About

WHAT IS CONBA?

The history of beekeeping within the United Kingdom is largely based around the activities of non-professional beekeepers and as a result there are many ‘associations’ of beekeepers.

The largest of these is the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), which has just over 27,000 members at time of writing. These members belong to about 74 locally-based Associations which are themselves affiliated to the BBKA. Despite its name, which goes back to its founding in 1874, the BBKA represents English beekeepers.  (With one member association in Wales and one in Northern Ireland

For the other countries in the UK (Wales, Scotland and Ulster), there are other equivalent bodies which operate in the same way as the BBKA within their geographic area.

In the UK there are also a number of professional beekeepers, operating larger numbers of hives on a commercial basis. These are represented by the Bee Farmers Association in all of the UK countries.

CONBA membership comprises two representatives from each of the bodies mentioned above.

CONBA was established in 1978 to promote the aims and objectives of the national beekeeping associations of England , Scotland, Ulster and Wales. It's purpose is to represent the interests of beekeepers with local, national and particularly EU and international authorities.

A representative delegate from each of the member country associations occupies the chair for a period of two years, on a rotational basis. The council members and observers communicate frequently by email and meet twice yearly. These meetings are usually held at the BBKA Spring Convention and the National Honey Show in London. Council business consists of any matters of common interest to all it's members.

CONBA is funded by a levy on each member association on a per-capita basis.

CONBA Provides representation at Apimondia