Testing your beekeeping skills

Posted on by January 28, 2012

A reminder that the application forms for 2012 assessments/examinations need to be sent to the KBKA education committee secretary, Angela Merritt, by 6th February, for exams in March.  Postal address for forms: Mrs A. Merritt, 49 Townley Rd., Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7HY.  Angela wishes to point out that the box at the bottom of the form is for the candidate’s name.

There are many different routes to becoming a better beekeeper.  One option is the BBKA assessment framework, which provides a structured syllabus for learning more about bees and beekeeping.  Some of the assessments are orally-tested and field-based – these include the basic assessment, general husbandry and advanced husbandry certificates.  The “modules” are a series of 7 different written papers covering everything from basic beekeeping to beekeeping history. You can do them one at a time!

  • Module 1,2,5,7 Examinations, 24th March 2012
    (Applications in by 6th February 2012)
  • Module 1,3,6,8 Examinations,  10th November 2012
    (Applications in by 30th September 2012)
  • Advanced Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry – 16th/17th June 2012 (Applications in by 28th February 2012)
  • General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry and Microscopy date by arrangement with the Examinations Board Secretary (Applications in by 28th February 2012. Microscopy Assessment takes place in Autumn)
  • Basic and Junior Certificate date by arrangement with the County Examinations Secretary
    (Applications 1 month before assessment)

Talk on swarm control – 8th Feb 2012

Posted on by January 20, 2012

A reminder that our next meeting at Whitefriars is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8th February.  Nick Withers has been a seasonal bee inspector (2002-2011), looking after South Kent and East Sussex.  His talk should be of great interest to everyone who wants to improve their bee management skills.

If you want to get some reminders about the principles of swarm control, visit Nick’s webpages.

 

Beyond the Basic – Beekeeping for Improvers – updated

Posted on by February 5, 2012

KBKA education committee are planning to enhance the availability of training for beekeepers in Kent.  Attached are details of the “Improvers” course to be run at KSRC.  The course on Sunday 4th March is now full, but there’s a second opportunity on Sunday 25th March.    Just mark on the application form the new date:

Beyond the Basic flyer
The target audience consists of beekeepers who have kept bees for a few years (minimum 2) and/or have the Basic certificate.  The course would also suit beekeepers who wish to get more involved in tutoring.
The course, which will be led by Bob Smith (retired Bee Inspector), aims to cover quite a bit of ground, focusing on those areas where newer beekeepers typically struggle.  In as much as it is fairly high-level, the hope is that it will stimulate interest to know more, and thus feed into future courses which may be more specifically focused.