Introduction to Beekeeping course

Each year in Spring the Branch runs a two day course as an introduction to beekeeping. The course was held on Saturday March 29^th and Sunday March 30^th at Rufford Old Hall in Rufford (near Ormskirk) in Lancashire.

Our short course uses the British Beekeepers Association's (BBKA) 'Introduction to Beekeeping' teaching materials. The course's objectives allow people to :-

• Be able to understand and recognise the basic parts of a hive.
• Understand the life cycle of a honey bee.
• Understand what is involved in keeping bees.
• Be able to make an informed decision as to whether or not beekeeping is for them.

Members of the course having a practical demonstration in the apiary

A worker cleaning a brood frame cell

The course tutor for both days will be our Branch committee member Martin Smith who has been keeping bees for over twenty five years. For the practical session on day two, suitable protective footwear and gloves should be provided by each student (Wellington boots and rubber Marigolds are recommended). Protective bee suits, veils and gloves will be loaned to those students who are unable to provide their own.

On completing the course, and joining our Branch, new members are then able to extend their knowledge by attending a series of practical sessions held at our out apiary in King's Moss.

We only run one course per year (over one weekend) with approximately 25 places available for students. The course fee for will be £50.00 which includes :-

• One place on the two day course.
• Membership of our Branch (or towards the membership of another Lancashire Branch) and the BBKA for one year.
• Ten or more 'hands on' practical sessions at our out apiary.
• A monthly Branch newsletter (via e-mail or post).
• Six copies of 'BBKA News' per year.
• BBKA public and product liability insurance (up to £5M per incident, with a £500 excess on each claim excluding personal injury).
• Bee disease insurance for up to three hives.
• Reduced entry to the BBKA Spring Convention.

Any students who opt out of practical sessions or Branch membership will not be offered a course fee concession.

If you would like to register in advance for the course please get in contact.

Bees on a brood frame

We have been running this introductory course for the last four years and it has always proven to be very popular. Applications are also welcome from outside the Lancashire area. In previous years we have had attendees from as far a field as Oxford and Northumberland. Our Branch Secretary will provide an introduction for course students outside the Ormskirk and Croston area to their local beekeeping Branch's Secretary e.g. Preston and District, Southport and District etc.

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Programme

Typical activity on a brood frame

On each day of the course there will be two fifteen minute tea breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and also a forty five minute break will be taken for lunch. The course will normally be held at a venue with access to a cafeteria. Please note that lunch will not be provided as part of the course fee. Course attendees can either use the facilities at the venue or provide their own food to be eaten outside the premises.

Course attendees are advised to turn up promptly at 9:45 AM each day and for all sessions after a break. The itinerary for both days of the course is outlined below.

Day 1
9:45	AM	Session 1	Different Bees, Hives & Hive Components
10:45	AM	Break
11:00	AM	Session 2	Queens, Drones & Workers - life cycles
12:00	PM	Lunch
12:45	PM	Session 3	Beekeeping Year (1st part)
1:45	PM	Break
2:15	PM	Session 4	Beekeeping Year (2nd part)
3:15	PM	Finish

Day 2
9:45	AM	Session 5	Swarm Control
10:45	AM	Break
11:00	AM	Session 6	Pests and Disease
12:00	PM	Lunch
12:45	PM	Session 7	Honey & Other Hive Products
1:45	PM	Break
2:15	PM	Session 8	Questions and a hive inspection (weather permitting)
3:15	PM	Finish

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Practical sessions

Drones and workers emerging from between brood frames

After the course there will be a two hour practical session at our out apiary every week starting at 2:00 PM on Sundays (unless there is a Branch meeting within a couple of days). The practicals normally run from April/May until the end of July.

You will need to bring normal beekeeping protection to practical sessions. However you might be able to borrow a veil or a beekeeping suit for the duration of the session on a first come, first served basis. Remember to bring your own Wellington boots and protective gloves (rubber household washing up/cleaning Marigolds are OK).

Any hive tools, beekeeper's smokers and basic woodworking tools will be provided. The aim's of the practical sessions are for new beekeepers to be able to :-

• Open up a bee hive with the correct tools.
• Remove and examine frames.
• Recognise eggs, larva, sealed worker brood, drone cells and queen cells.
• Recognise 'ripe' honey.
• To be able to assess the condition of the colony :-
  • Has it enough stores?
  • Are there eggs and brood at all stages?
  • Is there space for the queen to lay?
  • Is there space to store honey?
  • Is there anything unusual (may be disease, seek advice)?
• Receive instruction in the assembly of hives and frames from flat packed kits.
• Extract honey.
• Light and maintain a beekeeper's smoker.

Each practical session is supervised by an experienced beekeeper and is held in a friendly and informal fashion. New beekeepers are openly encouraged to ask any questions that they might have during or after the session.

Any new beekeepers who obtain bees while the practical sessions are running can also ask for help and advice.

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Accommodation and transport

Any course attendees from outside the Lancashire area who require an overnight stay will have to find their own accommodation local to the course's venue. The public transport in and around Lancashire is limited on a Sunday. There is ample parking on site at Rufford Old Hall. The course fee includes free admission to the car park and grounds of Rufford Old Hall. Concessionary rates are also available for course members who wish to enter the hall itself during the weekend.

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