Lectures and Workshops
Venue
St George’s College, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 2QS.
The 2011 National Honey Show Workshops are also listed in the programme and need to be booked in advance (see below) to guarantee a place.
Admission
£15.00 (Non – Members) Purchase Membership.
Members FREE
Accompanied Children, 16 yrs and under, FREE.
For updates relating to the 2011 Programme watch this space or join our Mailing List for NHS News.
Sales Hall
The public can buy beekeeping equipment and honey from the Sales
Hall located
in the college's Sports Hall during the duration of the show.
Feedback Form
Help us make the National Honey Show even better next year by telling us what you thought of the facilities, lectures and workshops by visiting our Online Feedback Form.
Programme 2011
Thursday 27th October
1:45 Doors open
2:00 Opening Ceremony Mrs Dinah Sweet, President, Welsh beekeepers’ Association
2:30 Workshops (see below)
2:30 Professor Tom Seeley -The Beehive as a Honey Factory
4:00 Tom Seeley - Honey Bee Democracy (last minute change replacing Keld Brandstrup - Queen Bee Development: A look at commercial Queen rearing)
5:00 National Honey Show AGM - Followed by the Annual Meeting of the National Council. These meetings have been moved to Thursday to allow more Lectures and Workshops on Saturday afternoon.
6:00 Show closes
Friday 28th October
9:00 Doors open
9:30 Professor Tom Seeley - Honey Bees in the Wild
10:00 Workshops (see below)
11:30 Tom Seeley - The thirst of the hive (last minute change replacing Keld Brandstrup - The Buckfast Story- Selecting the Best)
2:00 Professor Robert Pickard Honey Bees and Humans: Our Place in the Universe
2:30 Workshops (see below)
4:00 Erik Österlund - 35 Years in the Making: A Walk Through a Beekeeping Career
6:00 Show closes
Saturday 29th October
9:00 Doors open
9.30 Erik Österlund - Swedish Beekeeping and the Constant Fight Against Varroa
10:00 Workshops (see below)
11:30 Micheal MacGiolla Coda - Breeding the Dark Irish Bees
1:00 Dr Nigel Raine - Learning to Forage in the Floral Supermarket
1:00 Workshops (see below)
2:30 Professor Tom Seeley - Getting Something for Free: The Design and Use of Bait Hives
3:45 Presentation of Trophies and Awards
4:30 Show closes
Workshops & Demonstrations
The National Honey Show has agreed that we hold a number of workshops to assist new or less experienced exhibitors in the art and skills of showing and help raise the general standard of exhibits.
The format for each workshop will be designed to identify and discuss methods of preparing and improving exhibits for the show bench with either a qualified Judge or an extremely experienced exhibitor.
The workshops will take place in Science rooms but, in view of the limited space available, the number of attendees will be limited. This will facilitate a more informal discussion and ensure each person will receive proper attention.
Booking Workshops
Update 27/10/2011 most are now full
Download Current Status [5KB PDF]
Download current status on what workshops are full or have spaces.
Anyone wishing to attend a workshop must now telephone 07729 424002.
There is no additional charge for workshops for all paid members of the NHS or paid visitors unless otherwise stated to cover the cost of materials.
All workshops are scheduled for 2 ½ hours duration.
Thursday 27th OCTOBER at 2.30pm
1. The Art of Honey & Wax Displays for Show - Jill Tinsley
2. Preparing Honey for the Show Bench- Peter Schollick
3. Microscopy Course – Disease Identification - Alan Potter £5
4. BBKA Module – Exam Technique - Val Francis
Friday 28th October at 10am
1. Sections/Frames to the Show Case - Terry Clare
2. Candle Making- Dennis Ryan
3. Honey Judging Technique - Peter Matthews and Enid Brown
4. BBKA Module – Basic Assessment - Tom Salter
Friday 28th October at 12:45pm
1. Legal Requirements for Liability and Fire Risk Assessments - Andy Pedley
Friday 28th October at 2.30pm
1. Mead Making from Start to Drinking - Dinah Sweet
2. Candle Making - Dennis Ryan
3. Make Your Own Toiletries Dr Sara Robb £5
4. BBKA General Husbandry Assessment - John Hendrie
Saturday 29th October at 10.00am
1. Make Your Own Skep – part 1 - Nic Menan (replacing Martin Buckle £15)
2. Mead Making from Start to Drinking - Dinah Sweet
3. Microscopy – Bee Dissection - Alan Potter £5
4. BBKA Module 1 - Margaret Thomas
Saturday 29th October at 12:45pm
1. Legal Requirements for Liability and Fire Risk Assessments - Andy Pedley
Saturday 29th October at 1.00pm
1. Preparing Honey for the Show Bench - Peter Schollick
2. Make Your Own Skep – Part 2 - Nic Menan (replacing Martin Buckle)
3. Sections/Frames to the Show Case - Terry Clare
4. Make Your Own Toiletries - Dr Sara Robb £5
5. The Beekeeping Ladder: from Hobbyist to Commercial or A Bee Farmer Semi-Commercial Beekeeper
Feedback Form
Help us make the National Honey Show even better next year by telling us what you thought of the facilities, lectures and workshops by visiting our Online Feedback Form.
BBKA Exam Workshops
Workshop: Module 1 – Margaret Thomas, Saturday 10.00am
Margaret Thomas NDB is Examinations Moderator for the BBKA and the NDB. She will bring her extensive experience to this workshop on the Module 1 Examination. The talk will cover a range of items from the syllabus, consider the depth of knowledge required and review a number of sample questions. A must for anyone considering taking Module 1 next March.
Workshop: Exam techniques – Val Francis, Thursday 2.30pm
Val Francis is Secretary to the BBKA Examinations Board and has a background in post 16 education. This workshop covers approaches to exam preparation for the BBKA Module Examinations, also techniques to use during the examination to interpret and answer questions accurately and to manage time constraints. This will be useful information for anyone not familiar with exam techniques.
Workshop: Basic Assessment – Tom Salter, Friday 10.00am
Tom Salter is a Master Beekeeper and experienced Senior Assessor for the Examinations Board. This workshop will guide attendees through the Basic Assessment, with typical questions used by assessors, with the help of the virtual hive. It will take the mystery out of preparing for the assessment and offer hints and tips for gaining this assessment to show they are competent beekeepers.
Workshop: General Husbandry Assessment - John Hendrie, Friday 2.30pm
John Hendrie is a Master Beekeeper and Assistant Moderator to the BBKA Examinations Board. This Introduction to the General Husbandry Assessment will explain the purpose and standards expected of beekeepers taking the assessment. This will be an excellent primer for anyone considering taking the General Husbandry Assessment next year.
Teacher Profiles
Martin Buckle – Skep Making
Martin has been making skeps for about 15 years and has taught beekeeper groups in many places. Choose which shape of skep to make for your self at Martin Buckle’s class. He provides all the materials and tools and gives beginners a helping hand by doing the hard bit -the start- in advance.
Terry Clare – Sections/Frames to the Show Case
Terry, having commenced serious beekeeping in 1970, realised the importance of producing and presenting honey and all hive products to the highest standards when selling through the trade and to the public. His many beekeeping visits to Northern Europe and the British Isles has honed his understanding of what is required. Successful showing ensures the skills to reach these standards so that local honey out-competes imported honey. Exhibition quality sections are always in demand. For the exhibitor there is beauty and satisfaction in the sight of a good section or frame which are uniquely British products. The workshop will be practically based as much as possible.
Peter Matthews and Enid Brown - Honey Judging Techniques
Both Peter and Enid have judged at national level in Scotland, England and Ireland. They are also still active competitors. They will explain the techniques of judging a liquid honey and a granulated honey class then the participants will judge a range of samples. This workshop is aimed at prospective judges and exhibitors who want to understand what makes a prize winning exhibit.
Andy Pedley – Legal Requirements for liability and Fire Risk Assessments
Andy is an Environmental Health Officer of long standing, with 20 plus years of beekeeping experience. He will be leading two workshops on Health and Safety requirements – Andy says that Health and Safety is often blamed for over the top requirements, or made to look ridiculous, but usually requires nothing more than common sense. He promises that the workshop will be interesting, entertaining, and practical, helping associations understand H&S requirements and Risk Assessments.
Alan Potter – Microcopy – Disease Identification and Honeybee Dissection
Alan began his career in hospital laboratories, moved into NHS management and has recently retired after 20 years as the Chief Executive of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences. He is the Managing Director of Brunel Microscopes, founded in 1983. Alan is a skilled microscopist and teacher. In his two workshops he will be covering those sections of the BBKA Microscopy syllabus.
Dr Sara Robb – Make Your Own Toiletries
Learn to make a selection of honey and beeswax toiletries. Dr Sara will begin the workshop with a demonstration of how to make her best selling Honey Bee Soap. Following the demonstration, participants will learn to make a few of Dr Sara’s Honey Potions, including; lip balm base, beeswax body butter and a beeswax and honey moisture cream. Each participant will leave with a luxurious selection of toiletries made with beeswax and honey.
The supplemental fee will cover the cost of ingredients, fragrances, and packaging for each participant.
Dennis Ryan – Candle Making
Dennis Ryan, Nat.Dip.in Sc.(Apiculture) is a past President of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations and a member of the Galtee Bee Breeding Group.He is a lecturer and demonstrator and has exhibited at Honey Shows both at home and abroad. He currently works 80 colonies in national hives for honey production and queen rearing.
Peter Schollick – Preparing Honey for the Show Bench
Peter has won many of the National Honey Show trophies and helped win the ‘Smallholder Shield for Yorkshire on several occasions. He will cover, as far as possible in the time permitted:- Working the bees, following the schedule 100%, honey jars/holding position, various types of honey, honeys in the comb – holding position, and his routines for both getting the honeys and preparing them for the show bench.
Dinah Sweet – Making Mead from Start to Drinking
Dinah is a very experienced beekeeper, exhibitor and judge. She is the president of the Welsh Beekeepers’ Association and in this role will be opening the show. She will cover all aspects of mead making as it says in the title.
Jill Tinsley – The Art of Honey and Wax Displays for Shows
Jill won the Ross Rose Bowl in four consecutive years for her display of honey, beeswax and mead in class 10 of the national Honey Show.
Speakers Profiles
Keld Brandstrup
Keld Brandstrup has kept bees since 1980. He is the leading Buckfast breeder in Denmark and runs over 400 colonies (all with island mated queens) for honey production. A Bee Disease Inspector himself, he sits on the Board of the Danish Commercial Beekeepers’ Association and previously served on the Board of the Danish Beekeepers’ Association. He lectures in Europe and North America, mainly about the breeding of the Buckfast bee.
Micheál C MacGiolla Coda
A third generation Irish beekeeper, I built my first CDB hive in 1957. On meeting Beowolf Cooper in 1976, I joined BIBBA and became very interested in the conservation, study, and improvement of the native Irish strains of Dark European Honeybee. I am a founder member and currently Chairman of the Galtee Bee Breeding Group. In the past I have had the honour of being President of both BIBBA and FIBKA. I still manage 100 colonies for honey production and raise about 400 queens annually.
Erik ÖsterlundErik
Österlund is the editor of the Swedish beekeeping journal “Bitidningen”, published by the Swedish Beekeeping Association, and distributed in 12,000 copies each month. He has been a beekeeper for about 30 years, and visited Buckfast Abbey and Brother Adam the first time in 1983, with a number of visits following. A number of his articles have been published in American Bee Journal. In 1989 he took part in an expedition to Kenya and has since been involved in breeding a bee more tolerant to the varroa mite, leading a group cooperating on this issue.
Professor Robert Pickard
Robert Pickard is an Emeritus Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Cardiff, and Chairman of the Consumers' Association, Which ? and retired in 2008 from the post of Director-General of the British Nutrition Foundation, and. Formerly, he was Chairman of the UK Government’s Foresight Task Force, Food's Contribution to Health in the Future, and served on the Welsh Ministerial Task Group, Food and Fitness for Children and Young People, and the Expert Panel for School Meal Guidelines at the Caroline Walker Trust. Currently, he serves on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Welsh Food Advisory Committee and provides scientific advice to the broadcasting media and an extensive range of companies, charities and public bodies. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Biology and the Royal Society of Medicine, where he serves on the Food and Health Council. He is also a member of the European Food Information Resources Network (EuroFIR) Council, which co- ordinates composition records on 21,000 foods in 47 institutions in 25 different countries. He has a keen interest in education and his public lectures range from the nutritional value of specific foods, through genetically modified organisms (GMOs), novel functional foods and weight management, to the neural mechanisms that underlie the relationship between happiness and eating. As a consultant for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and an international authority on the biology of honeybees, he has promoted low-technology methods for supporting rural communities in developing countries.
Dr Nigel Raine
Dr Nigel Raine is interested in understanding how (or indeed if) the cognitive abilities of animals are adapted to their environment. The fact that individuals within a population can differ widely in their cognitive capacities despite operating in the same environment has lead him to examine the costs and benefits of this behavioural variation. He uses bumblebees as his model system as they face complex cognitive tasks everyday when making foraging decisions about which flowers to visit in nature’s dynamic pollination market. He has been lucky enough to work on bees for over a decade. He read for his BA (Biological Sciences: 1994-97) and DPhil (The Pollination Ecology of a Mexican Acacia Community) at Magdalen College Oxford (1997-2001). He conducted his first postdoc with Francis Ratnieks at the University of Sheffield (2002-03), before spending 6 years working with Lars Chittka at Queen Mary, University of London (2004-2009). He has recently moved to Royal Holloway, University of London where he is Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour.
Thomas Seeley
Thomas Seeley began studying honeybee colonies as a high school student in Ithaca, N.Y. He attended Dartmouth College starting in 1970, but continued his bee studies during summer breaks while working at the Dyce Laboratory for Honey Bee Studies at Cornell University. He went on to graduate school at Harvard University where he continued to research bees, earning his Ph.D. in 1978. After teaching at Yale for six years, he moved back to Ithaca in 1986 to teach at Cornell University.
He has written three books on the internal organization of honeybee colonies; his latest book Honeybee Democracy was published in 2010. He is a recipient of the Senior Scientist Prize of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, and was elected to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Disabled Facilities
St George's College is disabled-friendly, and, except for one room at the top of the building, is accessible by wheelchairs. There are also three wheelchair-friendly toilets.
