Intermediate Beekeeping Course (HBE)

The intermediate beekeeping course aims to build confidence in the more experienced beekeeper who may have already been to an introductory course and/or kept bees for several years.  With a hands-on approach, we teach you how to ‘read the tea leaves’ and understand the balance of the hive so that you are well equipped to do a little more with your bees.

At the opening of the course, we ask attendees to let us know what they are hoping to learn.  This allows us to lead the course through, often shared, topics of interest and leave us with greater practical knowledge that they can utilise at home. For example, people may wish to learn the tricks to splitting a hive or altering the genetics of an aggressive or failing hive by re-queening. 

This short 4-hour course, part theory and part practical, is run in a close, friendly, informal manner with questions and ideas actively encouraged from the start.  The course is presented by Brett Heather, who is a natural educator and enjoys passing on his extensive knowledge from over 20 years of beekeeping. 

Beginning inside, with the cool air-conditioning, Brett takes you through a presentation that covers aspects of beekeeping often important to the intermediate beekeeper.

This includes: –

• Performing splits.
• Requeening hives with virgin or mated queens.
• Understanding the balance of the hive.
• Controlling crowding and swarming.
• Examining different frame types.
• Tips for the FLOW HIVE.

Each attendee is provided with a handout of the presentation to take home and add notes to, if required.

The learning experience is strengthened by much fun and discussion, which continues during the break that follows.  Yummy treats (usually made from honey) are munched, with some tea or coffee, lots of chatting and questions, before heading outside for some hands-on experience in the hives. 

Bee suits are put on and time is spent among our bees examining the topics covered during the theory session.  Characteristics of carefully bred queens can be observed first-hand in our placid but healthy, hard-working colonies. See how to reduce congestion in the brood box or set up a split.  Watch the best ways to introduce new virgin or mated queens.

Following the course, we are happy to answer further questions by phone or email and welcome course attendees to join our Facebook chat group ‘Heathers’ Beekeeping Chat’, which offers a channel to share news/ideas with other attendees and seek advice from Heathers’ Beekeeping. 

Attendees are asked to bring their own bee suits if they have them and suitable covered footwear.  Otherwise, bee suits can be borrowed on request (please let us know in advance to allow time to organise these).  For biosecurity, we provide gloves and hive tools. 

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