My wife Lynda and I attended a course run by Martyn and Cheryl Cracknell in 2019 and started beekeeping in the same year.
This course was a great start, but it was soon very clear that there was a lot more to learn. It is interesting that even long established beekeepers, such as Martyn or Bob with all their knowledge, tell me that they don’t regard themselves as experts, especially when I pester them for additional information on both the practical and technical side of beekeeping.
On the 21st March this year an email dropped into my inbox from Bob Powell.
It said “Over the past few years more than 20 NEWBKA members have passed the BBKA Basic Assessment, the benchmark for proficiency in beekeeping. I am hoping to start a new study group shortly with the aim of taking the assessment this summer. To meet BBKA requirements, members must have been keeping bees for at least a year.”
Never one to shy away from a challenge I thought I would have a go at this and I have to say it was a great decision to do this.
The basic assessment has a very practical approach. It takes place in an apiary, where the person taking the assessment is asked to inspect a colony, point out various features and answer questions orally. The candidate is also asked to construct a frame correctly.
The syllabus contains both knowledge and skills sections and the approach followed was that the victims, sorry candidates met via ZOOM over a period of some weeks, each one preparing a short presentation on one element of the syllabus which was then delivered to the other members. We then talked about it, learning from each other's knowledge of the particular aspect under review. Bob Powell was present as a Mentor and Referee.
This was a great approach and was backed up with a lively WhatsApp Group where further interactions and discussions took place. It certainly increased my knowledge greatly.
The recommended reference book was by Yates. Whilst it is comprehensive, it is also as dull as ditchwater and the approach using knowledge distilled from the internet and various publications was much more interesting and stimulating.
The skills sections were covered during early summer in members’ apiaries where we could practice the practical aspects of inspecting and examining a colony.
In my case the assessment itself took place on the 1st August at Avoncroft Apiary and in common with most people found the exam a little stressful. The examiner, Richard Toft certainly tested the extent of my knowledge. I’m happy to say that I and all of our cohort passed with one member of the group even getting a distinction!
Denise won the prize for the most charismatic bee kit. (See Picture below). As Lynda put it “The world is divided into those who use a champagne cork to plug their smoker and those who use an odd shaped vegetable!”
Colin the most practical (“a couple of Tesco Bags”)
The most heartfelt comment post exam also goes to Denise for “I’m burning Yates now. That bloody book. I thought I had to keep my smoker between my knees at all times. I was shuffling around that apiary like a constipated pigeon. Richard (the examiner) asked me what I was doing.”
In summary I thoroughly commend this course to any practicing beekeeper. One of the great things for me was the study group which was great fun and helped no end in building my knowledge.
I’d really like to thank my fellow beekeepers, Amy, Bob, Colin, Denise, Gerry, Janet and Lynda for helping to make the whole thing such a good experience. I couldn't have done it without your support.
Mike Richardson 1st October 2023