Why would I wish to subscribe to the bbka as an individual member? Ít's already included in my local association package.
I like my local association and apart from the magazine dropping through my letterbox and seemingly calendar driven emails about starvation warnings plus a stream of survey requests and notification of training options from regional and national level I don't get anything from above local association level which I place much value on. The magazine is a source of advertising and hence has some value but too much of the article content is (will that change to was?) purely wooly thinking opinion from individuals, not all logical or sensible. I put that down to failure to sift the contributions by the editorial team although I suppose that's indicative of a lack of submitted material. I know the advertising policy has been "recently" changed but the regular acceptance of advertising copy from suppliers of imported stock went on for years.
My local association began my foray into the world of beekeeping and I had/still have access to some highly skilled beekeepers for discussion regarding any problems I encounter which are outside my own still developing abilities (learning is a continuous process) and which cannot be researched in thebeekeepingforum either by using the search function of asking here if nothing to be found. I take my turn in delivering training to new recruits as my way of thanking my association for what they did for me.
I tried the bbka forum a few years ago but I eventually gave up because of the nursery school level of discussion which prevailed at that time. Maybe it's improved - I don't know. I do recall seeing Emyr in there for a while but his candid views didn't fit their narrative. That's another story which he may or may not wish to expand upon.
If I purely needed third party insurance I have my farm insurance.
As I said previously there is much room for improvement and we can agree to disagree.