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 which includes your first years EMBA membership.

How to enrol?

Contact Mr Allister Guy the EMBA Education Officer
Tel. 01324 861202


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 Education officer can obtain discounts on bee suits and gloves.....

Class Syllabus (EMBA Beginners Class):

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

The main class Tutors will be:

1. Allister Guy
2. Nigel Hurst
3. Alan Riach

Other members of EMBA will be present on an ad hoc basis to help, especially at the practical classes which will take place at a nearby apiary. Theory Classes will be held at the Strathbrock Community Centre (Community Education entrance), 189a West Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 5LH . Because of possible changed venues due to weather, check with Allister Guy prior to Class evenings - 01324 861202

Costs

There is a one time fee of £40 for the course and includes your first years membership of the Edinburgh & Midlothian Beekeepers' Association.

To enroll contact Mr Allister Guy the EMBA Education Officer

or Tel. 01324 861202