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 .