Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) Annual Report 2024

The Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) and ways of working

The BHIP was established in 2010 as part of Scotland’s first 10-year Honey Bee Health Strategy as a forum to allow Scottish Government Officials and expert stakeholders to consider how to tackle the challenges affecting honey bees and the Scottish beekeeping sector.

In order to deliver the Honey Bee Health Strategy, the BHIP developed an Implementation Plan, grouping together actions, key issues and objectives as follows:

1. Education, Training and Knowledge Transfer

2. Communication and partnership working across government, operational partners, stakeholders and all of those with an interest in honey bees in Scotland

3. Pest and Disease surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, and control

4. Research and Development

5. On-going review of the regulatory framework

The BHIP meet quarterly and comprise of representatives from:

• The Scottish Beekeepers Association (SBA)
• The Bee Farmers Association (BFA)
• National Diploma in Beekeeping (NDB)
• Scottish Native Honey Bee Society (SNHBS)
• Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
• NatureScot
• Scottish Government (Delivery, SASA and Policy)
• Other UK administrations

The BHIP ensures that governance and accountability is maintained by documenting its progress on the specific aims of the Honey Bee Health Strategy in its meeting minutes, which can be accessed here.