Do you wish to become a Beekeeper?
Our Beginners' Classes and Launchpad Scheme may be what you need.
However, if there is sufficient demand another course will be run later in the year. This may be a one-day seminar or a full 6 week course. The dates and venue are yet to be decided.
Anyone wishing to be added to the waiting list should contact
either
Wally Thrale, at 01767 225846, w.thrale@ntlworld.com
or
Gillian Sentinella at 01582 721848,
BEGINNERS COURSE
Barkers Lane
Every Thursday evening for 6 weeks
from March 6th
Courses cover all aspects of beekeeping for beginners at a cost of £22.50per person or £35 for a couple. The price includes the excellent book ‘Teach Yourself Beekeeping’.
The course is followed up by practical experience in the apiary.
The honeybee has fascinated the human race for millennia. Beds BKA was formed in 1922 and continues to educate and promote the art of beekeeping through theory courses and practical experience in our apiaries. If you are considering becoming a beekeeper, then our One Day Workshop may be just the introduction you are looking for. Taught by our most experienced beekeepers, the programme includes all the basic knowledge needed to begin one of the most exciting and rewarding crafts, including a general introduction demonstrating the use of the hive, the natural history of the honeybee, the beekeeping year, and swarming.
The Association has 2 teaching apiaries; in the south, at
N.B. We regret that beehives purchased on the Launchpad Scheme are not available to students on one day courses. To qualify for the Launchpad hives, you must attend a full course of tuition.
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TO GET BEGINNERS OFF TO A FLYING START
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Jenny Forester taking delivery of a Launchpad hive. |
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TERMS
1. This scheme is meant to supplement the Association's courses for beekeeping beginners who have completed the course, by providing the chance to make an inexpensive start with keeping their own first experimental colony of bees.
2. In late April or May, the Association is prepared to lend to about ten new members who have not kept bees before but who have completed their introductory course and shown themselves to have the necessary practical knowledge, the following items of equipment in kit form to assemble:-
A British National floor with entrance block.
A National brood box with frames and foundation or drawn comb
A queen excluder
Two National supers with frames and foundation or drawn comb.
A crownboard
A National metalled roof
It will also use its good offices to try to get help, for a new member who needs it, to assemble the hive, and procure during June a small stock of bees (a nucleus).
3. The duration of the loan will be for six months, until the end of October 2007. At the end of that time, or before if s/he decides not to continue with beekeeping, the borrower may return the equipment in good condition to John Dawson at Ickwell, without further obligation. Alternatively, s/he may at any time purchase and retain the borrowed equipment at a price equal to the original cost to the Association. This is likely to be significantly less than the retail price of a commercial supplier. Borrowers in 2007 may expect to pay about £107 when they purchase. A deposit of £25 will be required on collection, as part payment of the price or as refundable security for the safe return of the equipment.
4. The Association will whenever possible provide the borrower with an introduction to an experienced beekeeper who lives in his vicinity and is willing to give advice on day to day queries as they arise. But the borrower will remain fully responsible for the correct assembly of the hive and the siting and management of the colony.
Interested new members should on completing their course register an interest
with the course organiser and in mid-April get in touch with John Dawson (address & phone
in the Yearbook) to settle detailed arrangements. Collection is from Ickwell Green, near Biggleswade. It helps to bring large cardboard boxes for the smaller parts.
The Basic Certificate
The British Beekeepers Association Basic Certificate is awarded to those who pass a straightforward test after keeping bees for at least one year. There is no written exam, but the test includes handling bees and answering basic questions.
In Bedfordshire we are fortunate in having two people who are qualified as examiners for this Exam.
The Queen Marking Colours
New Queens get a different colour each year so that you can tell their age easily.
The usual mark is a small patch of colour on the top of the thorax, put on with a little brush or a matchstick. It is possible to put on numbered discs also, when there is a special reason.
Queens marked were new in years
with these colours ending with these numbers
BLUE
0
5
WHITE
1
6
YELLOW
2
7
RED
3
8
GREEN
4
9