The EBKA Conference 2025 will be held on Sun15 Nov 2026.

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM.Layer Marney Tower, CO5 9US

BUY OUR TICKETS:   HERE 

Here is an overview of the event planning as at March 2026:

OUR SPEAKERS

Clare Densley and Martin Hann  

Embracing Diversity in our ‘not-Buckfast’ Bees at Buckfast Abbey  

Clare and Martin look at the journey the Abbey apiaries have taken from Brother Adam’s time and his famous breeding programme and follows its transition to the diverse population of locally adapted bees we have today. 

What exactly is a locally adapted bee, what are its strengths and weaknesses and … does it have to be selected for or is it already there?

Karl Colyer

Building a Sustainable Apiary

Karl embraces sustainability in all aspects of beekeeping from his native bees to his hand-built equipment made with locally sourced materials. 

His talk includes making hives, stands and frames cheaply – ignoring time, a completed national hive can be made and filled for under £10!

Richard Rickitt

Bees and trees – An Ancient Partnership

An ancient and close relationship with trees has greatly influenced the evolution and geographic distribution of honey bees. This talk reveals how trees enabled bees to colonise the British Isles and the ways in which people living here perhaps first interacted with and exploited honey bees, eventually becoming beekeepers.

The talk looks at what trees provide for bees including cavities in which to nest and various essential resources, and how the relationship can work both ways. It concludes with a look at some of the most useful UK species of trees for honey bees including those worth planting in the garden.

There is Limited Parking at this historic venue and therefore Car Sharing is necessary!