The National Bee Unit delivers the Bee Health Programmes on behalf of Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) in England & Wales.

The NBU is comprised of research and diagnostics staff based at York and home based inspectors. Our function is to protect the honeybee, an essential pollinator of crops and wild plants, from threats such as serious disease and environmental damage. We do this using an integrated programme of apiary inspections, diagnosis, research and development, training and extension provided by a team of bee scientists and experienced practical beekeepers. We provide specialist advice and technical consultancy services on bee health to government departments, beekeepers and industry.

Welcome to BeeBase, the NBU's live on-line database. The BeeBase database was constructed in 1991 and made live in 1992. It holds data on all the inspections made by staff of the NBU as well as laboratory samples submitted by beekeepers. The database was revised and this website set up in 2005 by IT specialists in the Food and Environment Research Agency (formerly CSL) and its continued development and maintenance is done in conjunction with the NBU. For the first time it allows beekeepers to access their own apiary, diagnostic histories and details over the web.

The website also provides information on the functional activities of the NBU, legislation, pests and diseases including their recognition and control, interactive maps, current research areas, publications, advisory leaflets and key contacts. You can register online as a Beekeeper and can request a free apiary visit from your local inspector who will provide any help and advice you need. Use the links either on the left hand side of the page, or within the text, to navigate to the pages you wish to view. If you are an inspector you can search the database with a variety of queries and will be able to create, update or edit certain records. Blank forms are also available for you to print off if you require.