Training & Assessment

Improve Your Beekeeping Skills

Brighton and Lewes Division beekeepers are keen to help our members to improve their knowledge and skills in a number of ways.

  • We offer practical training in the Divisional apiaries in the summer. The first hour of the summer meetings is for beginners to see and handle bees.  See Events page for further details and dates.
  • Winter talks on a variety of bee related topics. See Events page for details of talks.
  • Beekeeping courses, see below.
  • The British Beekeepers’ Association also offers theoretical module examinations and practical assessments at Basic stages, General Husbandry and more advanced, Brighton and Lewes Division offers help and advice for those wishing to pursue the exam route. Full details of these examinations and assessments can be found on the BBKA Website

Bee Keeping Training 2018
A number of courses are available for 2018. The Tutor is Amanda Millar, President of Sussex Beekeepers’ Association and a member of Brighton and Lewes Beekeepers, who has achieved module theory examinations 1-7, General Husbandry qualifications and has fifteen years of experience.
Tuition offered by Amanda is available at several levels and two venues.

  1. A Basic Beekeeping day Course. Sunday 8th April fullybooked, 9.30 – 5pm.
    If you are thinking of getting bees or have recently got some, this course will provide you with the essential information to get you started. The course will cover Bee biology and behaviour, hive types and important beekeeping techniques, how to keep bees healthy and recognize diseases, pests and problems and honey harvesting. The importance of bee plants and forage and harvesting honey will also be covered. Weather permitting, we will be opening a hive. Course fee is £55 (with £5 discount for Brighton and Lewes members) and includes tea, coffee and biscuits and comprehensive course notes, please bring your own lunch. Bee jackets will be available. Held at Hurstpierpoint ,West Sussex. Contact Amanda for further details and booking form. (see Contacts and membership page; Education).
  2.  Two day weekend course. This more intensive course is intended for those planning on taking up beekeeping or those who have recently obtained bees and will provide all the information you require in your first few years of beekeeping. It includes bee biology and behaviour, hives and equipment, management techniques, keeping bees healthy, recognizing and controlling disease and other problems, the importance of plants and forage and honey harvest and other bee products. Includes lunch, course notes, opening a hive (weather permitting). Held at Mantel Farm Battle, Sussex, Contact Mantel Farm for details and booking.  Dates: 17th/18th March, 21st/22nd April, 12th/13th May,16th/17th June, 15th/16th September, 6th/7th October from 9.30 to 4.30pm.
  3. Advanced Beekeeping day. 14th April 9.30 to 4.30pm. For those with two or more years experience wishing to keep their bees healthy and content by understanding their requirements and behaviour. Including important manipulations such as finding the queen, requeening, shook swarms, basic queen rearing, collecting, preventing and control of swarms. Managing the honey crop and how to recognise, prevent and deal with diseases, pests and other problems which may arise. Held at Mantel Farm Battle, Sussex, Contact Mantel Farm for details and booking.

 

Contact:  Amanda Millar – see Contacts and Membership