Beekeeping Courses
Training Beekeepers for the future
Ormskirk Beekeepers provides a range of training courses tailored to suit every level of beekeeping experience. These courses and training sessions range from introductory courses for people interested in beekeeping right through to advanced beekeeping courses for the more experienced of our members. Bees are living creatures and it is the responsibility of beekeepers to manage their colonies in a safe and healthy environment, and above all to be able to enjoy their beekeeping. These training courses enable everyone to get the maximum from their beekeeping and rise to whatever level they choose. By and large the courses offered by the branch follow the BBKA programme of Course in the Case (competency model) and formal examinations, which cover 7 Modules (see below).
2018 programme
Introduction
to Beekeeping Course – Tutor Eddie Farrell
The complete introduction to the craft for those with no prior
experience. This course comprises
- Membership of the
Branch, Lancashire BKA, and the British
Beekeepers Association (BBKA)
- 2 day theory
course including an opportunity to inspect a hive
- 8 practical
training sessions
- Priority for a
new colony of bees.
This course is held once a year – Full details
of the next course together with the fees is available here.
In recent years we have introduced hundreds of people to beekeeping through
this course and had attendees from as far away as Cumbria,
Dorset and Oxfordshire. It also provides
the starting point for those whose local association does not run a course, or
whose course is fully booked.
Basic Assessment Preparation – Tutor Susan Webster
A way of demonstrating basic competency in beekeeping, members are encouraged to take the BBKA Basic Assessment – a one hour practical assessment of basic beekeeping skills. In order to assist members with the syllabus a short course of 8 evenings is held every spring. The Assessment itself is in 3 parts....firstly you go through the hive with the Assessor pointing out what you see, and what you are doing and why; then you have to make a frame, and finally there is a question and answer session about bee diseases, swarming, feeding bees etc. It lasts for about an hour and a quarter and it's all covered in the course we do.
Classes will start on Wednesday 3rd May and run for 6 weeks until 7th June starting at 6.30 pm until approximately 8.30pm The venue is Fir Tree Farm.
The course fee will remain at £25 with an additional £20 (payable to the BBKA) for those taking the assessment.
Module Preparation Groups - Tutors Various
After the Basic Assessment, there are 7 BBKA Modules. Each module has an exam, although you can take a course without taking the exam. Beekeepers normally take several years to cover all the modules.
1 Honeybee Management
2 Products of the Hive
3 Diseases, Pests and Poisoning
5 Honeybee Biology
6 Honeybee Behaviour
7 Selection and Breeding of Honeybees
8 Honeybee Management, Health and History. ( there is no module 4)
Each exam is 90 minutes long
and the venue will be somewhere in Lancashire.
The next exam date is 24th March 2018 and we are offering:
Module 1 : Honeybee Management
(venue, day and times to be determined)
Module 2 : Products of the Hive (venue, day and times to be determined)
Both courses will follow the BBKA syllabus but
is aimed at anyone wishing to gain more beekeeping knowledge.
In addition to the knowledge the interaction with the other members of the
class gives an opportunity to discuss how others do their beekeeping.
To book on the course please e-mail:- Paul Roberts: [email protected]
If you are interested , why not have a look at the BBKA website and familiarise yourself with the relevant syllabus.
In addition to the modules the
BBKA runs other courses. In 2018 two preparatory courses are available for
General Husbandry and Advanced Husbandry.
General Husbandry initiative
The course tutors and dates will be communicated when known. In addition, the BBKA magazine will advertise courses as details are confirmed.
Advanced
Husbandry initiative
If you are interested in taking the preparatory advanced husbandry course
please contact the BBKA office direct. |
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