|
Introduction
to Beekeeping
This course will take place over six Saturday mornings at
The Wiltshire Countryside College, Lackham, Nr Lacock in
Building S18, starting at 10.00am until 12.00 noon. Practical
sessions at the teaching apiary within the grounds of the
college (subject to weather conditions on the day).
The
Course Structure
The purpose of this course is to give people considering
beekeeping as a hobby, a comprehensive introduction to basic
beekeeping methods and practices. The course has been designed
with the beginner in mind and is divided into six, two hour
Saturday morning sessions. These will consist of four theoretical
classroom based presentations and two practical sessions
at the Melksham Association teaching apiary situated within
the grounds of Lackham College. Questions will be welcomed
at any time during the lectures and hopefully you will find
the answers to most of them. At the end of the course you
should have sufficient skills to handle your own bees competently
and responsibly. Upon completion, we suggest that you work
alongside an experienced beekeeper while you build up your
confidence and we plan to recommend a suitable beekeeping
partner.
The
Course Fee
Fees for the six lectures will be £35.00 included
in the fee will be the joining fee as associate member to
The Melksham & District Beekeeping Association. Upon
completion of the course you have the option to upgrade
your status to a full member. Full membership cost an additional
£15.00, but includes the relevant insurances and membership
benefits of keeping bees. Details upon request.
The Programme of Events
Saturday
5th April
Natural History & Lifecycle of the Honeybee. A basic
study of the three different castes of honeybees.
Tutor: Alan Stonell
_________________________________________________________
Saturday 12th April
Hive Parts and Beekeeping Equipment. A study of the equipment
required to keep bees, types of hives, smokers and hive
tools etc.
Tutor: Chris Jackson
_________________________________________________________
Saturday 19th April
No lecture this week. Resume Saturday 28th April
The 2008 BBKA Spring Convention at National Agricultural
Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
________________________________________________________
Saturday 26th April
The Colony Through the Seasons. Colony expansion and contraction.
Recognition of phases in the hive. Recognise signs of a
healthy colony
Tutor: John Chamberlain _________________________________________________________
Saturday 3rd May
Pests and Diseases of the Honeybee.
A basic study of Adult and Brood diseases and the Varroa
Destructor Mite.
Tutors: Alan Stonell & Sally Wadsworth
_________________________________________________________
Saturday 10th May
Occupants of the Hive. First of the practical sessions at
the teaching apiary. Observe the Queen, Workers and Drones
at work in the hive.
(Please Bring Wellingtons and a pair of Marigold gloves,
veils or beesuits will be available)
Tutor: Roger Tilley
_________________________________________________________
Saturday 17th May
Frame by Frame Tour of the Hive. Second session at the teaching
apiary with hands on tour of the brood nest and honey supers.
Tutor: John Whitford
For
further information contact
Education
& Training Officer
Alan Stonell,
Tel: 01380 728089
Email: alan.stonell@tesco.net
Secretary
Roger Tilley
Tel: 01225 709414
Email: rogeranddebbie@blueyonder.co.uk
Treasurer
Mary White
Tel:mob: 07712899149
Tel: 01249 716047 or 0207 267 7885
Email: marywhite28@aol.com
There
are many benefits when joining the Melksham & District
Beekeepers Association. For further details contact Membership
Secretary Roger Tilley. The Branch meets on the last Monday
of the month at The Wiltshire Countryside College, Lackham.
Visitors most welcome
Melksham's
Bee and Honey Day at Lackham
For the second year running members of Melksham Branch had
the use of the facilities at the Wiltshire College, Lackham
in order to stage their Bee and Honey Day. This was the
second year and visitors were up with 500 plus members of
the public attending.
 |
| Visitors
walking amongst some of the stalls and exhibits |
A
whole series of stalls and exhibitions were staged, demonstrating
various aspects of bee keeping as well as live demonstrations
of bees at the branch apiary. Visitors were able to sample
local honey but also honey farther a field and purchase
local products. In addition mead tasting was taking place
but this was strictly limited due to obvious alcoholic characteristics
of mead!
 |
| Mary
White (left) assisting the honey tasting |
Children
were also catered for with colouring competitions with obvious
a bee theme and all were rewarded with a small jar of honey,
courtesy of Rowse Honey.
 |
| Children
colouring |
Chris
Jackson was on hand to answer numerous bee and honey related
questions and budding bee keepers or indeed old hands could
purchase bee equipment from Chris Rawlings's Berry field
Bees.
 |
| Chris
Jackson (right) answering questions |
An
observation hive kept visitors young and old fascinated
with Graham Rendall from the Salisbury branch, no doubt
answering streams of questions.
 |
| Another
attraction was the home made cakes, made with honey
as well as freshly cooked crepes with honey which went
down very well! |
 |
| Debbie
Tilley, Mavis Whitford and Mary Bradshaw on the Cake
and Crepe stall (left to right) |
All
of the usual attractions at Lackham were on hand as well
as the miniature railway offering train rides. Kindly this
year a new stop was introduced on the line so that visitors
could stop off and visit the branch apiary. With the weather
being very good with sunshine much of the day, Alan Stonell,
John Whitford and Colin Taylor gave almost continuous hive
demonstrations. Thankfully the bees are very good tempered
so appeared not to be at all irritated by the constant interruptions.
This certainly proved to be very popular with the public
being safe behind the insect proof viewing screens.
 |
|
John Whitford (left) and Alan Stonell talking to the
public in the viewing area
|
The
day was a real success and no doubt raised the profile of
bee keeping in the area.
|