OBKA Winter Talk – From Buckfast to Buckingham Palace

As the title suggests, this talk begins at Buckfast Abbey and ends at Buckingham Palace, but there are many and varied locations in between – ranging from the bees on the roof of Manchester cathedral to hives in the militarised zone of Salisbury Plane. We meet beekeepers who keep their bees in skeps and those who keep them in enormous glasshouses for the commercial pollination of fruit. Along the way we visit the country parish of Charles Butler – author of The Feminine Monarchy, rediscover the site of the first recorded drone congregation areas, uncover the apiary location of one of Victorian Britain’s preeminent beekeeping experts, and meet Patricia Greene – the actress who has played beekeeper Jill Archer for over 60 years in The Archers. And more besides …

A roving beekeeping adventure and an entertaining talk with lots fascinating photographs that will be enjoyed by beekeepers at all levels of experience and knowledge.

Richard Rickitt is co-editor of BeeCraft magazine and the author of several books. He keeps about 30 colonies of his own bees as well as a few for people who want bees in their garden without having to get their own fingers sticky. His professional background is in film and TV special effects. He lives near Bath.