Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy: implementation plan

Action (SMART)

Owner/lead

Priority

Progress/achievements

1.1: Run a revalidation certification course for EFB control plan signatories every three years as minimum.

SG-Delivery

SASA

Next course 2026

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.

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

Annex A of the BHIP Annual Report details presentations carried out during 2023.

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

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. 

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

Annual target

2024: Aberdeen – 6 July 

2023: Coatbridge – 17 June

1.5:  Develop and maintain an engagement strategy and plan which explores most effective way education can be provided to the sector.

BHIP

Ongoing

The BHIP Annual Report provides an update on the progress made.

1.6:  Develop a suite of basic education modules for local associations, and the hobbyist and commercial sector (those businesses not in the EFB Control Plan and specifically those who are carrying out education) to cover topics such as biosecurity and disease management.

BHIP

Short-term (by early 2025)

SRUC has started creating a standardised government package relating to key messages in Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy.

1.7:  Investigate and promote  educational training opportunities.

BHIP

Ongoing

BHIP to consider how to reach young people through educational means.

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.

1.8: Encourage promotion and engagement with NatureScot and their Pollinator Strategy through established programme of talks/introduction of blogs, magazine articles.

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.