Membership of Portsmouth and District Beekeeping Association (PDBKA) is open to anyone who keeps bees or is interested in beekeeping and any activities associated with beekeeping.
If you do own hives you should, of course, belong to an association. This ensures that you have access to support from fellow beekeepers who know your local environment and are nearby if physical help is needed. It also ensures that you are insured when selling or gifting your wonderful pure hive products, for public liability and for Bee Disease cover. We also welcome members from other associations to join us as Associate Members.
However, you do not have to own any hives to be a member. So whether you are currently unable to have your own colony, do not want to or you feel that you would like to gain more experience before doing so, you can become a Country Member and will be welcomed at our regular meetings, events and beekeeping courses/activities.
The PDBKA is open to and welcomes everyone, and we encourage all members to actively participate in the association, so as to get the most out of their membership and to support a friendly, supportive and encouraging community.
2027 Fees will be published once we have received confirmation regarding the charges for HBA, BBKA and BDI subscriptions/premiums and the subsequent total rates for 2027 have been set and validated. These fees will be effective for those renewing their membership in January 2027 and those joining after 1st October 2026. Renewals should be completed by the end of January each year to ensure there is no gap in insurance cover.
If you are wishing to between1st September 2026 and when the updated fees are published, please contact the Membership Secretary for details.
Membership Categories
Registered Member
Registered membership is available for people who keep bees or intend to do so in the near future. Below is the breakdown of how the membership fee is made up.
- BBKA Subscription
- PDBKA Subscription
- HBA Subscription
- BDI Basic Premium (This covers up to 3 colonies – additional cover can be added.)
This provides the Registered Member with:
- Regular Communications
- Membership of Portsmouth & District Beekeeping Association (PDBKA)
- Membership of Hampshire Beekeeping Association (HBA)
- Membership of the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA)
- Subscription to Monthly (posted) edition of BBKA News Magazine
- Access to BBKA Online Training Resources and Talks
- Bee Disease Insurance Cover
- Product Liability Insurance Cover
- Public Liability Insurance Cover
- Swarm Collection Insurance Cover
- Attendance of Member Meetings
- Access to member equipment loans, the Skep, being on the PDBKA Swarm List and the ability to sell hive products via the PDBKA stall at events
Additional Bee Disease Insurance
If you have more than 3 colonies, then additional Bee Disease Insurance premiums will be applicable to ensure you have cover for all of your colonies. These are offered at a very low rate, so please contact the membership secretary for further information on the additional premium rates available.
Country Member
Membership of both PDBKA and BBKA for people who do not keep bees, but would like to .
- BBKA Subscription
- PDBKA Subscription
This provides the Country Member with:
- Regular Communications
- Membership of Portsmouth & District Beekeeping Association (PDBKA)
- Membership of the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA)
- Subscription to Monthly (posted) edition of BBKA News Magazine
- Access to BBKA Online Training Resources and Talks
- Attendance of Member Meetings
- Access to the Skep
Junior Member
Membership for those under the age of 18 on September 1st
- BBKA Subscription
- PDBKA Subscription
This provides the Junior Member with:
- Regular Communications
- Membership of Portsmouth & District Beekeeping Association (PDBKA)
- Membership of British Beekeeping Association (BBKA)
- Bee Disease Insurance Cover
- Product Liability Insurance Cover
- Public Liability Insurance Cover
- Attendance of Member Meetings
- Access to member equipment loans, the Skep and the ability to sell hive products via the PDBKA stall at events
(Insurance cover is linked with a parents/adults membership)
Associate Member
This is for people who already have membership with another beekeeping association, but would also like to be a member of PDBKA or wishes to have PDBKA only membership.
- PDBKA Subscription
This provides the Associate Member with:
- Regular Communications
- Membership of Portsmouth & District Beekeeping Association (PDBKA)
- Attendance of Member Meetings
- Access to the Skep
All members are able to request copies of the minutes of the regular committee meetings and are kept informed, by e-mail, of all member meetings, activities and events, along with notifications from HBA and the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), and for Registered (Full) members, documentation relating to their cover via the BBKA Bee Disease Insurance and Public & Product Liability Insurance policies, and BBKA insurance for swarm collections.
Your receipt provided directly through the BBKA, post payment, is your proof of membership, and insurance confirmation for full registered members is provided via the BBKA.
For more details on becoming a member please contact membership secretary Peter Row by email at membership@portsmouthbeekeepers.co.uk.
The membership application form can either be completed online or downloaded and printed.
