We meet on Sundays, 2pm-4pm. All welcome.

The first 30 minutes will be a formal training session led by one of our beekeepers covering the training topic indicated. Following this the attendees will split into 3 groups and will focus on practical tasks at the apiary.
Our programme is dependant on our bees and weather patterns as bees don’t read books – but we will try to stick to the plan.

Please note that on 15th June David Burns (Bee Inspector) will lead a Bee Safari to help with the identification of various bee diseases. This runs from 10am - 4pm and will start from Kirton Church Hall and there will be no training at the Teaching Apiary

Any questions, contact Phil Ramsey, Helen Thorne (07814 506988) or Jeremy Quinlan (01473 737700)

Date	Training subject for the first 30 mins (2.00-2.30pm) followed by practical activity on the hives led by a trainer	Tutors	Attending
27/04/2025	Give an elementary description of the annual cycle of work in the apiary. [P Ramsey]	Phil Ramsey Nicola Turland-Noble Sally Thurlow	Angela whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott charles juby Lucy Spraggons Cavan Rhodes Terence Gray Chris Cage Sarah Gough Eve Stokes
04/05/2025	Describe how to set up an apiary and what precautions should be taken to avoid the honeybees being a nuisance to neighbours and livestock. [H Thorne]	Sally Thurlow Helen Thorne Paul White	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott charles juby Cavan Rhodes Eve Stokes
11/05/2025	Give an elementary account of the development of queens, workers and drones in the honeybee colony. State the periods spent by the female castes and the drone in the four stages of their life (egg, larva, pupa and adult). [J Quinlan]	Jeremy Quinlan Nicola Turland-Noble Richard Allen	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott Charles juby Cavan Rhodes Eve Stokes
18/05/2025	Highlight the main local flora from which honeybees gather pollen and nectar. Give a simple definition of nectar and a simple description of how it is collected, brought back to the hive and is converted into honey. Describe the collection and use of pollen, water and propolis in the honeybee colony. [S Thurlow]	Sam Taylor Helen Thorne Sally Thurlow	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott charles juby Cavan Rhodes
25/05/2025	Give an elementary description of swarming in a honeybee colony. Talk through one method of swarm control. Describe how to take a swarm and how to hive it. [P White]	Phil Ramsey Heather Carter Paul White	David Parrott Gemma Parrott Cavan Rhodes Eve Stokes
01/06/2025	Describe the signs of a queen less colony and how to test if a colony is queen less. Describe the signs of laying workers and of a drone laying queen. [E Nye]	Emma Nye Nicola Turland-Noble Richard Allen	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott Cavan Rhodes Eve Stokes
08/06/2025	Describe a simple method of queen introduction. Describe one method of uniting colonies and precautions to be taken. [H Thorne]	Jeremy Quinlan Helen Thorne Sally Thurlow	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott Cavan Rhodes
15/06/2025 This is a Bee Safari (between 10:00-16:00) starting at Kirton Church Hall, there will be no training at the teaching apiary use the sign-up column to confirm your attendance on the safari	Describe the appearance of healthy brood, sealed and unsealed. Make aware of the reasons for good apiary hygiene, the reasons for regular brood comb replacement. Describe the signs of the bacterial diseases American Foul Brood (AFB) and European Foul Brood (EFB), the fungal disease Chalk Brood and the viral disease Sac brood. Able to describe methods for detecting and monitoring the presence of varroa (a mite) and describe its effect on the colony including awareness of the effect of associated viruses. An awareness of the current legislation regarding notifiable diseases and pests of honeybees. Awareness of whom to contact to verify disease and advise on treatment. [D Burns - BEE SAFARI]	D Burns	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott Jeremy Quinlan Cavan rhodes Liz Robertson Phil Ramsey Sal Thurlow
22/06/2025	Describe the process of extracting honey from combs and a method of straining and bottling of honey suitable for a small-scale beekeeper, including hygiene. Highlight web-based resources relating to beekeeping such as BBKA and BeeBase. [R Allen]	Emma Nye Nicola Turland-Noble Richard Allen	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott Cavan Rhodes
29/06/2025	Highlight the need to add supers and the timing of the operation. Aware of the dangers of robbing and how robbing can be avoided. Describe a method used to clear honeybees from supers. [S Thurlow]	Phil Ramsey Helen Thorne Sally Thurlow	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling David Parrott Gemma Parrott Cavan Rhodes Eve Stokes
06/07/2025	An awareness of acarine (a mite) and nosema (a fungus) and their effect upon the colony. Describe ways of controlling varroa using integrated pest management techniques. [J Quinlan]	Jeremy Quinlan Heather Carter Paul White	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling Cavan Rhodes
13/07/2025	Show how to take a sample of worker bees in a suitable container. State the number of worker bees required for an adult disease diagnosis sample. [N Turland Noble]	Sam Taylor Nicola Turland-Noble Richard Allen	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling Cavan rhodes
20/07/2025	Describe how comb can be stored to prevent wax moth damage. Describe how mice and other pests can be excluded from the hives in winter. [P White]	Brett Bayliss Helen Thorne Paul White	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling Cavan Rhodes Eve Stokes
27/07/2025	Give an elementary description of the way in which the honeybee colony passes the winter. Describe the preparation of sugar syrup and how and when to feed bees. [P Ramsey]	Phil Ramsey Heather Carter Sally Thurlow	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling Cavan Rhodes Eve Stokes
03/08/2025	Describe the possible effects of honeybee stings on humans and able to recommend suitable first aid treatment. [R Allen]	Jeremy Quinlan Nicola Turland-Noble Richard Allen	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling Cavan Rhodes
10/08/2025	Describe the procedures for cleaning poly and wooden hives. [Emma Nye]	Emma Nye Phil Ramsey	Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling Cavan rhodes Eve Stokes
17/08/2025	Mock Basic Assessment		Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling
24/08/2025	Basic Assessment		Angela Whatling Spencer Whatling

There is an opportunity for those who have kept bees for at least one year to undertake their BBKA Basic assessment at the end of the year. Please talk to one of the trainers to make arrangements.
If you want to change or delete any information on this table please email the changes to info@suffolkbeekeepers.co.uk