EDUCATION
A key part of beekeeping today is ensuring one is up to date with the environment in which we operate. This includes such things as the equipment, the awareness of bee life cycles, production and sale of honey and of course diseases.
The association places a lot of emphasis on education, initially through its Beginners’ Course, which we recommend for all new beekeepers or people interested in but not sure if they wish to take up beekeeping.
Then, once you become an established beekeeper and would like to learn more, the Association recommends you follow the BBKA training programme as a way of continual learning.
The MBBKA has stands at several events throughout the year where we promote beekeeping and more specifically we educate about bees and beekeeping in the classroom in conjunction with local schools.
If you are interested in any of our educational programmes, please contact our Education Officer either…
- via the contact form on our contact page
- by emailing education@mbbka.org.uk.
Over the years we have built up a comprehensive library comprising books and video material, which is available to our members.
TRAINING COURSES AT MBBKA
MBBKA runs courses each year to help new beekeepers learn the craft of beekeeping and established beekeepers improve their skills.
New Beekeepers Course
This course will give the new beekeeper a good working knowledge of both the theory and practical aspects of beekeeping. The theory part of the course is held over six evening sessions starting in March.
From April onwards (weather dependent, naturally) there are regular practical sessions at our Teaching Apiary near Aylesbury. These sessions provide experience with handling bees under the guidance of experienced beekeepers.
The course also offers…
- a Woodworking session, to help advise on building hive parts,
- and, assuming the association has a honey crop, a honey extraction workshop.
There is no obligation to take up beekeeping at the end of the course. But, if you decide you want to, the Association can help you decide on the best equipment to purchase and how to obtain your first colony of bees.
If you are interested in taking part in the next Beginners’ Course, please contact our Beginners Course organiser either…
- via the contact form on our contact page
- or by emailing beginners@mbbka.org.uk
More information on the next MBBKA Beginners Course.
BBKA Basic Assessment
Covering the basic skills and knowledge of beekeeping, the BBKA Basic Assessment is an excellent course for beekeepers wanting to consolidate their working knowledge of beekeeping as well as a proven way for established beekeepers to bring themselves up to date with such things as disease management.
It is also is the starting point and entry requirement for all other BBKA examinations and assessments. Training dates for the basic assessment are announced early each year. The training will cover the four sections of the assessment:
- manipulation and equipment
- natural history and beekeeping
- swarming and swarm control
- diseases and pests
For the Basic Assessment prospectus and the syllabus, click here.
You can attend the training session without going on to sit the formal assessment. There is no charge for the training session but there is a fee of £20 for the final assessment.
If you do decide to take the formal assessment, please note that there will also be an opportunity for a mock assessment with one of our more experienced beekeepers before taking the actual assessment.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact our Education Officer, either…
- via the contact form on our contact page
- by emailling directly to education@mbbka.org.uk
BBKA General Husbandry
MBBKA is participating in the Bucks County BKA General Husbandry training programme. The training is run over two weekends and is aimed at experienced beekeepers who wish to enhance their skills and possibly sit the General Husbandry Assessment the following year.
Full details of the course can be found here.
BBKA Certificates
The BBKA operate a full educational programme of practical and written examinations leading to becoming a Master Beekeeper. Each year MBBKA operates a study programme for one or two modules of the BBKA syllabus.
The benefit to the association and to beekeeping within the region, of members studying for BBKA certificates, is that it ensures that we have sufficient knowledge within MBBKA to provide support to our members.
WORKING WITH SCHOOLS IN THE AYLESBURY AREA
If your school is interested in finding out more about honey bees, we have a group of experienced beekeepers who are happy to come and talk to your class(es).
Please note that the MBBKA is based in Aylesbury and we can only cover the central part of Buckinghamshire. School visits usually take place from May to September and the talks usually last 20 to 30 minutes for each group/class of children. We have several different programmes which are suitable for all age groups from Reception through First, Junior and Combined schools up to, and including, Secondary level.
For further information about a speaking engagement, please contact us via our contact form.
Just some of the topics covered...
All about pollination and the importance of bees to the environment.
Pollinators 
How honey is made and the opportunity to taste samples.
Honey 
Sealed observation hive to see a colony of live bees at work.
Bees at work 
The make-up of the colony (queen, workers and drones) and their life cycle.
The colony 
How bees make wax, the shape of honeycomb cells and the uses of wax.
Wax and its uses 
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