Membership to Penrith Beekeepers includes membership to the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and keeps you in touch with beekeeping nationally as well as locally.

Our association organises summer and winter programs of events and meetings. We welcome people new to beekeeping and have between our members many decades of experience which is passed on through the events and newsletters.

We have a library of books available to borrow and equipment that can be loaned.

2011 Membership Fees are £23 for full membership (including membership fees of the BBKA) or £4 for branch membership only.

To join, please download the membership application form or for more information please contact one of the association committee.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MEMBERSHIP FORM (pdf FORMAT)

The rate for beekeepers is £23, of which £4 is retained by the Penrith Branch, £2 pays for Brood Diseases Insurance (BDI) and the remaining £17 covers membership of Cumbria Beekeepers Association and the British Beekeepers Association.

The rate for non-beekeepers is £4, which covers membership of Penrith Branch only.

Benefits of BBKA membership include:

1. Membership Card

2. Information and advice on beekeeping

3. Public and Products Liability Insurance for Members

4. The BBKA News

5. Beekeeping Examinations to the highest level

6. Representation at a National and International level

7. Annual Spring Convention and Exhibition at Stoneleigh

8. Audio Visual Aids and Slide Libraries

9. The BBKA Honey Show at The Royal Show, Stoneleigh

10. Brood Diseases Insurance through BDI Ltd.

Your membership gives you public liability insurance up to £500,000 and product liability insurance up to £500,000.

Brood Diseases Insurance (through BDI Ltd) covers beekeepers for losses arising from disease.  This insurance is available at Branch level only, meaning that if a branch opts in then all members must obtain cover.  This branch has opted in, and the £2 basic premium has been included in your membership fee.

Premiums are:

• Up to 3 colonies - £2 (Already included with your membership)

Additional premiums payable for more than 3 colonies:

• Up to 5 colonies in total - £2

• Up to 10 colonies in total - £5.25

• Up to 15 colonies in total - £7.75

• Up to 20 colonies in total - £9.50

• Up to 25 colonies in total - £11.10

The rates of compensation for property insured are:-

British Standard Brood Frame £2.00
Glass Quilt £14.50
All other Brood Frame sizes £2.70
Wire Queen Excluder £14.55
British Standard Shallow Frame £1.40
Slotted Zinc Queen Excluder £6.00
All other Shallow Frame sizes £2.00
Plastic Queen Excluder £4.00
Saleable Honey (30lb maximum) £2.50/lb (yes, we still do pounds us beekeepers)
Open Mesh Floors £10.00
Subject to Condition (by which I understand that if your equipment is in poor condition you get a lower payment – but you don’t pay a lower premium!)

Be warned that your membership of BBKA will lapse if subs are not paid by the end of February.  BDI premiums not paid by the end of March will result in loss of cover for 40 days after the premium is paid.  If you have more colonies that you have paid the premium for then you lose all cover.

Make cheques payable to Penrith Beekeepers and send to:

Roy Knowles
Fell Bank
Howbeck
Heskett Newmarket
Cumbria CA7 8JN