If you are academically inclined you may want to consider studying for the 7 Modular exams.

  • Module 1 - Honey bee Management
  • Module 2 - Honey bee Products and Forage
  • Module 3 - Honey bee Pests, Diseases and Poisoning
  • Module 4 - Not currently Active
  • Module 5 - Honey bee Biology
  • Module 6 - Honey Bee Behaviour
  • Module 7 Selection & Breeding of Honey bees
  • Module 8 - Honey bee Management, Health and History

If you undertake Modules 1,2, 3 and one other, you are given an ‘Intermediate Theory Certificate’ and when you have completed all 7 you qualify for the ‘Advanced Theory Certificate’.

These modules cover all aspects of beekeeping from the management of colonies, bee biology and behaviour and disease through to more specialized aspects like queen rearing and breeding which are covered in some depth.

In order to undertake the modular study you will have to have successfully completed the Basic Assessment. Details of how to undertake this can be found under ‘Training’ on this website.

Exams take place in mid March and November every year and applications and fees need to be sent to the local Warwickshire Exam Secretary, or the BBKA head office at Stoneleigh at least 6 weeks before the exam date ie at the beginning of February and October.

Details of the syllabus and reading lists can be found on the BBKA website.

Forming a Study Group to work together on a module can be helpful as a way of sharing and discussing difficulties and exploring things you are unsure of. In Rugby we have used the distance learning correspondence courses provided by BBKA as the basis for structuring the study group, but you can use this form of study on your own. If you form a study group Warwickshire will refund half the cost of the correspondence course. The correspondence course will supplement your modular study but does not cover all aspects of the syllabus.


BeeBase

Beebase News Web feed
  • 2022 Hive Count / Cyfrif Cychod Gwenyn Chwefror 2022 - 2023
    13 February 2023
    Over 11,000 beekeepers updated their details on BeeBase during the 2022 hive count compared to almost 9,000 in 2021. There are currently more than 48,000 beekeepers registered on BeeBase and approximately 23% of those contacted updated their records.

    The 2022 hive count produced a figure of 288,311 colonies in the UK. This is slightly higher than the 2021 figure of 272,631

    The Hive Count provides a very useful indication of the number of managed colonies in the UK and helps ensure that BeeBase records are kept up to date. Information about numbers and location of hives is very important for the National Bee Unit and Scottish Government inspectors in terms of preparing and planning for outbreaks of disease and exotic pests.

    Thank you very much to everyone who has taken the time to ensure that their BeeBase records are up to date.

    Diweddarodd dros 11,000 o wenynwyr eu manylion ar BeeBase yn ystod cyfrif cychod 2022 o gymharu â bron 9,000 yn 2021. Ar hyn o bryd, mae mwy na 48,000 o wenynwyr wedi'u cofrestru ar BeeBase, sy'n golygu bod tua 23% o'r rhai y cysylltwyd â nhw wedi diweddaru eu cofnodion.

    Cynhyrchodd cyfrif cychod gwenyn 2022 ffigur o 288,311 o nythfeydd yn y DU. Mae hyn ychydig yn uwch na ffigur 2021, sef 272,631.

    Mae'r Cyfrif Cychod yn rhoi syniad o nifer y nythfeydd a reolir yn y DU, sy'n ddefnyddiol iawn, ac yn helpu i sicrhau bod cofnodion BeeBase yn cael eu diweddaru'n rheolaidd. Mae gwybodaeth am nifer y nythfeydd a'u lleoliad yn bwysig iawn i'r Uned Wenyn Genedlaethol ac arolygwyr Llywodraeth yr Alban o ran paratoi a chynllunio ar gyfer achosion o glefyd a phlâu egsotig.

    Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb sydd wedi rhoi o'u hamser i sicrhau bod eu cofnodion BeeBase yn gyfredol.
  • Seasonal Bee Inspector (SBI) vacancies / Swyddi gwag - Arolygwyr Gwenyn Tymhorol (SBI)
    03 January 2023
    The National Bee Unit currently has  Seasonal Bee Inspector (SBI) vacancies advertised in:
    • Wales: North and Ceredigion.
    • West: Staffordshire, Shropshire
    • East: Norfolk, but particularly north
    • North East: Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire

    If you are interested in applying for these jobs, full details can be found on Civil Service Jobs

    If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact the Regional Bee Inspector for the region.

    Ar hyn o bryd, mae gan yr Uned Wenyn Genedlaethol swyddi gwag ar gyfer Arolygwyr Gwenyn Tymhorol yn y rhanbarthau canlynol:
    • Cymru: Ceredigion a'r gogledd yn bennaf.
    • Gorllewin: Swydd Stafford a Swydd Henffordd
    • Dwyrain: Norfolk, ond ardal y gogledd yn bennaf
    • Gogledd Ddwyrain: Swydd Lincoln a Swydd Dwyrain Efrog


    Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn gwneud cais ar gyfer y swyddi hyn, gellir dod o hyd i'r holl fanylion ar Swyddi'r Gwasanaeth Sifil.

    Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau am y rôl, cysylltwch â'r Arolygydd Gwenyn Rhanbarthol ar gyfer y rhanbarth.
  • Annual National Hive Count Commences / Y Cyfrif Cychod Gwenyn Cenedlaethol Blynyddol yn Dechrau
    01 November 2022
    The National Bee Unit is pleased to launch the 2022 National Hive Count today, 1st of November.

    The hard slog of summer beekeeping is done so make yourself a nice cup of tea, grab your laptop and sink into your favourite chair. It’s time to update your BeeBase records!

    We would like to ask all beekeepers to please login to BeeBase and make a note of the total number of colonies you will be taking into the winter as of 1st November 2022. This task is quick and simple, just click here, login and fill in the short form. Even if you have no overwintering colonies this season it is still important to update your BeeBase record to reflect that. This survey will run until 31st December 2022.

    For more information about the Hive Count click here.

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    Mae'n bleser gan yr Uned Wenyn Genedlaethol lansio Cyfrif Cychod Gwenyn 2022 heddiw, 1 Tachwedd.

    Mae'r haf hir o gadw gwenyn wedi mynd heibio felly gwnewch baned o de, estynwch eich gliniadur ac ymlaciwch yn eich hoff gadair. Mae'n amser i chi ddiweddaru'ch cofnodion BeeBase!

    Hoffem ofyn i wenynwyr fewngofnodi i BeeBase a gwneud nodyn o gyfanswm nifer y nythfeydd a fydd gennych dros y gaeaf o 1 Tachwedd 2022. Mae'r dasg hon yn un syml a byr, cliciwch yma, mewngofnodwch a chwblhewch y ffurflen. Hyd yn oed os nad oes gennych nythfeydd sy'n gaeafu y tymor hwn, mae'n dal yn bwysig eich bod yn diweddaru eich cofnod BeeBase i gadarnhau hynny. Bydd yr arolwg hwn yn para tan 31 Rhagfyr 2022.

    I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y Cyfrif Cychod Gwenyn cliciwch yma.