Bee Inspectors

The NBU has a team of Appointed Bee Inspectors (ABIs) based across England and Wales. The National Bee Inspector (NBI) manages a field service of eight Regional Bee Inspectors (RBIs) who are responsible for managing their individual regions and a team of approximately seven Seasonal Bee Inspectors (SBIs).

The RBI co-ordinates apiary inspections and a training programme for the region under the management of the NBI and the Head of the National Bee Unit. The NBI and RBIs are employed full time throughout the year; with SBIs employed during the beekeeping season.

Every Bee Inspector is an experienced practical beekeeper, with particular experience and training in the recognition and control of bee pests and diseases. Inspectors also provide comprehensive training and advice on apiary management and good husbandry practice. As well as apiary inspections, Bee Inspectors assist with various research projects and field trials.

Further information can be found on the National Bee Unit website.

Signing up to BeeBase as a Beekeeper will enable you to take advantage of the free services the Bee Unit offers. No charge is made for an apiary visit by a fully qualified Bee-inspector. The inspector will check for signs of disease or pests, and will provide you with help and advice on good husbandry, and how to tackle any potential problems they may find. All have extensive experience of managing colonies of bees and are keen apiarists themselves. They will always try and keep any disruption during a visit to an absolute minimum and provide you with up-to-date information and advice. You will also have access to all the latest information regarding disease and pest outbreaks and the results of various research projects and latest advisory information.

The bee inspectors for our area are as given below:

Regional Bee Inspector
Andy Wattam
Mobile No: 07884 791009
E-Mail: andy.wattam@apha.gov.uk

Seasonal Bee Inspector
(Available from March to October)
Bronwen Hopkins
Mobile No: 07796 433626
E-mail: bronwen.hopkins@apha.gov.uk