SRUC

Responsible Beekeeping

Learn what you need to do to be a responsible beekeeper in the UK.

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BeeBase

BeeBase is the Animal and Plant Health Agency's (APHA) National Bee Unit website. It is designed for beekeepers and supports Defra, Welsh Government and Scotland's Bee Health Programmes. 

Registering and keeping your details up to date on BeeBase is one of the most important ways you can help tackle pests and diseases. This will allow Bee Health Inspectors to contact you if you are potentially at risk from an outbreak in your locality.

It is important to sign up to BeeBase as if there is a notifiable disease within 3km of your apiary you will be informed. It also provides a wealth of free information for beekeepers. 

Go to BeeBase

Notifiable diseases and pests

There are a number of pests and diseases in the UK that are reportable and these may affect your bees. If you suspect they are present within your colonies you must tell the National Bee Unit (NBU) or your local bee inspector immediately. Not only is it the responsible thing to do, failure to do so is an offence.

Notifiable diseases and pests are:

  • American foulbrood
  • European foulbrood
  • Small hive beetle
  • Tropilaelaps mite

For more information on these diseases and pests, including how to report them, go to our honey bee pests, diseases, and disorders page. 

Ethical beekeeping

Pollinator Pioneers advocates for ethical beekeeping practices that promote responsible and sustainable beekeeping. Discover a wealth of ethical beekeeping resources, events, and contacts on their website that can help you embed ethical, sustainable practices into your beekeeping. 

Pollinator Pioneers