Rugby Beekeepers Association maintain an training apiary with a view to assisting the members, particularly new ones, with developing their bee keeping skills. We generally over winter 2-4 colonies and then once the beekeeping season gets under way and colonies need splitting we can have up to 8 colonies, some of these may be in nucs and some may be used for queen rearing

The apiary needs weekly checks through the swarm season, and regular visits to monitor health, space, stores, health etc. through the rest of the year.

Experienced bee keepers are the providers of these inspections and in doing so they create a location where less experienced keepers can learn by observation, discussion and gain practical experience.

The intention is to maintain an apiary in the immediate locality which will provide beginners with a teaching facility. Where they can learn amongst other things:

• Whether they are comfortable around bees prior to becoming owners
• Find out what equipment RBKA use to see if it suits them
• See a colony other than their own in the locality.
• What space is needed for an apiary.
• Using a smoker
• Assess the health of a hive
• Gain from the experience of others
• Get an idea of the weight and size of boxes that will need to be moved
• How to handle frames of bees
• Problems and the treatments

Members are welcome to come along and watch, help or carry out inspections under supervision. Please contact us if there is anything particular that you would like to have discussed