By Mark Dombey- 671
PDBKA is pleased to announce that our Vice President Geoff Piper has agreed to become the new Out Apiary Manager at the Meon Valley Sustainability Centre with immediate effect.
Geoff has been an active member of PDBKA for many years , has over 40 year’s beekeeping experience and currently runs approximately 25 hives of his own. Geoff will also be conducting practical hands-on training sessions, and act as our liaison with the Management Team of the Sustainability Centre.
As a direct response to the results of the recent member’s survey, Geoff has agreed to hold Apiary Meetings at a more convenient time for a trial period on
Tuesday Evenings starting at 6pm, meeting at the Sustainability Centre main reception. All PDBKA members are cordially invited to attend, regardless of experience, as this is a great opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another to the benefit of all.
Apiary meetings are a natural progression from the winter beekeeping course and are suitable for not only new Beekeepers who are expecting the arrival of their
first colony but for those who may have only just started looking after their own hives, to those wishing to develop their skills further or maybe to take the BBKA
Basic Assessment.
It is also an opportunity for people looking to become new Beekeepers who would like the opportunity to understand what’s involved and to handle Bees for the
first time. If you know of anyone you fits this criteria please feel free to invite them along, we have several bee suits available, it would be advisable to
let Geoff know in advance, just in case.
Geoff offers a warm welcome to anyone wishing to attend and hopes that many members will take up this learning experience.
The Apiary has a variety of hives and is intended that beekeepers new and old have the opportunity to review the relative merits of these hive types, gain experience of handling bees, and exchange opinions in an informal setting.
The Out-Apiary at the Sustainability Centre near East Meon is now closed. Check with Geoff Piper Telephone 02392 593760 for more information.
Attendees are expected to wear clean bees suits. A limited number of suits are available for loan to new members for the session. All sessions are of course totally dependent on the weather and may be cancelled at short notice. Please contact the Apiary Manager on the day to check.
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