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Education
DBKA Beekeeping Courses in Devon
Do you want to become a beekeeper?
All the eleven branches in Devon will assist and encourage newcomers and beginners to learn about the craft of beekeeping. Courses for beginners are held throughout the county and all the courses are based on the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) syllabus for the Basic Certificate.
What will I learn on the course?
Have a look at the BBKA syllabus – follow the link www.britishbee.org.uk go to Members – Examinations and Assessments - page down to find the syllabus - on the same page is the recommended book reading list. Most beginners start with ‘Bees and Honey’ by Ted Hooper or ‘Bees at the Bottom of the Garden’ by Alan Campion and Gay Hodgson. Books are expensive and many branches have libraries and lend books to members.
How are the courses organised?
They all vary a little but most of the theory is taught during winter evenings with the practical hands-on sessions at a branch apiary during the summer.
What is the Basic Assessment?
At the end of the course and after you have kept bees for 12 months and have a bit of experience you can take the Assessment. This is completely practical/oral and involves spending about an hour with BBKA Assessor looking at a colony of bees and answering simple questions about the syllabus – there is a 96% pass rate. It is like a car driving test and covers the basic skills and knowledge of the craft. It looks daunting at first glance but closer inspection will show that it merely lists the basic things which all beekeepers should know.
(Please see section on 'Further Learning' at the bottom of this page)
What are the course details and who do I contact?
Due to high demand, places may be limited - apply early to avoid disappointment! |
| East Devon Branch |
Beginners Beekeeping
February 2012
8 weeks duration
Cost: to be decided
To include: membership of DBKA & book
Contact: Chris Charlton 01404 891696
corydon379@btinternet.com |
| East Devon Branch |
Module Five – Honeybee Biology Discussion Group
Winter 2011/12
Details: to be arranged
Contact: Chris Charlton 01404 891696
corydon379@btinternet.com |
| Exeter Branch |
Beginners Beekeeping
January 26, 2012
In the Green Room at Broadclyst Victory Hall
Dates Jan 26, Feb 9, Feb 23, March 8, March 22, April 5, plus 2 apiary sessions. Time The indoor sessions will be 7.30pm to 9pm.
The course is intended for complete beginners without bees and no or very little experience but with the desire to learn about bees and beekeeping with a view to keeping bees. Students will be expected to join DBKA. Individuals who are known to react badly to bee stings are advised against handling bees.
Course Content
- Reasons for keeping Honey Bees and their Natural History.
- Swarms, disease, parasites and pesticides.
- Clothing, equipment and products of the hive.
- The annual cycle of work in the apiary including swarm control.
- Setting up and managing an apiary.
- Where to next; how you can become more involved.
Fees £90 to include country membership for one year.
Tutor Course Leader: Andrew Kyle.
You must book in advance to secure a place. Course is limited to 20 students - click here for application form.
For more information please contact Mrs Sandra Lee, Belvidere House, Argyll Road, Exeter. EX4 4RX - richardlee54@hotmail.com |
| Exeter Branch |
Intermediate Beekeeping
January 25, 2012
In the Green Room at Broadclyst Victory Hall
Dates 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 22 Feb, 29 Feb, 7 Mar, plus 2 apiary sessions. Time The indoor sessions will be 7.30pm to 9pm. The course is intended for students who have attended a beginner’s course or otherwise gained a basic understanding of bees and beekeeping. They should have some experience of handling bees at association meetings and probably have obtained their first colony of bees during 2010 or 2011.
Students must be members of the DBKA.
Course Content the BBKA basic assessment syllabus:
- The natural History of the Honey Bee.
- The annual cycle of work in the apiary including swarm control.
- Disease, Poisoning and Pests.
- Manipulation of a Honeybee colony.
- Equipment.
Fees £100.
You must book in advance to secure a place - click here for application form.
For more information please contact Mrs Sandra Lee, Belvidere House, Argyll Road, Exeter. EX4 4RX - richardlee54@hotmail.com |
| Holsworthy Branch |
Beginners Beekeeping
January 2012
The course consists of 10 theory sessions followed by monthly practical’s through the summer at the apiary.
Cost: £90.
Contact: Anne Binns 01409 261381
j.binns990@btinternet.com |
| Newton Abbot Branch |
Beginners' Course:
April 14, 2012 (Saturdays)
The beginners’ course lays a foundation for prospective beekeepers or for those who may already have a hive and would like to improve their knowledge. It comprises two days of theory sessions with some hands-on sessions such as swarm control, making up a frame and looking at an ideal apiary site (weather permitting).
Cost: £120.
Click here for more information... |
| Newton Abbot Branch |
Taster Course:
May 26, 2012 (Saturday)
The taster session is designed for absolute beginners with no prior knowledge or experience who are interested in keeping honey bees and who would like help in deciding whether to proceed further. Participants will gain an overview of what is involved in keeping honey bees, together with some practical experience in the apiary. If the weather is unsuitable for opening hives, we will arrange another date to do the practical session.
Cost: £40
Click here for more information... |
North Devon Branch
Click here to download
the flyer |
Beginners Beekeeping
February 17,2012
Duration: 8 weeks / 30 hours
Cost: £80.00
Contact: Jack Mummery 01598 760209
jackmummery@mypostoffice.co.uk |
North Devon Branch
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Module One Honeybee Management Study Group
Winter 2012
Duration: 6 weeks
Further details to be arranged
Contact: Julie Elkin 01598 710986
jelkin@btinternet.com |
North Devon Branch
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Beekeeping Taster Day
4th September 2011
1.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Cost: £10.00
Contact: Julie Elkin 01598 710986
jelkin@btinternet.com |
| Okehampton Branch |
Beginners Beekeeping
Details: to be arranged
Contact: Ray King 01363 772007
roadpark@btinternet.com |
| Plymouth Branch |
Beginners/Novices Beekeeping
Spring 2012
Duration: 12 weeks on Sundays
10.00 am to 12.00 pm
Cost: £30.00 membership fee plus £10.00 joining fee
Price includes: DARG booklets ‘The Selection of Apiary Sites’ and ‘The Beeway Code’, course handouts 32 pages
Contact: Jean French 01752 338279
JeanFrench1957@yahoo.co.uk |
| Plymouth Branch |
Beekeeping Improvers for the Basic Assessment
April 2012
Contact: Jean French 01752 338279
JeanFrench1957@yahoo.co.uk |
| Tavistock Branch |
Beginners/Novices Beekeeping
January 16, 2012
10 Monday evenings - 7.00 til 9.00 near Launceston.
Cost £70.00 for the 'term'
Contact: Mark Gibbons 01566 86350
mark@gibbons-art.co.uk |
| Tavistock Branch |
Improvers Study Group
January 9, 2011
Contact: Alison Howes 01822 612340
alisonhowes@hotmail.com |
Tiverton Branch
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Beginners Beekeeping
October 12, 2011
7.30 to 9.30 pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Cost: £80
Contact : Keith Owers 01884 254977
keith@kaowers.eclipse.co.uk |
| Torbay Branch |
Beginners Beekeeping
2012
Details: to be arranged
Contact: Jim Mogridge 01803 663308
mogmag@aol.com |
Totnes & Kingsbridge Branch
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A beginners course
September 15, 2011
This course is intended for new beekeepers and for those with some experience who wish to obtain a good grounding in the theory and practice of beekeeping. Theory classes will be held at St Luke’s Church, Plymouth Road, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0DA. These classes will take place during the winter months, generally on the third Thursday of each month starting at 7 pm. (We aim to finish at 9.15 pm but sometimes run later.)
Course cost: £90 (includes 2012 Country Membership of Devon Beekeepers Association).
She will acknowledge receipt of your cheque, and will send you updates about the course, eg, recommended reading, and arrange for you to receive the monthly branch newsletter with information about the association meetings where you will be made welcome.
- 15/9/11 Introduction
- 20/10/11 The Colony
- 17/11/11 The Hive
- 08/12/11 The Beekeeping Year
- 19/01/12 Queens
- 16/02/12 Swarms, etc
- 15/03/12 Pests and Diseases
- 19/04/12 Bees, Plants and Hive Products
Practical work in the spring and summer will be arranged when the weather is suitable using the association apiary. We aim to arrange these meetings at various times to suit course members.
Places are limited.
For more details or to reserve a place, contact:
Lilah Killock
01803 866028
lilahkillock@hotmail.com |
| DBKA Education Officer |
General Bee Husbandry – Preparation
Spring 2012
Details: to be arranged
Cost: No charge
Contact: Chris Utting 01237 474500
chrisutting@btinternet.com |
If the course is full you may be able to add your name to a waiting list for the next course.
For more information on beekeeping education, please contact:
Chris Utting - Devon BKA Education Officer
Codden, Golf Links Road, Westward Ho, Bideford, North Devon EX39 1HH
01237 474500
chrisutting@btinternet.com
Further Learning
Beginners are prepared for the Basic Assessment, (download syllabus from BBKA) which they are encouraged to take in their second year of beekeeping.
Those beekeepers who are interested in further study are guided in their preparations for the various British BKA Examination Board modules ranging from management, biology, behaviour, diseases, breeding to anatomy, history and microscopy.
See BBKA Examinations and Assessments page |
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Advance news of changes to the Module examinations in 2012
I am writing to give you advance news of changes to the Module examinations in 2012 before they are announced in the BBKA News.
I am pleased to say that the large increase in module exams in 2010 continued into 2011 with 232 candidates taking 327 modules. This increase in numbers has allowed the Exam Board to re-visit the question of a second exam date. As a consequence the decision has been made to split the modules between two dates, the March date will remain as the penultimate Saturday in March and an Autumn date will be introduced on the second Saturday of November. So for 2012 Module exams will be held on March 24th and November 10th.
In 2012 Modules 1, 2. 5 and 7 will be held in March and Modules 1, 3, 6, and 8 will be held in November – Module 1 will be offered twice. In 2013 the modules will be reversed with modules 1,3,6 and 8 in March and Modules 1,2,5 and 7 in November.
The closing date for entries will be February 10th for the March series and September 30th for those exams held in November.
The benefits are numerous. Keen candidates will be able to complete more modules per year (if not all!) and other candidates can spread their exams over two dates. It will also allow those for whom March exams are an impossibility, to get involved. And of course we are hoping that the numbers will be spread across the year relieving the pressure on the administration. Unfortunately there are always negatives. It will mean extra work for us all in November and resits will either be a quick turn around between November and March or a longer 18 month wait between March and the next November offering of that module. BBKA will of course monitor how this works over the first two years and your comments and feedback will be, as always, most welcome.
Regards
Roger Lacey, Examinations Secretary,
pp Val Francis, BBKA, Examination Board
[June 2011] |
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