Botany for Beekeepers (Reigate)

Alastair has been beekeeping for more than a decade, starting out as a student at Blackhorse Apiaries before joining their teaching team. As a partnership, Alastair ran over 300 colonies and was a member of the Bee Farmers association. A member of his local association, he teaches both practical and theory classes. At National level Alastair has run workshops at the annual BBKA Spring Conventions, including “Assembling your own hive” and in 2015 one for “An introduction to the General Husbandry Assessment”. Alastair holds the Master Beekeeper and Microscopy Certificate with the BBKA for whom he is also an examiner for the Basic, General and Advanced Husbandry Assessments, as well as being an Assistant Moderator for the Examination Board. He is also a tutor for the BBKA correspondence courses and has set BBKA module theory exams. Alastair was Co-opted onto the BBKA Examamination Board in 2013 and voted on as a full member at the BBKA Annual Delegates Meeting in January 2014 for a two year term. He obtained his NDB in 2015.Tony Harris NDB, is a bee farmer based on the Moray coast in Scotland where he manages 150 hives for honey production. He also breeds and sells local queens and nuclei. He is an assessor for the Scottish Beekeepers Association (SBA), a Honey Judge, a BBKA Correspondence Course tutor and a regular contributor to beekeeping publications in England and Scotland. Tony is also a former general secretary of the SBA, is a Scottish Expert Beemaster and in 2015 attained the National Diploma in Beekeeping qualification. He givespresentationsand lectures to community and beekeeping groups on all matters relating to bees, beekeeping, the environment and conservation

Tony Harris NDB & Alastair Welch NDB

Botany for Beekeepers 
Course Description
During this two day course, we will examine in detail plants and their importance to bees. In particular students will gain an understanding of the special relationship between honey bees and flowering plants, including the processes of pollination and fertilisation, cross pollination strategies, pollinator signals and an appreciation of the major bee forage plants of the UK
Mainly classroom based with a number of practical elements, the course will also include a botany walk exercise aimed at identifying and listing common bee flowers.
A number of low power stereo microscopes and hand lenses will be available but students' learning experience will be enhanced if they can bring their own.
The course will be beneficial to beekeepers in general and those intending to take BBKA Module 2, ‘Honey bee products and forage’.
Aims of this course
<UL>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">To give students knowledge of the Flora of the UK and its importance to honeybees</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">To appreciate the value of plant recognition and characteristics to beekeeping in the British Isles</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">To help beekeepers to understand the structure of flowering plants and to understand common botanical terms</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">To appreciate the relationship between plants and bees</LI>
</UL>
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
<UL>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Understand the classification of living things and plants in particular</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Recognise and identify the major bee forage plants of the UK</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Identify and name the external parts of flowers</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Explain some common botanical terminology</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">State the different mechanisms for plant pollination</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">State the reasons for plant taxonomy</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Use a floral key to recognise common bee forage plants</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">State some characteristics of honey from different plants</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Describe the major identifying features of pollen </LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">State the use of pollen identification in honey</LI>
</UL>
 
Course Fees
Fees for students from England and Wales are generously subsidised by the Defra Healthy Bees Plan. Early-bird bookings are discounted to £88, standard bookings are £103. Fees for students from other areas (inc. Scotland) is £240.  This fee includes all consumables, course handouts, refreshments and a light lunch on both days. For expert tuition by highly-qualified tutors, this represents very good value for money.
Instructions and venue information
Joining instructions with course outline, what to bring, and venue information will be sent to students upon booking.  
Target Audience
The NDB Short Courses can provide valuable discussion, learning, and hands-on experience for those planning to takebeekeeping assessments above Basic level. The Short Courses are aimed at those beekeepers with some experience of the craft; they are not aimed at complete novices. 
Students are welcome to apply on a first come, first served basis.
Cancellation Policy
The NDB reserves 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.
A course booking indicates an acceptance of this cancellation policy.

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Botany for Beekeepers (Reigate)

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