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Beginners Classes

The EMBA runs an annual Beginners Class in the spring of each year (one evening per week from mid March through May). The classes cover the theoretical and practical basics of beekeeping and give a sound grounding for the new beekeeper. The classes are also a good place to meet other beginners and form mutual help friendships.

When to enrol?

The start date and enrollment details are published in the early spring on the EMBA Forum. Please note that there is a one time fee for these classes.

How to enrol?

Contact the EMBA Secretary at the address below or alternatively use the Contact form

Allister Guy, EMBA Secretary
The Elms
16 Millburn Road
Bathgate
West Lothian
01506-654968

What you will need:

The theory section of the class is covered by pre-printed handouts. For the practical section a protective beesuit will be needed but which type will be advised at the early classes and our Secretary can obtain discounts on bee suits and gloves.....

Class Syllabus (EMBA Beginners Class - 2008):

The Beginners Classes are composed of 2 types of activities -
  1. Theory classes aimed at providing a general understanding of honeybees and honeybee management - handouts are provided.
  2. Practical classes in a live apiary aimed at familiarizing beginners with bees, and beekeeping equipment, teaching them how to open a hive of bees, encouraging them to handle the frames of bees and teaching the recognition of the various brood stages, honey storage, pollen storage and the 3 different castes.
Note: The Practical classes are very much weather dependent (and Bee dependent) and from that point of view the weeks allocated to practical and theory will vary.

Since practical demonstration is always a more powerful teacher than theoretical instruction the amount of time spent on theory will be kept to a minimum and interspersed with equipment handling. Hand-outs covering the subjects below will be provided for reference and as memory joggers at a later date...
Index of Theory Subjects
  1. The Honeybee - (Simple Biology)
  2. Honeybee Management
  3. Risk Assessment & Honeybees
  4. Honeybee Products
  5. Swarm Prevention
  6. Taking & Hiving a Swarm
  7. Bee Hives - Function & Types
  8. Bee Diseases
  9. Varroa Monitoring
  10. Source Material & Organisations
  11. Follow-on Beekeeping Education - Practical tests & Theory Modules
Index of Practical Classes
  1. Lighting the Smoker
  2. Opening the Hive and Removing a Brood frame
  3. Recognizing the 3 Castes- Queen, Worker & Drone
  4. Checking for Queen cells and if necessary creating an Artificial Swarm
  5. Checking the progress of the 'swarmed' colony
  6. Discussion of equipment
  7. Making up frames & inserting foundation wax (at Woodgate)
The main class Tutors will be:
  1. Allister Guy - Secretary EMBA
  2. Nigel Hurst - Vice President - EMBA
  3. Alan Riach - Past President - EMBA
Other members of EMBA will be present on an Ad Hoc basis to help, especially at the practical classes which shall take place at Nigel's Apiary near Broxburn. Theory Classes shall be held, either at ABR's house Woodgate, Newland Ave, Bathgate or at The Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. Because of possible changed venues due to weather, check with Allister Guy prior to Class evenings - 01506 654968

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Practical Classes






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