By selectively breeding queens from our best stocks, we can improve the health and resilience of our honey bees, their suitability and adaptation to local climate and forage, and other desirable characteristics. As beekeepers we need to have an understanding of the potential for stock improvement, and the skills with which to achieve this so that our bees can become healthy, productive, and pleasurable to work with.
During this two day course, we will develop an understanding of the processes of stock selection and queen raising, utilising a mix of classroom and apiary tuition and exercises. Students will participate in all the key practical elements of a queen raising programme.
Topics covered will include:
This course will also be of great interest to anyone considering
studying the BBKA Module 7 (Selection and Breeding of Honeybees)
examination.
Course tutors are Ken Basterfield, NDB and Dan Basterfield, NDB.
Instructions and venue information
The course is held at our Honey Farm in Devon.
Joining instructions with course outline, what to bring, and venue information will be sent to students upon booking.
Target Audience
Our Short Courses can provide valuable discussion, learning, and
hands-on experience for those planning to take the BBKA Assessments
above Basic level. The Short Courses are aimed at those
beekeepers with some experience of the craft; they are not aimed at
novices. We recommend that applicants have kept bees for at least 3 seasons.
Cancellation Policy
We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel advertised courses. Should this be necessary then you will be given the option of a refund or a transfer to another course/date. We will give as much notice as possible, but regret that we cannot be responsible for any other costs such as those relating to travel or accommodation that might result from this.
Students who have booked on courses may cancel and receive a full refund if notice of cancellation is received at least four weeks before the course start date. If notice of cancellation is received less than four weeks before the course start date, refunds will only be issued if the cancelled place(s) can be re-sold.
If a course has to be cancelled at any point due to government restrictions relating to COVID-19 we will refund course bookings in full.
A course booking indicates an acceptance of this cancellation policy.
Blackbury Honey Farm, EX24 6JF