Fdbka

My name is Paula Little. I am the Acting Chairperson at Fareham and District Beekeepers Association (FDBKA) I considered I might want to keep bees when I was going out with my first boyfriend, way back in the day when flared trousers were a new thing. His dad kept bees. Everything about that glorious summer, first love, sunny days and happy memorie... s blended into the idea of keeping bees. Life has a sneaky way of getting in the way of dreams. It wasn't until 2005, when flares which are now called bootlegs, I actually began having fun with bees. Started out as a member of the New Forest Beekeepers Association before joining FDBKA in 2007/8. My first set of equipment was gifted to me by my sister's sister in law, whom I had known since I was six years old. The thing I had never known was that she kept bees, until I told her that I was doing a beginner course, fifty years later!! She had spent a lifetime bee-keeping but was now giving up, so her veils, suit, honey buckets and extractor all came my way... Are all bee-keepers "good folks" or just the ones I've met?! I love making things. The crafts associated with bee-keeping hold almost as much fascination as the bees themselves. I am an avid maker of mead. I enjoy being part of the Bees and Honey Weekend at Manor Farm where I provide a range of meads to allow the visitors to taste mead. I have run courses on mead making with my own Association, but I'm not sure I'll do it again! One of my students won first prize!!!! I make beeswax candles and flatter myself as it was part of the inspiration for my great nephew's to start up a candle business.. I'd love to say I make my my own skeps but have to admit my first attempt remains only half done over many years and it's hanging from the garage roof to keep it away from the mice... so I use a cardboard box to collect swarms. Anyway, you can see over the years, I have derived a great deal of interest, pleasure and many good friends through bee-keeping. I accepted my nomination as Chair of FDBKA as I am grateful for the ...Read More