly Events Committee: face to face
2ndSeptember Yellow Legged Hornet Team: virtual
3rdSeptember Administration & Support Committee: virtual
10thSeptember Editorial Team: virtual
11thSeptember Management Team (Trustees): virtual
15thOctober Learning & Development Committee: virtual
2ndNovember Council meetings: virtual
12thNovember Administration & Support Committee: virtual
20thNovember Management Team (Trustees): virtual
3rdDecember Editorial Team: virtual

WBKA representation at External Meetings 2024:

Jenny Shaw (J.S.), John Bowles (J.B.), Wally Shaw (W.S.), Keith Davies (K.D.), Alan Burford (A.B.) Paul Pearce (P.P)

21[st] February Welsh Government Sustainable Farming Consultation (K.D. and J.S.) 7[th] March Bee Health Advisory Forum: virtual (W.S. and J.B.) 26[th] March Council Of National Beekeeping Associations: virtual (J.S. & J.B.) 11[th] April Council Of National Beekeeping Associations: virtual (J.S. and J.B.) 6[th] June Council Of National Beekeeping Associations: virtual (J.S. & J.B.) 26[th] June Bee Health Advisory Forum: virtual (J.B. and P.P.) 4[th] July Wales Pollinator Task Force: face to face (K.D.) 8[th] October Royal Welsh Show Agricultural Show: Honey Show Committee: Virtual (A.B.) 22[nd] October Bee Health Advisory Forum: Virtual (J.B. and P.P.) 23[rd] October Council Of National Beekeeping Associations: face to face & virtual (J.S.)

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24[h] October National Honey Show AGM: face to face (J.S.)

25[th] October National Diploma Beekeeping AGM: face to face (P.P.)

19[th] November Wales Pollinator Task Force: Virtual (K.D.)

5[th] December Bee Health Advisory Forum: Virtual (P.P.)

REPORTS

WBKA Treasurer’s Report Financial Year 2024

Year End vs Budget 2024

The final year end position gave a loss of £2.6k against an originally budgeted loss of £5.1k, a number of factors contributed to this with lower than expected expenditure in several areas offsetting a lower than budgeted income.

Budget 2025

Projected Outcome

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The draft budget as set out projects a small surplus for 2025

Budget Projection 2026 & Capitation Proposal

To inform the discussion on Capitation for 2026, a projection for 2026 has been completed. Capitation income is based on the 2024 rates and 2024 membership. Expenditure on all main items is increased by 5%. The resulting outcome is a projected breakeven position for 2026.

Based on this projection and the lower than expected losses for 2024 it was recommended to the Nov Council that indirect member capitation levels be maintained for 2026 at the 2025 level. The November Council approved the recommendation for approval at the AGM.

Administration & Support (A&S) – incorporating Insurance, Health & Safety and Safeguarding Reports

The WBKA Administration and Support Committee (ASC) was set up in 2023 to be a broad base “filtering” Committee representing various aspects of the role of the WBKA. While leaving the executive roles at Council and Management Team level, A&S considers various aspects of our work and, initially, make recommendations on options to the Management Team. The Committee has members who are Trustees and others who are officers. Any officer involved will be given a job description. A set of terms of reference has been drawn up for the Group. John Bowles was elected Chair and Trish Calderbank our Membership Secretary has kindly agreed to be our Minutes Secretary.

The Committee, while originally intended to only meet 3 times per year, met 5 times online in 2024. The frequency of meeting in the next year will be largely dictated by the volume of work necessary

Finance is one of the subjects within the ASC remit, but the role is to assist the Treasurer to formulate processes etc. Advice developed will then be provided to the Management Committee and subsequently Council. A full Finance report will be provided elsewhere as part of the Annual Report.

Membership is also within the ASC remit and some minor amendments have been made to the membership application form to make things clearer to first time applicants. The membership report is stand-alone within the Annual Report

Safeguarding

The WBKA has a policy and guidance on Safeguarding on its Website and we would advise Association to take note of those recommendations. During 2024 no Safeguarding issues were reported or identified. The WBKA Safeguarding policy and Guidance to Associations was reviewed in November 2024 and remains unchanged

Insurance

Further clarification, in the last year, of definitions of the type of members that we have in the WBKA has enabled us to provide assurance that all those who require insurance have that cover at a cost that is equitable to all

This year we sought quotes from two brokers, Jensten, who used to be our broker until last year and our current broker Howden (ex-Aston Lark), the company which is the broker for the BBKA. Jensten declined to quote this year and Howden provided a quote backed by AVIVA, only slightly increased

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from last year, of £1837.51 for our Public and Product Liability. The cover for Association Committee members and Trustees was also renewed with the same company as last year.

Although, as I pointed out last year that our Product Liability cover now only covers “Manufacture and supply of primary hive products” and not products which have non hive products added such as some polishes, balms, and salves. The guidance issued last year remains the same. Anyone who manufactures such products would be well advised to seek other cover.

The only other change has been an agreement to insure members for activities associated with tracing Asian Hornet nests but not, as yet, their destruction.

Health and Safety

Our Health and Safety Officer, John Pilgrim was, due to circumstances, unable to submit a report.

To reiterate what was said last year:

During the last year we have reviewed our Health and Safety Policy and advised that our member Associations:

a. Produce a similar document

b. Nominate a Committee member to be responsible for ensuring that appropriate risk assessments are undertaken and any necessary actions taken according to the suggestions made in “Risk Assessments – A simple guide” which is on our website.

To date not all Associations have produced evidence of compliance with this well intended guidance.

Not taking minimal steps to identify risks and ensure that those who need to, know what is expected of them is not evidencing the required duty of care. I would suggest that where this minimum guidance is not followed it shows disrespect for the safety and health of the public and members especially of new members who may be unaware of the risks they face .

No Incidents under Health and Safety have been reported in 2024.

Learning & Development (L&D) - incorporating Exam Secretary Report

Meetings

The L&D sub-committee continued to hold regular quarterly virtual meetings throughout 2024.

This year has seen a lot of changes to the membership of the sub-committee. The chair, Caroline Mullinex has been on compassion leave from all WBKA roles since June 2024 and we are thankful to Paul Pearce who has stepped in to the role of chair. Karen Pratt retired from the role of L&D secretary in early March 2024. To date no one has been found to take on this role which is currently being covered by Jenny Shaw. We welcome Sue Taylor who was appointed to the Schools Officer post in March 2024 and Ceri Joyner who will become Exam’s Secretary in 2025 when Liz Childerley stands down from the role. It is expected that there will be a smooth handover.

L&D have continued to work with both Editorial and Events to provide magazine content and input to the Spring Convention Programme.

We thank everyone who gives of their time and expertise to develop and deliver learning opportunities for beekeepers in Wales and beyond.

Exams & Assessments

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24 members passed the WBKA Basic Assessment in 2024, many with credit and a few with distinction.

14 juniors passed the WBKA Junior Assessment during 2024 and the guidance to assessors for this award is currently being reviewed in time for 2025 assessments.

To ease the role of appointing assessors and arranging assessments it was agreed that from 2025 the closing date for applications to take the WBKA Basic or Junior Assessments would be brought forward from 1[st] May to the 1[st] April.

4 WBKA members were successful in achieving the BBKA Bee Health Certificate (BHC) in 2024. BBKA Bee Health Train the Trainer events due to take place in 2024 were postponed until 2025 and some WBKA members have secured places on the rescheduled events in order to be able to support preparation of candidates to take the Bee Health Certificate. If the number of WBKA members taking this assessment increases going forward, having more assessors based in Wales would probably be useful

On the module side, WBKA members again achieved some good results in 2024. 7 passed in March with 3 at credit level. In November there were also 7 module successes – 2 with credit and 3 with distinction. 2 WBKA members were awarded the Intermediate Certificate in 2024.

We provided 1 exam venues in both March and November for candidates not wishing to take the module exams online and have continued to support WBKA members taking BBKA exams and assessments by paying the exam membership fees on their behalf.

We offer congratulations to all the successful candidates and thank everyone who has helped to facilitate these exams and assessments for our members.

In autumn 2024 the BBKA opened negotiations with WBKA to review the provision of BBKA exam membership that has allowed WBKA members to take BBKA modules and assessments without the prerequisite of being BBKA members. Negotiations to replace the provision of BBKA Exam membership are continuing.

Webinars

6 more live webinars went ahead in 2024 on a range of topics bringing the total number of WBKA webinars now delivered to 49. Since we began the webinar series in 2020, some 10,000 have registered for them. We are usually able to provide anyone who has registered with a link enabling them to watch on “catch up” for a limited period so that no-one needs to miss out due to a diary clash or because of poor connectivity.

We continue to be immensely grateful to everyone who has presented at our webinars, and to all who have supported them, from within the WBKA and beyond.

Schools

Work is continuing to provide resources for beekeeping in schools. Guidance and information is available from the school’s officer on schools@wbka.com

Wax Chandler Grant Funding

2024 was the final year of the 3-year grant funding period and, with the direct support of this funding, we were able to deliver/support the following events for WBKA members: -

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The final annual feedback report to the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers is being prepared and will be published in a 2025 edition of The Welsh Beekeeper.

Again, we thank everyone who has helped deliver and facilitate these events and reiterate our thanks to the Wax Chandlers whose generous funding has made this programme possible.

Booklets

We began to scope publication of a new WBKA booklet during 2023 but unfortunately work on this has had to be postponed but will be continued in 2025.

Events Committee

This year saw the Spring Convention on March 23rd. The number of attendees were slightly down on previous years, 379. There were 13 Trade stands, and 5 general interest stands. There were also 2 workshops that were planned to run during the day, one run by Lynfa Davies on ‘Where do I start?’, the second ‘Showing Honey’ run by Paul Boyle. 22 stewards supported the running of the show on the day as well as the members who helped with the set up on the Friday. This year Sum Up was again used for both pre-payments and on the door, this allowed members to use a creditor/debit card for payments.

The Spring Festival, May 18[th] /19[th] , was supported by 13 members stewarding the stand, we shared the stand with the SBI team. Members of the events team, Martin Anderson, Alan Burford, Vicky Davies, Jill and Graham Wheeler, helped set up and strike the stand. The stand proved to be popular to both members of the public and beekeepers, and £30 was raised for Bees Abroad with candle rolling. Alan provided an observation hive loaned from a local beekeeper. The WBKA has now bought its own observation hive.

The RWAS 22nd to 25th July saw us back in the South Glamorgan Hall. 18 members helped to steward the stand over the four days, we shared the stand with the SBI team. Thanks must go to the following members of the events team who helped with the successful setting up and running of the stand. Martin Anderson, Alan Burford, Vicky Davies, Jill and Graham Wheeler.

Planning of the 2025 Spring Convention is underway with traders and four speakers booked: Opening address Wax Chandler Master, Lynda Marston-Weston.

Emeritus Prof. Stephen Martin (University of Salford, Manchester, UK): Science of varroa resistance (BDI Sponsored)

Martin Bencsik : Vibrations within a hive

Stephen Fleming : The magic and mystery of drone congregation areas

Christine Coulsting : Hive inspections

The team has met on three occasions during the year and Alan Burford, as lead trustee, has attended a meeting of the RWAS National Honey Show Committee.

Editorial Committee – incorporating Editor’s Report.

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The Editorial team meets virtually before each impending edition of the Welsh Beekeeper to review the draft magazine, and to plan what material is required or has been received for the following edition. Meetings were held in March, April, June, October and December.

Vicky Davies from Lleyn ac Eiffionydd, Trustee Selwyn Runnett and the new Schools’ Officer Sue Taylor have been welcomed onto the team.

The team reviewed the Terms of Reference in the summer and also agreed a 10% increase to the advertising fees, with a reduction in the discount given for advertisements in all 4 issues from 15 to 10%. The team predict there may be a drop in advertising income following the decision by WBKA Council to stop advertising the sale of bees in the magazine.

It was decided to reduce the photo competition to annually. The front cover of each edition for the year showcases one of the first 4 placed entries.

Editor

We have produced three 48-page editions of the magazine this year and one (the winter edition) of 32 pages with a good range of practical, technical and entertaining articles, and book reviews. We have supported the WBKA Spring Convention through advertising and production of articles by the speakers. We have gained a new Schools Liaison Officer in Sue Taylor who will revitalise the young beekeepers’ pages and John Bowles contributes a regular update on the situation re the Yellow legged Asian hornet – this last supported by an article on the lifecycle of the hornet reproduced from the BBKA News. We are grateful to BBKA News for permission to reproduce a number of articles on topics such as raw honey and Joyce Nesbit’s instructive series on cut comb and sections. The decision not to advertise the sale of bees was supported by an article from Lynfa Davies on the buying and sourcing of bees. We have also supported the charities Bees Abroad and Bees for Development with reports of their work. The photographic competition drew some good contributions from a limited pool of entrants, and we moved to an annual competition, which has not yet increased interest from readers. Our thanks to Vita Bee Health for sponsorship of the competition. Finally, my thanks to the Editorial Team for their support and to Vicky Davies for taking the role of Assistant Editor and giving me the benefit of her expert knowledge.

IMYB (International Meeting of Young Beekeepers)

The IMYB meeting in 2024 was held in Dubia in December 2024. Travel to the event was very expensive and it was agreed that any entrants from Wales would need to be on a self- funded basis. The Member Associations were asked if they had any junior members interested in attending the event and there were no positive responses. The WBKA did not enter a team into the 2024 IMYB. The next IMYB meeting will be in 2026 at a venue not yet announced.

Webmaster

The role of Webmaster changed hands in summer: ideally, nobody noticed the handover. The Association website is in good order and credit is due to earlier holders of the job.

Detailed access statistics are gathered routinely and are freely available from the Webmaster by request. Our usage is largely stable – monthly we might expect 5000-6000 visits from about 4000 different people. The overwhelming majority of access is from UK users, and most visits are of very short duration (less than 1 minute). A range of publications has proved useful for people to download, the most frequent being “Swarm Control”.

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The site content has changed very little, apart from the routine periodic updates such as the magazine. Any suggestions for additions or amendments to the site will be gratefully received. Likewise, newsworthy items can always be posted very quickly.

The webmaster also administers WBKA mail addresses – the year has seen repeated phishing attempts on some of these which are almost always routinely intercepted by common sense. Nevertheless, everyone is reminded to treat unusual electronic approaches with caution: we would far prefer to be alerted of something that turns out to be innocent than to have blameless individuals sucked into a scam.

Non-Native Invasive Species

The Management after considerable discussion decided that the WBKA should appoint an Invasive Species Officer from among its Trustees to lead on Yellow Legged Hornet (Asian) activity in Wales. The initial discussion was around appointing an Asian Hornet lead but given that Small Hive Beetle is now present in Europe and Tropilaelaps in Northern Europe it was decided that the role should be broadened / future proofed. Policy and guidance on Varroa would continue to be led by Wally Shaw.

The main item we will consider here though will be our response to the potential threat posed by the Yellow Legged Hornet to beekeeping and biodiversity in Wales. You will note that we now use the term Yellow legged Hornet rather than Asian hornet as there are many Asian Hornets but only one Yellow Legged Hornet (one of its most recognisable features). The term Asian Hornet often causes confusion with the media mixing it up with Giant Asian Hornet currently threatening parts of North America.

There have been no reported sightings in Wales or near to its borders but given the rate at which it spread across Europe from a single imported gravid female we cannot be complacent. The approach adopted by the WBKA is to work with other organisations and request each Association to appoint a YLH Coordinator for their area, supported by a team of verifiers as well as raising awareness among the general public about this pest. The Coordinators would meet every two to three months to discuss strategy. ER2 through BDI would help with communication and mapping. The Group has met three times in 2024, but the response has, overall, been, disappointing. Many associations have not appointed Coordinators and attendance at the Coordinators group has been patchy at best. The next meeting on the 20[th] of January will be addressed by Martin Smith of BDI.

In 2023 the numbers of nests (72) destroyed, and the spread of those incursions was such as to create some pessimism and the view that there was already an established population of the YLH in England. It was obvious that some mated queens had overwintered in the UK, for the first time possibly, so it was with some relief that the numbers of nests discovered in 2024 (24) was considerably lower than in 2023. What had caused this is unclear but the amount of rain and standing water may have contributed. Whatever the cause we should be grateful. The amount of rain over this winter followed by frosts may aid us again in the coming year. As I have said above, we cannot be complacent - the situation could change very quickly. When it has obviously become established it will be too late. Even if it is not yet established, the population pressure from the Continent and the Channel Islands will vastly increase the likelihood of direct transport (on vehicles, in vans, on ships) of Asian Hornet queens to Wales. When there are hundreds of thousands of viable nests in other countries the chances increase considerably from when there were only a few.

A number for articles have been published in the Welsh beekeeper on the YLH including three written by the Invasive Species Officer.

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Technical Officer

Bee Inspection Service – Our previous Regional Bee Inspector (RBI) Maggie Gill has moved on to work on Tropilaelaps and has been replaced by the temporary appointment of Daniel Baxter – yet to be confirmed as permanent. Because there have been few incursions of the Asian Hornet (AS) this year, there have been fewer calls on Seasonal Bee Inspectors (SBI) and a fairly normal programme of disease inspection has been possible. The RBI has prepared a very fulsome account of the year which will be published in the Spring Edition of Welsh Beekeeper. The bee Inspection Service has also been present at several events thereby establishing friendly contact with numerous beekeepers.

Developments During 2024 – I am not aware of any notable developments in Wales during the year. Fewer nests of the Asian Hornet (YLH) (now renamed the Yellow-legged Asian Hornet to avoid confusion with a number of other hornet species which exist in Asia) have been found this year, 24 as compared with 72 in 2023. All have been destroyed. Genetic analysis of these nests showed that two were related to nests from the previous year. This was the first known example of the hornet having been able to complete its life cycle and produce fertile queens that survived the winter. So far YLH has shown little ability to spread north (most nests have been in the south-east and south of England) but it is still not known if in the long-term the species will be limited by climate. Interestingly, the European hornet ( Vespa crabro ) seems not able to get established in Northwest Wales, so perhaps there is some hope.

Most beekeepers in Wales have had a fairly meagre crop of honey this year but there are exceptions in some places. The late spring delayed colony build-up. It was not particularly warm in May and June and July was very wet. The queens in many colonies almost stopped laying for a week or so in response to the weather.

Non-treatment for Varroa – Interest in this topic has increased during the year and the problem is as follows. At the present time the National Bee Unit (NBU) recommends that beekeepers continue to treat their colonies to control Varroa. This is responsible advice if they are to avoid high, and possibly unacceptable, colony losses. However, it has become clear that, under the right circumstances, colonies can become Varroa resistant through natural selection and some beekeepers have already been successful in this mission. It would obviously be useful for WBKA to make use of this experience. However, there are still a number of biological matters about which I think it is vital to have a better understanding if we are to give the best advice to beekeepers. I am sure that most beekeepers would agree that the use of chemicals is undesirable and Varroa resistance should be the target for the future.

A report on the unresolved biological issues was recently submitted to the WBKA Management Team and is pending. This needs to be discussed before we decide how to proceed. It may also have to be discussed with NBU.

The Annual Hive Count - was repeated this year but no results have become available at the time of writing.

Varroa Levels 2024 – No information available.

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WBKA Technical Publications – Stocks of some WBKA booklets are getting low but a decision has to be made as to how they will be provided in the future, whether in printed or digital form.

Spray Liaison

There has been no response from the NBU to our request for support to amend the incorrect Spraying Guidance published by HM Gov. A request to amend the document was sent directly to the HM Gov support team but no response has been received. We were led to believe there would be a slight delay due to the National Elections.

Currently, any notifications received by the WBKA are forwarded to the appropriate association however there is still no working direct link from the HM Gov Spray guide to the WBKA. A working link exists for the BBKA.

BHAF (Bee Health Advisory Forum)

Bee Health Advisory Forum (BHAF)

The Bee Health Advisory Forum is a DEFRA sponsored group made up of representatives of all the main organisations involved with beekeeping in the UK. The Forum includes DEFRA, FERA, APHA, The National Bee Unit, the BBKA, the Bee Farmers Association, BDI and ourselves in the WBKA. The objective is to work together to develop and provide the best guidance on bee health to beekeepers of all types. The BHAF held 5 online meetings where the WBKA was represented (all)

The WBKA has been represented by two officers of the WBKA. Our Scientific Officer, Wally Shaw and Trustee John Bowles. Earlier in 2024 Wally decided that he wished to retire from this role on behalf of the WBKA. The other members of the Forum (as we do) consider this a great loss to beekeeping as Wally, with his wit and “sparkiness”, (not my words but those of the BHAF Chair) really helped to develop sensible policy and kept our feet on the ground. The Forum will miss him. Paul Pearce, Trustee has agreed to step up in his place. In any one year the BHAF will discuss a number of topics but as you can imagine the Yellow Legged Hornet (Asian) has been an ongoing agenda item and regular reports provided. Further information on this issue is included in the item specifically on the subject.

The Forum also reported on the updating of leaflets and Advisory sheets on Beebase. This is now a valuable source of beekeeping information. The benefits of sharing information between Beebase and eR2 was also discussed.

A new addition has been the presentation at each meeting on a recent scientific paper on Bee pests or diseases. One of those was on Tropilaelaps which seems to be spreading slowly across northern Europe but is not yet considered to be an imminent risk. Research is ongoing in the UK on this.

Another function of the Forum is the development and monitoring of progress against the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 which applies to both England and Wales. We are now close to 5 years into the current plan and we will be carrying out a ‘light review’ of progress against the plan in Wales. A report will be made to Council on this issue in the New Year.

The last review noted that the WBKA had carried forward the objectives under the plan through:

*The provision of new educational booklets as well as the reprovision of existing booklets

*The webinar series

16 GCG/WBKA Annual Report 2024 (final)

*Encouragement of beekeepers to take the Basic Certificate including the recruitment of two new Assessors

*Increasing the numbers holding the Bee Health Certificate

*Evaluating the NDB Teaching Beekeeping Course from those who have undertaken it.

The last meeting of 2024 was a hybrid meeting with some representatives meeting in-person in London and others joining virtually.

The review of the Healthy Bee Plan reported with no significant changes. Many projects were reviewed but briefly and considered to be everyday business. Only new or significant projects will be routinely reported at meetings.

An update on the 24 YHL nests found in 2024 and their destruction was given. Of particular note, genetic analysis had shown two of the nests contained over-wintered YHL. So although the poor weather reduced the number of nests found; two had successfully survived from 2023.

The disparity between regulated use of oxalic acid in bees and no regulation in some livestock was discussed.

Work has started to look at honeybee density in the UK. This should serve to update older, often nonUK data cited in studies.

Wales Pollinators’ Taskforce

Bee related issues discussed in 2024 were: -

1.Road verge and meadow management to increase floristic diversity – one cut (yearly) in August and what to do with arisings (cuttings).

  1. The importance of corridors to enhance pollinators etc. eg linking of butterfly reserves (Marsh Fritillary) in Pembrokeshire and South Wales and a Welsh Government funded scheme to create wildlife habitat links to the Pembrokeshire Coast.

  2. The collection of wildflower and tree seeds to sell and distribute – National Botanic Garden of Wales, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and Denbighshire.

  3. Conservation grazing schemes to benefit pollinators and wildlife.

  4. The Sustainable Farming Scheme payments for farmers.

CONBA (Council of National Beekeeping Associations)

CONBA met 4 times in 2024 and the WBKA were represented at all those meetings. The CONBA Constitution was reviewed and changed to limit voting at meetings to one vote per member association. The annual levy to each member association was set at 5p per association beekeeping member. Any accruing funds to be used to benefit beekeeping within the UK. In October the chair of CONBA changed from the BBKA to Ulster Beekeeping Association (UBKA). Links were created from the CONBA website to the websites of all the members associations.

Membership of the newly founded European Beekeeping Association was discussed, and it was agreed that CONBA would not become a member at this time. Topics discussed during the year have included

17 GCG/WBKA Annual Report 2024 (final)

Yellow legged Asian hornets; counterfeit honey; 2024 ruling on the term ‘raw honey’; imports of cheap honey; the increasing number of queen bees being imported into Southern Ireland using EU rules to avoid the checks at UK borders.

A UK based event for young beekeepers in 2025 was discussed but to date no progress has been reported.

CONBA are next scheduled to meet in April 2025.

NDB (National Diploma in Beekeeping)

A report on examination results was presented. The Committee noted the following for attention:

The last syllabus update was in 2009.

Examiners are aging and there are fewer new examiners qualifying than expected which is leading to a shortage.

The next NDB Advanced course is planned for the 4th to 9th of July.

Royal Welsh Agricultural Show (RWAS)

The Honey Show Committee met on 8.10.24 when The following were discussed :-

Archive.

The WBKA Archives continue to be held at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth and on computer. Both are updated regularly.

APPENDED REPORTS

Appendix 1: Membership 2024

Appendix 2: Accounts Financial Year 2024

Appendix 3: 2024 Year End and 2025 Budget

------------------------------------------------

18 GCG/WBKA Annual Report 2024 (final)

Declaration: The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.

Signature:

Full name: Caroline Mullinex

Position: Chairperson

Date:

19 GCG/WBKA Annual Report 2024 (final)

Welsh Beekeepers' Association Accounts for the Year ended 31st December 2024 Registered Charity No 509929

Prepared by Graham Wheeler, Honorary Treasurer

Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31st December 2024

2024 2023
Notes £ £
£		 £ £
Income
Capitation 1 18,927.00 18,180.00
Individual Members - Fees 2 1,137.15 1,185.30
Welsh Beekeepers Advertising 3 4,269.10 4,844.36
Donations and Sundry Income 3a 344.64 2,172.34
Convention
Income 4 6,855.62 6,556.10
Other Income
Bank Interest 165.97 91.68
Exams Income 5 505.00 600.00
Training 6 1,363.94 2,255.48
Miscellaneous - -
Expenditure 33,568.42 35,885.26
Administration 7 108.63 72.30
Special Project 8 887.00 3,332.47
Donations and Subscriptions 9 570.00 791.88
Translation Costs 10 407.19 601.00
Sundry expenses 8.00 123.03
Bee Disease Insurance 213.15 201.50
Software 13 3,295.61 3,287.01
Insurance 11 2,662.55 2,699.49
Exams Expenses 5 1,038.15 714.52
Training costs 6 3,159.53 5,702.71
Webinar Speaker Costs 150.00 290.00
Meetings Internal - -
Meetings Education 8.10 34.20
Meetings External 40.50 83.40
Meetings Editorial - -
Meetings Council 157.80 37.80
Meetings Trustees - -
Welsh Beekeepers Magazine 15,323.40 14,995.92
RWAS Spring Fair 245.03 356.54
RWAS Summer 267.05 286.93
WBKA Spring Convention 4 6,775.56 6,388.00
Depreciation 12 876.92
36,194.17		 927.74 40,926.44
Surplus/Deficit for the Year 2,625.75
-		 - 5,041.18

Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2024

Fixed Assets
Banner
Banner
Editors Laptop HP250 G8
Treasurer's Laptop
Display Hive
6 Microscopes
Epson Projector
Observation Hive
Total Depreciation
Total Fixed Assets value		 Fixed Assets
Banner
Banner
Editors Laptop HP250 G8
Treasurer's Laptop
Display Hive
6 Microscopes
Epson Projector
Observation Hive
Total Depreciation
Total Fixed Assets value		 Notes
Location
Events Sec.
Events Sec.
Editor
Treasurer
Events sec.
Lynfa Davies
Lynfa Davies
Alan Burford
12		 Opening
value
£
137.57
50.00
460.29
75.82
57.36
2,589.38
390.54
694.20

4,455.16		 Depreciation Closing book
value
£
110.06
50.00
368.23
60.65
50.00
2,071.51
312.44
555.36
3,578.24		 2024
2023
2022
110.06
137.57
171.97
50.00
50.00
50.00
368.23
460.29
575.36
60.65
75.82
94.77
50.00
57.36
71.70
2,071.51
2,589.38
3,236.73
312.44
390.54
-
555.36
3,578.24
3,760.96
4,200.52
Net. Book Value		 Original
cost

1,026.00
186.00
899.00
451.90
273.50
4,045.91
488.18
694.20
8,064.69
2024
£
27.51
-
92.06
15.16
7.36
517.88
78.11
138.84
876.92
Current Assets 2024 2023
HSB
Scottish Widows
Opening Accu
Closing Accu		 C Bank Account
90 Day Account
Total Assets :
Debtors
Creditors
Creditors
Prepayments
Total Assets
mulated Funds
Surplus
mulated Funds		 13,651.09 10,166.11
10,344.38
24,161.44
27,739.68
4,804.36		 20,510.49
24,271.45
4,804.36
-------------
29,075.81
586.05
--------------
28,489.76
==========
33,530.94
-5,041.18
--------------
28,489.76
==========
10,510.35
2,415.10
2,415.10
---------------
30,154.78
0.45
-
586.50
4,290.77
--------------
25,864.01
==========
28,489.76
-2,625.75
--------------
25,864.01
==========
3,818.37
472.40

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2024

1 Capitation Represents 2103 Members in 2023 an increase of 83 members on the previous year

The balance is used to fund the running costs of the Association and initiatives for the benefit of members such as booklets and training.

2 Individual Membership

This is made up of £30 capitation per member plus their BDI premium, there were 35 direct members in 2024.

----- Start of picture text -----
£ £
94.64
250.00
344.64
----- End of picture text -----

4
Convention Accounts
Income
£
Entrance Money
1465.22
Early Bird Ticket sales
1559.40
Trade Stands
3831.00
BDI Donation
250.00
Expenses
Venue Hire
2967.60
Equipment Hire
1227.06
Accommodation
662.00
Advertising
0.00
Speakers
594.75
St Johns Ambulance
249.60
Sound System
546.00
Programme
293.51
Sundry expenses
235.04
Surplus
5
Examinations
Income
Basic Assessment fees
505.00
Expenses
Basic Assessment sundry expenses
70.5
Basic Assessors' expenses
515.9
Basic Assessment expenses (postage certificates)
38.75
Basic Assessment total expenses
Basic Assessment Deficit
Exams venue
136.00
Exams past papers
16.00
BBKA Exam Membership sponsorship
261.00
Exams Expenditure
6
Training Income & Expenditure		 £




7105.62









6775.56
330.06

505.00



625.15
-120.15



413.00

In 2022 the WBKA was awarded a grant of £6000; the award for use over 3 years in supporting the delivery of a programme of courses and workshops, on microscopy and other topics, which will contribute to increasing the knowledge and skill levels of WBKA members.

Income
Workshop receipts
Expenditure
Training Venues
Sponsorship of members on teaching beekeeping course
Courses and Workshop provision
Net. Expenditure:
7
Administration
Bank charges
Flowers for Membership Secretary		 £
1363.94
936.90
0.00
2222.63
3159.53
1795.59
71.63
37.00
8
Special Projects
Reprint of Queen Cells In My Hive
9
Subscriptions and donations
RWAS Membership
CONBA Membership
Apimondia Membership
UK National Honey Show Membership
RWAS Honey Show
10
Translation Costs
Annual report, booklets and policies
11
Insurance
Members Combined Liability & Trustee & Officers Insurance		 108.63
887.00
887.00
220.00
-
-
100.00
250.00
570.00
407.19
407.19
2662.55
2,662.55

12 Depreciation

Items over the value of £100 are depreciated at a rate of 20% until there is a residual balance of £50. They are kept at this value until such time as it is decided to dispose of the asset.

13 Software

eR2 subscription
MS Office 365 subscription
Webinar and Meetings Software
Web Page & Domain
Adobe InDesign and photo manipulation software subs.		 1,942.41
160.49
381.72
79.99
731.00
3,295.61

Schedule of Income for the year ended 31st December 2024

£ Capitation - Income from member Associations 18,927.00 Individual Membership 1,137.15 Advertising Income 4,269.10 Sundry Income & Donations 94.64 Income from the Convention 7,105.62 Bank Interest 165.97 Examinations 505.00 Workshop fees 1,363.94 Misc. 0.00 -------------33,568.42 ==========

Independent examiner's report on the (34) FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees Welsh Beekeepers’ Association ~~Cn~~ On accounts for the year 31[st] December 2024 Charity no 509929 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2024 .

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

~~+~~ Date: 14[th] September Signed: 2025 ~~= ee ee eee~~ Name: Stephanie Craney (MAAT) ~~ee~~ Relevant professional AAT – Association of Accounting Technicians qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 3 Plas Yn Green, Denbigh, Denbighshire ~~ee~~ LL16 4BH ~~a~~

IER 1 Oct 2018

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

2

Oct 2018

IER