SURREY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION Founded 1879
Croydon	Epsom	Farnham	Guildford	Horsham& C	Kingston	Reigate	Weybridge	Wimbledon

Beekeeping Courses

BBKA Exams summery
Guide to taking the Basic exam

Surrey Wins the BBKA Exam Board Shield

Croydon Division Ten Week Introduction to Beekeeping.
Can be followed by practical sessions at Croydon teaching apiary.
Dates: Thursday evenings from 7.30 to 9.30pm 10 January to 13 March 2008.
Venue: The United Reformed Church, Purley
Tutor: David Rudland.
Cost: £75.00 for the course
Contact: More details from me, David Rudland, 01883 622788 email celiarudland@excite.com

The aim of the course is to give a basic understanding of the working of the honey bee colony, in preparation for the practical experience of beekeeping. Topics covered by the course include, history, the colony, beekeeping year, swarms, queens, hive products to mention a few.

It is hoped that those taking the theory will go on to join us in the Division apiary as the practical beekeeping season starts so that they can get hands on experience before getting their own bees if they so choose. Once they have had a year with bees then hopefully they too will want to take the Basic Exam.

Epsom Division INTRODUCTION TO BEEKEEPING.
A 10 week theory course followed by a season of practical in the Apiry.
Dates: Tuesdays, starting 29th January 2008. 7.30 - 9.30pm.
Venue: Epsom Division Apiary, Upper Mill, Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey.
Cost: £80.00.
Contact: Please ring- Mollie Bonard for further details on 0208 647 7424.

Guildford Division
A full range of courses is provided by John Hamer, Blackhorse Apiaries, 28 Limewood Close, St Johns, Woking, GU21 1XA. Tel 0148 347 5259.
Beekeeping Classes
John Hamer's late winter course on Wednesday evenings will commence on Jan. 24th., leading up to his hands-on practical course in the spring.
If you can't manage a Wednesday evening, you might settle for a one-day intensive course intended for beginners, improvers and non-beekeepers to be run by Wisborough Green Division of W. Sussex BKA at Pulborough on Saturday April 14th. 2007 and costing just £25 (£15 for under 16's). inc. lunch etc.. Details from Roger Patterson on 01403 790637 or email r.patterson@pattersonpressings.co.uk

Reigate Division Introduction to Beekeeping
Practical work at Divisional apiary from April to August included.
Dates: 10 Mondays 7th January to 10th March 2008 7.30 - 9.30pm.
Venue: The Woodhatch Centre, Whiebeam Drive, Reigate RH2 7LS.
Tutor: Alan Byham (Regional Bee Inspector)
Cost: £80.00.
Contact: Mrs A M Merritt 01737-223274 or adcor@tiscali.co.uk

Kingston Division Practical Beginners Course
Dates: Saturdays March - September 2008
Venue: Kingston Division Apiary at Hampton Court Way Allotments
Tutor: George McCrone
Cost: Free to Kingston members (£32.00 subscription)
Very limited places each year but Kingston also run an "Observers" group for people on the waiting list for the course.

Wimbledon Division Intorduction to Beekeeping
Dates: Mondays Starting 28 January 2008 - 31 March 7.30 to 9.30pm
Cost includes seven Sunday morning apiary meetings from 24 February 2008
Venue: Morden Hall Medical Centre
Tutor: Presented by a Team from Wimbledon Beekeepers
Cost: £40.00
For more information contact Peter Bowbrick 020 8 648 6358 pjbowbrick@yahoo.com

Wimbledon Division Two Day Introduction to Beekeeping
Dates: 12 - 13 July 2008 all day
Venue: Morden Hall Medical Centre
Tutor: Presented by a Team from Wimbledon Beekeepers
Cost: £25.00
For more information contact Peter Bowbrick 020 8 648 6358 pjbowbrick@yahoo.com

Other Divisions encourage members to attend courses run by Blackhorse Apiaries
Beekeeping courses are managed and run on a commercial basis by John Hamer, a Surrey bee farmer, using his purpose built facility at Blackhorse Apiaries in St Johns near Woking.
10 week Beekeeping for Beginners Wednesday 25th January ‘06 £50.00
10 week Practical Beekeeping for Beginners Wednesday 26th April ‘06 £50.00
10 week Further Practical Beekeeping Wednesday 26th April ‘06 £55.00
Meet the Bee Day Saturday 15th April 2006 £30.00
Skep Making Saturday 17th June 2006 £25.00
Candle Making Saturday 14th October 2006 £25.00

Plumpton College
Beekeeping Taster Days £40 April 2008 onwards according to demand. Specially designed for those with little or no knowledge of beekeeping but interested in finding out if it is a hobby or business they wish to pursue.
full details on the agriculture pages of the Plumpton College website 01273 892052

Berkshire College of Agriculture
Beginners Beekeeping 7 January - 4 February 2008 1900 - 2100 £80.00
01628 824444 www.bca.ac.uk

Courses for the Intermediate and Advanced BBKA exams are also run by
Twickenham and Thames Valley BKA in their apiary at 41 Witton Road, Twickenham
(281 Bus used to stop right outside) Chris Deaves 0208 568 2869

BBKA Modules by Mail
Chris Utting (BBKA Exam Board), Codden, Golf Links Road, Westward Ho! Devon, EX39 1HH
01237 474500 email: Chris@seejayyou.demon.co.uk

If you, or your Division, would like your course included here
email webmaster@surreybeekeepers.org.uk