Striving for excellence in beekeeping across Central Scotland

Dunblane & Stirling Beekeepers' Association

DSBA has learning at its core and boasts a long history of providing training and support to its members.

Swarms!

It’s that time of year when bees of all kinds are busy. If you think you have a swarm of honey bees, a volunteer from the Dunblane & Stirling Beekeepers’ Association can help move them to a new home. We can only help with honey bees though sadly. Please follow the steps at the link below to find your nearest beekeeper:

 
If they are not honey bees and you can live with them, they tend to move off after the summer. We have over 250 kinds of bees in the UK and even wasps are all vital to our environment.

Supporting our members

A long history of learning & Support

Dunblane and Stirling Beekeepers’ Association (DSBA) has been in existence for more than 70 years.

DSBA has learning at its core and boasts a long history of providing training and support to its members.

DSBA not only runs a very successful and engaging New Beekeepers course, but also delivers a series of winter lectures, and organises an annual honey show and social summer gatherings.

In 2018 DSBA became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) with a dedicated Board of Trustees.

The Association has three main purposes:

1. To advance the heritage, culture and science of apiculture

2. To advance the education of apiculture by providing training courses and the production of educational materials

3. To help conserve the natural environment by promoting the importance of bees in the environment

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Benefits of Membership

Education
The Association host a series of monthly meetings with external speakers to educate us on the latest thinking and science related to beekeeping. Our 'Newbee' Beekeeping course is run every spring - not only is its handbook is nationally recognised as being excellent; you can follow up the lectures with practicals at our apiary.​
Heather Honey
DSBA has access to a heather site that is local to Dunblane, and we are grateful to the landlord for providing access to the site. Though heather seasons vary from year to year, we are pleased to offer DSBA members the opportunity of a heather honey crop.
Abelo Discount
DSBA has successfully applied for the Abelo BeeTrade Card which offers 12% discount to DSBA members.
Mentor Support
If you're a member then you have access to our team of experienced mentors to help you answer any queries that you might have.
Bee Nucleus
The Society runs a list of members who have a new nucleus of bees for private purchase between members.
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What's On

We have an active programme throughout the year.

In the summer, those who have studied in our New Beekeepers’ Programme are invited to the DSBA apiary where they can see first-hand the development work, chat with the apiary committee, and have an opportunity to have a hands on experience of managing a hive.

Our members get the opportunity to visit a number of apiaries to learn from other keepers. Then after the busy summer months and harvesting honey, to mark the end of the active bee-keeping season we hold a honey show in October. This is your opportunity to show off the fruits of your (bees’) labour and compete for the coveted Val Johns trophy for the best in show.

From September to April, we meet in the evening on the first Tuesday of every month at Dunblane Cathedral Halls to listen to guest speakers talk on a wide range of bee-keeping topics from Deformed Wing Virus to Scottish Pollen Analysis.

Get the latest news

Posts

The May Newsletter

The May Newsletter If you are not on our mailing list, please sign up using the form at the bottom of the page. Here is

The April Newsletter

The April Newsletter If you are not on our mailing list, please sign up using the form at the bottom of the page. Here is

The ‘Nuc List’

The DSBA Nuc List As the 2023 beekeeping season is now well under way, we start thinking (and more so our newer currently non-beekeeping members)

The March Newsletter

The April Newsletter If you are not on our mailing list, please sign up using the form at the bottom of the page. Here is

supplies

The Association funds and manages the bulk purchase of bee feed (Ambrosia Fondant and Syrup), long cuff nitrile gloves and jars to provide our members with the most cost-effective access to these supplies. To view our full range of supplies in our shop, you must be a member.

Get the latest news

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Do You Want To Become a Beekeeper?

Perhaps you simply want to know more about honey bees, their activities and products. If this is you, please join us to develop your interest and passion.