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.
Out apiary visits and further instructions
COVID19 – NO TRAINING THIS YEAR
This year we would have decided to change the format of out apiary visits to cater more for those existing beekeepers who wish to improve their techniques, we were also meantto be starting at 2 pm as the previous earlier time may have put some from coming if they had any distance to travel. In recent years we have had quite a few new beekeepers and now they have got used to handling bees it is time they progressed to better swarm control, techniques for comb change, queen rearing and increase etc.
These topics would need the time available to cover them fully and because we don’t wish to overwhelm complete beginners who may not yet have any bees, but we hope will still attend, I would like to make the following suggestions in preparation for the apiary visits – homework!
Firstly, all new beekeepers should read a good bee book which will cover the basics, equipment and basic bee biology, there are many on the market, some OK, some are only fit to line my dustbin. The best I personally would recommend is Haynes Bee Manual by Claire and Adrian Waring. The text is concise and informative, with excellent illustrations and abundant diagrams. The next option is a well-designed bee course. These will hopefully be offered next year, 2021.
Amanda Millar, B&L Education
- We offer practical training in the Divisional apiaries in the summer. 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
Beekeeping courses for 2020 ALL CANCELLED
Hopefully next year, 2021!
Amanda: Two-day courses 9.30-4.30 pm held at Mantel Farm, near Battle, East Sussex
CANCELLED
1. The Honeybee, the bee colony, biology and life cycle
2. Equipment and costs, equipment, frames, wax, tools, personal protection
3. The Apiary, layout, siting the hives, responsibilities and safety
4. Managing Honeybee colonies, Inspections, swarm control, uniting, moving colonies
5. Bee Health and Diseases, Bee parasites, diseases, pests and other problems, how to recognize and treat them
6. The importance of Plants, requirements of honeybees and other pollinators
7. Honey Harvest and Winter preparation, honey extraction and handling, equipment and preparing for winter
8. Information, help and support, Resources, books, magazines, local organisations, obtaining bees.
Weather permitting we would also inspect a colony.
Courses included refreshments and lunch and comprehensive booklet. Further details and booking go to https://mantelfarmshop.co.uk … hopefully in 2021
Special one-day bee experience courses
These will cover a general appreciation of the biology and behaviour of bees and other pollinators and the problems they are experiencing, what to plant and how to make solitary bee hotels. This course is not about how to keep honey bees. Dates are 28th March, 2nd May, 6th September, 3rd October (hopefully).
Contact: Amanda Millar
