Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy: implementation plan
Details of the actions which the Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) will deliver in order to achieve the desired outcomes for honey bee health in Scotland.
Pillar 1 - education, training and knowledge transfer
The BHIP will work on improving the level of education and knowledge of the Scottish Beekeeping community on all issues relating to honey bees.
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Action (SMART)
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Owner/lead |
Priority |
Progress/achievements |
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1.1: Run a revalidation certification course for EFB control plan signatories every three years as minimum. |
SG-Delivery SASA |
Next course 2027 |
Under the direction of the Delivery Lead for Bee Health, SASA and SRUC, the 2023 EFB certification course took place on 11 May in Perth where each business taking part in the plan attended the mandatory training event. |
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1.2: Delivery of a minimum of five presentations per year on notifiable diseases and pests, recognition, reporting and control to the Scottish Beekeeping Community. |
SRUC SASA SG-Delivery |
Annual target |
Annual target exceeded in 2025 |
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1.3: Ensure that local beekeepers are informed promptly in the event of an outbreak of notifiable or non-notifiable pests or diseases, including what to do when outbreaks occur, and notification when the disease outbreak has ended. |
SG-Delivery SRUC
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Ongoing |
Since 2023, it has been standard procedure to deliver a talk and practical demonstration on how to conduct a disease inspection to local beekeeping associations in areas where foulbrood disease found for the first time. this has become standard procedure.
Talks are also delivered over winter to high-risk areas. |
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1.4: Delivery of one Bee Health Day per year to the Scottish beekeeping community with practical and theory presentations on notifiable diseases, pests, Varroa control and other relevant Bee Health Issues. |
SRUC SASA SBA SG-Delivery BHIP reps
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Annual target |
2026: Inverness – 30 May 2024: Aberdeen – 6 July 2023: Coatbridge – 17 June
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1.5: Develop and maintain an engagement strategy and plan which explores most effective way education can be provided to the sector. |
BHIP |
Ongoing |
An updated plan for 2027 is being developed. SRUC manages education and engagement plans, which have received BHIP sign-off for 2025.
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1.7: Investigate and promote educational training opportunities.
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BHIP |
Ongoing |
The BFA offered to do a presentation for SRUC on the City & Guilds Apprenticeship Scheme for those wishing to develop a career in bee farming.
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1.8: Encourage promotion and engagement with NatureScot and their Pollinator Strategy through established programme of talks/introduction of blogs, magazine articles.
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All |
Ongoing |
SRUC attended an online pollinators conference run by NatureScot and engaged in the South of Scotland Future Landscapes Conference where bee health, beekeeping, the environment and pollination were promoted.
SNHBS add to the portraits of non-Apis native bees in Scotland in their email newsletters to members and on their public pages on their website. |
Contact
Email: Bees_mailbox@gov.scot