Events for 2008

Members of the public are advised to check that the venues, dates and times have not changed before attending a Branch meeting.

Branch meetings

Monday 21^st January - Eagle & Child, Bispham.
7:45 PM - A talk on "Commercial beekeeping in New Zealand" (David Rayner).
Wednesday 20^th February - The Red Lion Hotel, Ash Brow, Newburgh.
7:45 PM - A talk on "Disease management" (Ian Molyneux, Regional Bee Inspector).
Saturday 1^st March - Merchant Taylors Boys' School, 186 Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 0QP.
9:00 AM - Lancashire Annual Convention.
Saturday 15^th March - Old School House, Ulnes Walton Lane, Leyland, Preston.
2:00 PM - Lancashire & North West Beekeepers Association AGM.
Wednesday 19^th March - Eagle & Child, Bispham.
7:45 PM - A talk on "Making mead and honey beer" (John Charlton).
Saturday 29^th March & Sunday 30^th April - Rufford Old Hall, Rufford.
Beginners course 'Introduction to Beekeeping'.
Sunday 13^th April - Branch's out apiary, King's Moss.
2:30 PM - A talk on "Swarm Control" (Geoff Critchley) and new members introduction (Martin Smith).
Friday 18^th April - Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ.
BBKA Members Day.
Saturday 19^th April - Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ.
BBKA Spring Convention.
Sunday 20^th April - Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ.
BBKA Members Education Day.
Saturday 17^th May - Branch's out apiary, King's Moss.
2:30 PM - Sale of surplus equipment.
Monday 16^th June - Branch's out apiary, King's Moss.
6:30 PM - A talk on "Queen rearing" (Ray Dowson).
Sunday 6^th July - Venue TBA.
Branch BBQ.
Sunday 20^th July - Branch's out apiary, King's Moss.
2:30 PM - The Start of the Season (Ian Homer).
Sunday 7^th September - Branch's out apiary, King's Moss.
2:30 PM - General meeting.
Monday 6^th October - Eagle & Child, Bispham.
7:45 PM - General meeting.
Saturday 11^th October - Samlesbury War Memorial Hall, Cuerdale Lane, Samlesbury, Preston.
2:00 PM - Lancashire County Honey Show.
Monday 27^th October - Venue TBA.
Branch Annual Dinner.
Thursday 30^th October to Saturday 1^st November - St George’s College, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 2QS.
National Honey Show
Thursday 20^th November - Eagle & Child, Bispham.
7:45 PM - Branch AGM.

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Promoting beekeeping at local Shows, Carnivals and Fayres

Each year we attend a number of events to introduce the public to beekeeping. At each event we take an observation hive (unless one is supplied) that allows the public to see honey bees close up, but safely behind glass! It is a great opportunity to allay the public's fear of bees and to explain the differences between honey bees, wasps and bumble bees.

This year, members of our Branch will be attending :-

Saturday 28^th June - Honey Bee Open Day, Fir Tree Farm, King's Moss, St Helens, Merseyside, WA11 8RG.
Saturday 5^th July - Westhead Carnival, Westhead (near Ormskirk), Lancashire.
Saturday/Sunday 19^th/20^th July - Green Fayre and Woodland festival, Beacon Country Park, Up Holland, Lancashire.
Thursday 21^st to Sunday 24^th August - Southport Flower Show, Southport, Merseyside.

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New beekeeper practical sessions

All practical sessions will take place at our out apiary in King's Moss on Sundays starting at 2:00 PM. The syllabus for the practical sessions can be downloaded here (61K PDF).

27^th April - Supervised by Ray Dowson, Keith Hemming, Edwina Abbott.
4^th May - Supervised by Derrick Harris, Mark & Penny Oakley.
11^th May - Supervised by Mark Ball, Eric Bradbury, John Wilkinson.
18^th May - CANCELLED!
25^th May - Supervised by Mark & Penny Oakley, John Wilkinson.
1^st June - Supervised by Eric Bradbury, Derrick Harris, Keith Hemming.
8^th June - Supervised by Eric Bradbury, Mark Ball.
15^th June - Supervised by Derrick Harris, Mark & Penny Oakley.
22^nd June - Supervised by Ray Dowson, Keith Hemming.
29^th June - Supervised by Mark Ball, John Wilkinson.

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Basic Assessment

To take the BBKA Basic Assessment in beekeeping, candidates must have been keeping bees for twelve months or have already taken the Branch's 'Introduction to Beekeeping' course. The part time course will be supervised by Eric Bradbury and Keith Hemming and will consist of four theory and one practical session in preparation for the exam. Please contact Eric if you are interested in taking the BBKA Basic Assessment.

The dates for the theory sessions are as follows :-

Wednesday 28^th May - Theory session starting at 7:00 PM.
Wednesday 4^th June - Theory session starting at 7:00 PM.
Wednesday 11^th June - Theory session starting at 7:00 PM.
Wednesday 18^th June - Theory session starting at 7:00 PM.

The venue for the theory part of the course will be the Worsley Mesnes Outdoor Education Centre, Worsley Mesnes Drive, Worsley Mesnes, Wigan, WN3 5TE.

The date for the practical session is :-

To be announced

The practical session will be held at the Branch's out apiary in King's Moss.

The date for the exam is :-

Saturday 5^th July - Candidates will be notified of their exam time.

The exam will be held at the Branch's out apiary in King's Moss.

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Archive

Programme of events for 2007.