My Interests

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Beekeeping

My beekeeping journey began in 2014, completing a comprehensive course at my local association. This included both theory and practical sessions. I am a member of three beekeeping associations, one of which I was a committee member as the ‘Beginners Representative’ moving into the role of ‘Publicity Officer’ and editor of the newsletter. I designed, arranged branding, honey show certificates and promotional material for the association. I have led practical sessions for the beginner’s course and supported the ‘School Food Matters’ campaign where the association was invited to speak to young people about the importance of pollinators.

I have supported the associations beginners’ course, leading group practical sessions, which had to be adapted during the pandemic, the association looked to its experienced members to support and mentor new beekeepers. I have been asked to support the mentoring programme again next year.

I take great care and adopt a calm and gentle handling of frames and manipulating colonies. I am very thorough with my inspections of colonies, looking for any abnormalities in cells. I have supported many other beekeepers, who regularly ask me for advice and help.

I recognise the presence of notifiable diseases such as EFB and AFB having participated in ‘Disease Day’ hosted by Middlesex Federation where we show infected brood frames. In 2019 I was invited to participate in a microscopy course run by the Middlesex Federation and have since purchased my own microscope and dissecting equipment. Under a microscope I can recognise the presence of Nosema in bee colony samples. I have completed the BBKA Module 1 in Honeybee Management and have begun studying for Module 3.

I have also worked with a bee farmer in London with hives located on roof tops, which has given me an insight into rooftop beekeeping.

This year I was invited to an association apiary where EFB was detected, a standstill was put in place, we returned to destroy the infected colonies and torch the equipment under the supervision of the SBI. This was understandably disappointing for the apiary manager but it was important to see the process of containment.

I have won awards at both the national and local honey shows for my exhibits.

I am also excited to see this role now includes maintaining and promoting a high plant health status in England. I am confident I can make a valuable contribution to achieving the key objectives to prevent the introduction and spread of serious plant pest and disease and also the important environmental priority to avoid pests become established in the UK. I believe I have the skills to deliver the tasks in the winter that the job description requires to support HEO inspectors to achieve inspection targets. I am extremely passionate about this role which now includes plant health and totally in line with my values. I am also flexible about working locations as I am currently looking at options of moving out of central London and totally flexible about working hours and overtime.