Education & Training

Beginners’ training sessions to restart!

apiarymanager Education & Training, PBKA Apiary, Training

It has been immensely frustrating for the Association and those new to beekeeping, not to be able to have the fortnightly training sessions at the training apiary at The Rhos due to Covid 19.

We now consider it safe to re open the sessions, with sensible social distancing in place, for those members new to beekeeping and who would benefit from some practical advice and guidance.

On that basis, the next Beginners’ Session will be at The Rhos Apiary, at 2pm on this coming Sunday 26th July.

Please bring your own beesuits, gloves and wellies [we do have spare beesuits for those without] as well as a face mask.

The weather forecast is for showers, so it may not be possible to undertake practical inspections, in which case we will have a Q&A session in the barn.

For directions and for any queries, please e-mail Jeremy on jeremypercy@gmail.com or call 07799 698568

Introduction to beekeeping video – Episode 3

apiarymanager Education & Training, Training

Third in the series, making up Brood and Super frames is a necessary skill. Both types share a common approach to the way they are put together.

Note also that when you look to buy frames, DN1 and SN1 have straight side bars so these frames will have to be spaced, using either plastic or castellated spacers in the hive. DN4 and SN4 have Hoffman side bars so are self spacing. We would certainly recommend using Hoffman side bars to begin with to ensure correct spacing in both Super and Brood boxes and to keep things simple.

With regard to foundation, standard wired is the most common product used in the majority of hives. Click here to see Episode 3.

Introduction to beekeeping video – Episode 1

apiarymanager Education & Training, PBKA, Starting Beekeeping, Training

Introducing a new service for the members of the Pembrokeshire Beekeepers’ Association, and others who are starting out on their beekeeping journey.

Presented by Jeremy Percy, Training Officer and Chairman of the Association, these short videos, which will be produced on a regular basis, are designed to provide a simple introduction to Beekeeping. They are not meant to be all encompassing and should not be considered an alternative to practical learning.

They are based loosely on the PBKA training sessions that would normally be taking place at the Association’s training apiary, if it were not for the current Coronavirus situation.

We hope you find them helpful.

Click on the link for Episode 1

Postponement of Apiary Training Sessions

apiarymanager Education & Training, Scolton Beekeeping Centre, Training

In the light of the current Coronavirus issue, the Association has regrettably decided that it is necessary to cancel all apiary training sessions at both The Rhos and Scolton Manor, until further notice.

In the meantime, members both old and new can telephone for ‘virtual’ advice and assistance with regard to any beekeeping problems they may encounter.

Note that a short video clip or photo sent initially via email to pbkaapiarymanager@live.co.uk may assist us when giving advice, on the basis that a picture is worth a thousand words!

We recognise that many new beekeepers in particular will be disappointed at the absence of the ever popular Beginner Sessions and we hope to be able to reinstate them later in the season.

In order to continue to help those new to beekeeping, Jeremy, who organizes these sessions will be producing a series of short videos for the website, based on the ‘Basic Assessment’ curriculum, to guide our newer members along the path to becoming an efficient and effective beekeeper.

If anyone has a particular aspect of beekeeping that they would like to see explained via a video, then please let us know. This service is also intended to deter newer members from seeking advice that is currently to be found on the internet, not least as much of it is of dubious quality and some of it downright misleading.

For advice contact: Alan on 07867 988597, Jeremy on 07799 698568 or Paul on 07988 037571