Beekeeping Courses and Exams

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).

2019 programme

Introduction to Beekeeping Course – Tutor Eddie Farrell

• 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 Paul Roberts

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 4 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 it's all covered in the course we do.

Classes will start mid May at a date to be decided based on development of the colonies. The day and time of the classes will be determined after discussion with interested members to ensure maximum attendance. As its a practical assessment the venue will be at Fir Tree Farm and will take 4 sessions.