Programme of Events

Winter Lecture Programme and Beginners' Courses

Andover BKA Lectures and Beginners' Course will be held at Picket Piece Village Hall, Walworth Road, Andover SP11 6LY starting at 7:30pm prompt

Anyone who would like to learn more about beekeeping is most welcome to attend, but please contact the membership secretary beforehand if possible - details can be found on the Contacts page

Summer Apiary Meetings 2017

Saturday 17th June at 2:00pm
Hosted by Alan Telfer
Venue - Shipton Bellinger - meet at the Village Hall

Saturday 8th July at 2:00pm
Hosted by Jim Stuart and Charles Eyre
Venue - Upper Clatford - meet at the top end of the Village Hall car park

Sunday 20th August at 12:30pm
Cowdown Association Apiary
Directions TBC

Good Beekeeping – Responsibilities, Hygiene and Standards of Cleanliness    
Clothing and hygiene standards – what is important if you are visiting another apiary - Please ensure that your beesuit is clean and in particular clean gloves are worn
Cleaning of hive tools and equipment - All hive tools and equipment taken onto an apiary site should be cleaned before each visit

 Beginers Course Dates and Content for Winter 2016/17

To be held at Picket Piece Village Hall at 7:30pm

Tuesday 29th November - Begginers 1 - Admin/Intro

Tuesday 13th December - Beginners 2 - Natural History

Tuesday 17th January - Begginers 3 - Equipment and Forage

Tuesday 24th January - Beginners 4 - Colony Management

Tuesday 21st February - Beginners 5 - Natural Beekeeping

Tuesday 28th February - Beginners 6 - Swarms, Queens and Mating Flights

Tuesday 14th March - Beginners 7 - Beekeeping Year

Tuesday 21st March - Begginers 8 - Diseases and Colony Health

Tuesday 25th April - Beginners 9 - Practical Session

Summer: Association Apiary meetings, and work with mentors to prepare you for keeping bees when you are ready to do so.

PLANNED CONTENT:
History and natural history of the honey bee
Equipment used in beekeeping, and Forage
Invertebrates generally; placing the honey bee into context
Colony management, inspections, neighbours and apiaries
Diseases, pests and problems
Queen bees, the management of swarms, managing apiaries
The beekeeping year including, honey processing -- extracting, filtering, storing, and eating your first jar!
Winter work and putting kit together

REQUIREMENTS. Notebook and pencil.

COST. £60 - we will buy you the latest beekeeping book for homework plus a hive tool. Please do not buy anything yet as there is a lot of unnecessary and useless stuff out there waiting for the unwary.