Bookings are now open for the training courses mentioned in the latest BeeHolder.

The courses will take place at Gregynog Hall, Tregynon (except the Microscopy course, which will be at Plas Dolerw)

Our committee decision has been to subsidise these courses and we have kept the cost the same as previous years. The costs include all materials and tea, coffee and biscuits. Bring your own lunch or eat in the very good cafe at Gregynog.

Note that the date of the microscopy course is now 31st March, not the 24th as may be reported elsewhere!

Beginners one day introductory course

by Brian Goodwin (Master BeeKeeper and President of the Shropshire BeeKeepers Association)

Saturday February 11th 10am to 4pm

COST £20 to MBKA Members.

Intermediate two day course

for those with one year’s (a full 12 month!) experience of having bees, again by Brian Goodwin

Saturday 25th February and Saturday 3rd March 10am to 4pm

COST £30 to MBKA Members.

Microscropy one day course.

The course will cover basic demonstrations of the use of microscopes, some basic and advanced bee anatomy as well as disease recognition. There will be a team of tutors under the leadership of Master BeeKeeper Jim Crundwell, our President and a former lecturer in Beekeeping at Pershore Horticultural College. You don’t need to have your own microscope as there will be a range of microscopes and digital visual aids in use. The tutors will give practical help to all levels of Mircoscopy experience; lots of individual attention!

Should any one be unfortunate enough to have experienced winter loss of a colony do keep some of the dead bees and bring them along.

Saturday 31st March . 10am to 4 pm LOCATION Plas Dolerw, Newton

COST £20 to MBKA Members.

Oxalic Acid use , Demonstration of varroa treatment by Oxalic acid by Apiary Manager Dave Bennett and Seasonal Bee Inspector John Beavan. The exact day will depend on the weather, please keep an eye on the website for the posting of the date within the next two weeks. or register your interest with the apiary manager who will phone you about the exact date and time.

COST Free to MBKA members.

Please book by email to the secretary and send your cheque, made out to Montgomeryshire Beekeepers Association to School House, Y Fan, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6NP. Non-members interested in partaking should contact the secretary also.

AND FINALLY .... Jessica tells me that, at 63, the bookings for this year’s annual dinner are greater than last year. All good news. The final final time for letting Gregynog know the numbers is actually noon on Monday 9th January. I’m all in favour of extra people coming because I feel that the chit chat over a meal and at the bar is itself a beekeeping training experience. “Good grub and a bit of booze benefits the bees”... how about that for a slogan? So if you’d like to come please contact Front of house (Jessica) FAST . ...  DO IT NOW.