Our Beekeeping theory classes and other winter lectures take place at the Teignbridge District Scout Headquarters in Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot (unless otherwise directed).

click for directions

Education

We consider it of paramount importance that beekeepers have the correct knowledge and experience to look after their bees properly. There are important things to understand about how bees live and what we can do to ensure they are healthy and productive.

Many of our members continue their education in beekeeping past the Basic Course, finding that it opens many other avenues of interest and study.

Basic Beekeeping Course 2009/10
(Please note - this course is now fully booked)

Beginners' Class Handouts:

Your first season of beekeeping
Session 1, test 1 - What is a bee?
Session 1, test 2 - The colony

Session 2, test 1 - Basic tools
Session 2, test 2 - The hive
Session 2 - Hive parts, personal notes
Session 2 - The 'J' tool

Session 3, Hives
Session 3, Mating Nucs
Session 3, Apiaries

Session 4, Swarms & swarm control part 1
Session 4, Swarms & swarm control part 2
    Link to Swarm Control Plan

Session 5, Winter care of bees
Session 5, Syrup
Session 5, test - Winter care

Session 6, Adult bee diseases
Session 6, Brood diseases

Session 8, test - Bee behaviour
Session 8, Beekeeping Calendar

Session 9, test - Legs and Pollen
Session 9, test - Swarm control

The Clay Lane apiary is open to all members on Saturday from 2.00pm during the summer. This is particularly useful to those who have just attended the beginners' course. During the autumn and winter months we have a program of lectures and discussions about beekeeping.

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. Please read the series of 3 articles which appeared in the BBKA News about taking the Basic Assessment:

Taking the Basic Assessment - part 1
Taking the Basic Assessment - part 2
Taking the Basic Assessment - part 3

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 the BBKA website for full details
See BBKA assessments page

Download the current Basic Beekeeping Course programme

Recommended reading:

Guide to Bees & Honey
by Ted Hooper
Publisher: Northern Bee Books (2008)
ISBN-10: 1904846246

Teach Yourself Beekeeping
by Adrian and Claire Waring
Publisher: Teach Yourself (2006)
ISBN-10: 0340925639

Practical Beekeeping
by Clive de Bruyn
Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd (1997)
ISBN-10: 1861260490