Course not currently available

Introduction to Beekeeping

Course

In Ponteland ()

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Course

The evening sessions will be in the form of lectures, slide and video shows,equipment demonstrations and discussions and will commence at 7.00pm until 9.15pm with a break approx mid way through the lecture.  During the weekend afternoon sessions, weather permitting, students will take part in live hive inspections. These will commence at 2.00pm until 4pm and full protective clothing will be provided. You will benefit from excellent facilities that are of industry standard so you'll be prepared for your future career.At Northumberland College you will be treated as an individual and given opportunities to study subjects you may not have tried before, as well as opportunities to grow and develop so that you are prepared for your next steps, whether this is university or starting out in the first stage of your career.

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

Subjects

  • IT
  • Beekeeping

Course programme

The course will consist of ten, 2-hour, 15 minute evening sessions, integrated with four weekend afternoon practical sessions at the end of your course at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland.

The evening sessions will be in the form of lectures, slide and video shows,equipment demonstrations and discussions and will commence at 7.00pm until 9.15pm with a break approx mid way through the lecture. During the weekend afternoon sessions, weather permitting, students will take part in live hive inspections. These will commence at 2.00pm until 4pm and full protective clothing will be provided.

The course is designed to provide a grounding in theoretical and practical beekeeping and to prepare students for the Basic Examination in Beekeeping, the Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry and the Scottish Basic Beemaster Certificate, although entry to those examinations is voluntary. Participants will be introduced to the beekeeping association operating in their area.

The practical sessions will include: opening and closing a hive; controlling the colony; use of smoker and hive tools; identifying workers, drones and queens;identifying eggs, larvae, sealed brood, stored honey, pollen, queen cells and queen cups; recognising healthy brood; taking a sample of bees; finding,marking and clipping the queen; transporting hives; preparing a hive for the heather, assembling and waxing a frame, assembling a British National floor,super and roof.



Who is the course for?

This course is suitable for those wishing to know more about Beekeeping or those thinking about starting their own hives.

Do I need any formal qualifications?

There are no entry requirements for this course

What will I study on the course?

9th March - The beekeeping year

Course Overview; Recommended books and leaflets; Honey bees, bumblebees and wasps – who’s who; Summary of the beekeeping year.

16th March - The honeybee community

The queen, workers and drones, the iranatomy, life cycles and roles; age-related tasks of the workers; conversion of nectar to honey; honey bee communication; round and waggle dances; integration of colony activities.

23rd March - Hives and equipment

History of honey hunting and beekeeping; development and comparative designs of beehives; the bee space; hive components; tools and protective clothing. Sources of equipment.

EASTER BREAK – 2 weeks

13th April- Colony management

Hive watching –what can you learn; inspecting the colony; finding, marking and clipping the queen; managing difficult stocks; uniting colonies; moving and transporting hives; clearing supers; feeding; preparation for honey flows and winter; coping with stings.

20th April - Reproduction and swarming

Reasons for swarming; swarm collection;swarm control; artificial swarming and making increase; natural mating and queen behavior; queen rearing; comparison of the honey bee races; bee breeding and conservation.

27rd April - Forage, farmers and neighbours

The ecological and economic importance of bees natural forage and forage crops;soft fruit and top fruit; gardening for bees; agricultural sprays and poisoning; bees in the human community; legal issues and insurance.

4th May- The harvest

Harvesting of honey from mixed flower sources, oil seed rape and heather; filtration, bottling and labeling of honey; cut comb; wax, propolis, royal jelly, venom and pollen:their collection, purification, uses and sale.

11th May- Pests, diseases and hive hygiene

Robbing; protection from mice,woodpeckers, wax moth, etc.; identification of Braula; brood and adult diseases; Varroa and its control; statutory requirements; official inspections;good apiary practice.

18th May- Getting started

Advantages of Beekeeping Association Membership; setting up an apiary; obtaining bees and ongoing advice; record keeping; recruitment to local beekeeping associations

25th May- Summing up

Additional topics that have arisen during the course will be addressed and specific issues raised by the class will be discussed.

How is the course organised

This short course runs for 2 hours, 15 minutes on a Wednesday evening for 10 weeks, followed by 4 practical sessions at the end of the course on a weekend.

Unfortunately this course is not eligible for any funding and payment should be made at time of booking.

This course must be booked in advance.

How will my progress be assessed?

You will receive theoretical and practical guidance from the tutor throughout the course.

Can I gain any extra qualifications while on the course?

No, however you may wish to study another short course with us or join one of our longer courses which will gain you a qualification.

What final qualification will I get if I am successful?

College Certificate

Next Steps

Why not look in to gaining a qualification in this subject area, we offer many different courses.

Can I receive any financial support whilst I am studying?

Many of our learners study for free with a "Fee Waiver" when they are in receipt of qualifying benefits or studying a first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification and meet age restrictions or are aged between 16-18. If you are not entitled to a "Fee Waiver" you may be entitled to receive Learner Support Funds to help with paying your course fees, or if you are aged over 23 and planning to study at Level 3 or 4 you will be able to apply for a 24+ Loan that cover all of your course costs. Higher Education learners are entitled to apply for HE Loans that cover the cost of tuition. In addition, depending on your chosen course of study and individual circumstances, you may be entitled to a maintenance loan.

Please note, from September 2016, anyone over 19 years of age can apply for a loan to cover all course fees for qualifying courses.

All learners can also apply for help with the cost of travel to college and the college may be able to help with the costs of childcare, travel, books, equipment and meals.

Please note for full cost courses funding may not be available.

For more information our Help Hub team is available on 01670 841 200 or email advice.centre@northland.ac.uk

How can I apply for this course?

Apply online by clicking here, alternatively please contact our Help Hub on 01670 330 660, email advice.centre@northland.ac.uk or drop in to one of our open events – dates are listed here http://www.northumberland.ac.uk/events/

Alternatively, if this is the course for you please click Book and Enrol Now – please note this option is only available to certain courses.

Where can I get any further information about the course?

You may find further information within this website including within case studies and our media gallery. You may also come along to an open event – dates of college events are listed here http://www.northumberland.ac.uk/events/

Download/Print Course Details Northumberland College has two main campuses at Ashington and Kirkley Hall and centres at Hexham and Berwick. We offer hundreds of full-time and part-time courses, work with students aged 14-18, mature students, higher education students and employers from numerous industry sectors.Our Ashington campus was opened in 1957 and is home to a wide range of subjects - all housed in specialist facilities including those for art and design, construction, engineering, sport, hospitality and beauty therapy. Our Kirkley Hall campus, in Ponteland, has a long established history as the main provider of land-based education and training in the region, stretching back more than 50 years. So if you want to study animal care, agriculture or horticulture, this campus will provide the perfect environment for you. Life at Northumberland College is about more than just studying; it's about meeting new people, enjoying new experiences, developing new skills and spending time with friends.

Introduction to Beekeeping

Price on request