Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association

Beginners course 2024.

Welcome to our beginners Course.

The usual format – which we have found works well – is to give the basic theory & background in a series of Zoom talks before the season gets well under way. The Zoom talks may be recorded if you are unable to attend one of them: the talks are fully illustrated, and there will be an experienced beekeeper on hand to respond to any typed queries while the talk is in progress.

After each talk, we’ve allowed time for discussion and further queries.

By mid-late April, the colonies are getting quite active, so there’s a Practical Day with an apiary visit, introduction to the practical side of things such as suits, lighting smokers, making up frames, different hives, and a look at beekeeping equipment.

Hands-on learning: through the rest of the year, the Association apiary like any other, has to be managed: visits are every 10 days (half at weekends, half during the week) and we strongly recommend that you attend as many of these as you can. Guided by an experienced beekeeper, you will learn how to “read” the colony, handle bees, anticipate the colony’s needs, and help it thrive.

The course dates are as follows:

21st March Lesson 1 Honeybee Natural History (45mins); Chat (15mins)

28th March Lesson 2 Managing the Colony (45 mins); Chat (15mins)

4th April Lesson 3 Getting Started (20 mins): and Bee Health Varroa (25 mins); Chat (15mins)

11th April Lesson 4 The Beekeeping Year (45mins); Chat 15mins

18th April Lesson 5 Bee Health: Brood and Adult (45mins); Chat (15mins)

20th April Practical Day

25th April Lesson 6 Space for Review/catch up/Quiz/Chat 60mins

May (TBC) Lesson 7: Swarming possibly 9th/16th

August (TBC) Lesson 8 Honey Practical session on honey processing may also be arranged.

Venue: the talks are all on Zoom; the Practical Day will be held at Manor Village Hall.

Cost: £35 which also gives you membership of the Association for a year. You’ll get news, updates, access to speakers/events, hiring of some beekeeping equipment such as hive carrier and extractors, and information on how/where to acquire local bees.

How to book: https://www.peeblesbeekeepers.org.uk/membership/

Payment: £35.00 payable in advance by BACS to Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association

A/c No. 00703848, Sort Code 80-09-33; please put your name as a reference.

Or send a cheque for £35 made out to Peeblesshire Beekeepers, to Linda Haldane, PBKA Treasurer, Manortoun, Manor, Peebles EH45 9JN.

What do I need: wellies and rubber gloves such as “Marigold” type. We can lend you beesuits. For the practical day you will need to bring your lunch, but we will provide tea, coffee, biscuits.

Contacts: for most queries, contact secretary Mandy Clydesdale on 01721 720 563 / 07563 185 993 or .

Learning Beekeeping 2023 Week 1

Wednesday 15th March 7.30pm

Zoom Meeting ID: 972 7615 8511

The Honey Bee Colony

The beginner’s course is run as a refresher/beginners course – so whether you’re a complete beginner, or just feel a bit rusty, do get yourself booked in to the course. Each talk starts at 7.30pm, and will last an hour, with time afterwards for questions and chat.

In addition to the talks, there will be a practical hands-on day, to cover making up frames, lighting the smoker, introduction to equipment, a “virtual” hive, as well as hive visits to introduce you to practical management and handling.

Contact Peter Stevenson to receive the session password

Beeswax from comb to candles

Mandy Clydesdale

Mar 7, 2023 7:30 PM

Zoom Meeting ID: 942 6742 8140

Contact Secretary for the Zoom Meeting Invite.

Topic: Beeswax from comb to candles: Mandy Clydesdale PBKA

The practicalities of dealing with all that used comb: cleaning, filtering – and some aspects of health and safety. Which materials to avoid, what to do with your cleaned wax – and some basic information on candle-making.



Beekeeping: a course for beginners 2023.

Wanting to start beekeeping? Make sure you’re well-informed before you start, and avoid costly mistakes. Peeblesshire Beekeepers have been running beginners’ courses for 10 years.

Our course is partly online via Zoom (for talks on the theory) and partly practical. There’s a supervised practical day (learning to assemble a hive parts, handle bees, light the smoker etc) and throughout the year there are regular supervised visits to an apiary to enhance your skills and give you confidence.

The first talk is on 15th March, and there’s one a week, till our practical day on 22nd April. Then until March 2024, there are apiary visits to attend, so that you can participate in a whole beekeeping year.

The cost for the course is £35: this includes the talks, the practical day, demonstrations at the apiary (we can lend a beesuit): as well as one year’s membership of the Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association. Membership gives you access to advice and help, our winter talks, loan of some beekeeping equipment, and – if you’re ready to get started – the purchase of one of our small starter colonies (or “nucs”) of local bees at less than a commercial price.

For registration and payment options: https://www.peeblesbeekeepers.org.uk/?page_id=1591

Secretary: for further information: , or 07563 185 993.

PBKA AGM 2022

Peeblesshire Beekeepers Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 29 March 2022

7.30pm Community Centre (Drill Hall), Walkershaugh, Peebles

DRAFT AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies:

Present:.

2. Minutes of the 2021 AGM

3. Matters arising from minutes

4. Secretary’s Report

5. Treasurer’s Report

6. Subscriptions

7. Election of Office Bearers

All offices are open for election

8 AOCB

PBKA Talk Mark Barnett 1st April 7.30pm

Mapping honey bee health and genetic diversity.

Our next talk will be on Thursday 1st April at 7.30pm : Dr Mark Barnett from Roslin Institute will talk about “Mapping honey bee health and genetic diversity

The talk will be via Zoom, an invitation will be sent to members by email.

Dr Barnett’s research projects have investigated not just honeybee genetics (in particular that of the dark bee), but also the microbial life within and on honeybees, which affect their life and health.

You can read an interview with him here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/meet-our-scientists/dr-mark-barnett

If you haven’t yet received your invite or need help with Zoom meetings contact Peter.

PBKA Talk Fiona Highet SASA 7th October 7.30pm

Honey bee pests and diseases

Our first winter talk will be on Wednesday 7th October at 7.30: Fiona Highet from SASA will talk about “Honey bee pests and diseases” – and will give us the latest information on these across Scotland. Make a note in your calendar – the talk will be via Zoom, an invitation will be sent to members by email.

Most of you will remember Fiona’s last talk – lots of useful information, a very knowledgeable lively talk followed by a lively discussion session. SASA Scientists provide an essential service to everyone in the farming industry – read about their role in working for bees and beekeepers here:: https://www.sasa.gov.uk/diagnostics/entomology

If you haven’t yet received your invite or need help with Zoom meetings contact Peter.

PBKA Virtual Pub Meeting 3rd June 7.30pm

We’ll be meeting up again this month by Zoom video conferencing at our usual date and time – the first Wednesday of the month – 6th May at 7.30pm.

The format will be the usual mix of association business, news from the association apiary, beekeeping advice (given and received), gossip and general chit chat.

Beginners, regulars and anyone else are very welcome.

A meeting invitation will be sent by email. Please contact Peter if you need the details.