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
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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
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Saturday 19th April
No lecture this week. Resume Saturday 28th April
The 2008 BBKA Spring Convention at National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
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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
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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
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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.