Thinking about furthering your Beekeeping knowledge?
Bee Craft has come up with an infographic to guide you through your learning journey. Click here to take a look.
If you would like more information about examinations or assessments, the BBKA have a section on their website. Click on the link to go to their information pages.
2018 Spring Course for New Beekeepers
The new course for beekeeping beginners is taking shape and is designed to give beginners the confidence to look after their own hives.
Though details have yet to be worked out, and therefore the course content is subject to change, I can reveal that the course starts with a look at the different approaches to beekeeping and why we do what we do. There is also an introduction to the equipment used and that question always asked by beginners – “will I get stung?”
The course goes on to look at the different roles played by the different bees in the hive and how we set up the hive to make their life easier and also make our work easier when we want the honey.
But how do you get your first bees? Well that too is covered. Where do you get a swarm and once you’ve got it what you do with it?
Of course beekeeping is not all plain sailing and they are prone to certain diseases. If we are to help the bee population and get the honey which we want then it is important to know how to prevent disease and how to treat it if it occurs.
After all that hard work it is time to gather our harvest – not only of honey but also wax and propolis. The course will cover how to get the honey and what to do with it once you have it.
There are is much more to beekeeping than can be covered in a short course such as this. However what this course will give you is the confidence to start your own apiary and manage your own hives – though the bees do most of the work.
After the course the support available from the club has not finished. You will be able to ring us and ask for help. We have all been beginners once and understand the problems you face. But be warned – ring up 5 beekeepers with a problem and you will get at least 6 solutions!
The course will be held on Saturdays from 10:30 to 13:00 starting Saturday March 17th for 6 weeks and will be held at Kingston Maurward DT2 8XW.
The cost of the course will be £75.00 which will include the £30 membership fee for the Dorchester and Weymouth Beekeeper. For couples taking the course the fee is reduced to £60.00 for the second person.
If you are thinking of keeping bees then this is a perfect way to start. You will learn some theory but most importantly you will get an opportunity to open a hive and see what goes on inside.
To see what we did on the 2017 course click here. If you’re interested in further details then contact Sally Leslie.
