Beginners Training Courses

Gareth John

Saturday's YABeeP meeting (14 April 2012) was primarily for those new to beekeeping and natural beekeeping. We tried to cover this huge subject in just over an hour. During the meeting we enjoyed some valuable input from Gareth John who also attended.

I was mentioned that Gareth ran beginners courses from his home in Oxfordshire. Whilst YABeeP has already agreed to use him again this year to deliver his advanced courses, it was felt by many at the meeting that they would like to do his beginners courses. Gareth has therefore kindly agreed to run some of these in Yatton - details below.

Dates

Gareth delivers two beginners courses, each taking one day 10:00 am to 4:00pm. We have agreed that these can take place here at St. Margarets (where we meet after the YABeeP meetings) on:

• Saturday 26th May 23 April - THIS DATE NOW FULL 
• Saturday 2nd June.

As there was such an overwhelming response to the suggestion we run this course and numbers need to be limited to 8 for each one, we are suggesting that we run the day 1 course on both of these dates to allow more people to attend. If there is then demand to continue with the second day this can be arranged separately. 

Cost

The cost will be £30 per person for each day. Teas and coffees will be provided but you will need to bring your own lunch.

Course Outline - Day one

10.15 (latest) Arrival, coffee, biscuits and comfort calls. 

10.30 -11.10 Honeybee Colonies:

Introducing a Superorganism

11.10 -11.25 Questions and Discussion

11.30 – 12.10 The Pulse of a Colony:

The dynamics of a honeybee colony and its interaction with its environment 

12.10 -12.25 Questions and Discussion

12.30 – 1.30 Lunch Break

1.30 – 2.10 An Introduction to Natural Beekeeping

2.10 – 2.25 Questions and Discussion

2.30 – 3.10 Practical Demonstration of Top Bar Hives:

Horizontal and Warre (without bees)

3.10 – 4.00 General Discussion 

Course Outline - Day Two

10.15 (latest) Arrival, coffee, biscuits and comfort calls

10.30 -11.10 The Pulse of a Colony: 

The dynamics of a honeybee colony and its interaction with its environment 

11.10 -11.25 Questions and Discussion

11.30 – 12.10 Natural Beekeeping Through the Year:

With particular attention to natural and assisted reproduction (swarms and splits)

12.10 -12.25 Questions and Discussion

12.30 – 1.30 Lunch Break

1.30 – 2.10 Varroa:

Bee/varroa dynamics and the natural defences of the bee colony

2.10 – 2.25 Questions and Discussion

2.30 – 3.10 Putting the Theory into Practice:

Demonstration on swarms, splits (without bees)

3.10 – 4.00 General Discussion

Booking

If you would like to book a place on one of these days please contact Gareth direct letting him know which date you would like to attend the Day 1 course and whether you would also like to attend a Day 2:

phone: only available to YABeeP members 

email: only available to YABeeP members 

This is a great opportunity for us to receive some excellent training at a very reasonable cost from someone who I believe to be one of the best trainers in natural beekeeping in the country. Gareth is also the chief moderator on Phil Chandler's Natural Beekeeping Network . If you want to take advantage of this book early as the spaces are limited.

Robin Morris

YABeeP

18 April 2012