With the first signs of Spring, we are planning the apiary meetings for Wednesday evenings at Henfold, commencing from the 5th April.

Janet Kay has summarized our four mentoring groups that will be lead this year by herself, Colin Clement, Keith Mackie & Trevor Keast.

1. Beginners

This group is for new/starting out beekeepers, aimed at people who are in their first year of beekeeping. You probably don’t have your own bees, may never have looked inside a beehive and/or are considering starting with bees later this year with either 1 or 2 colonies. We also look forward to welcoming all who have been on Reigate’s Winter Beekeeping course with David Rudland.
Lead by Janet Kay, the aim of this group is a very practical, hands-on, introduction to the fascinating world of beekeeping. We will be covering the elementary principles and most importantly, will teach you good habits from the beginning. By the end of the year, we aim to have you confidently handling bees with a reasonable understanding of bee’s behaviour, types of bees and what is going on in the hive on a
seasonal basis.

2. Basics

This group is aimed at the second year of beekeeping and last year’s beginners will form the bulk of this group. The BBKA Basic Assessment delivered by RBKA is described as the ‘driving test’ for beekeepers, which is a very good analogy because like the driving test, it is a practical and oral assessment, but it does require a level of competency and knowledge to pass.
The ‘Basics’ is a very valuable qualification because it shows the world e.g. owners of land where you wish to have an out apiary, allotment holders, neighbours, that you have the experience and knowledge to keep bees safely.
This group is lead by Colin Clement and assisted by Jim Cooper, who will support you through the ‘Basics’ with practical sessions on Wednesdays at the Henfold apiary plus an hour on Zoom each week to explain the theory.
Taking the assessment is not mandatory but the vast majority of beekeepers at the club have the ‘Basics’ under their belt and with the fantastic support of Colin and Jim we have a 100% pass rate.

3. Improvers

Having learned the Basics, this group is for those with 3+ years of experience.
Lead by Keith Mackie, the aim of this group is to consolidate your existing knowledge and explore in more detail whatever the group is interested in, or is finding difficult.
Possible examples:

1. Disease prevention, control, and comb change
2. Post & Preventative Swarm Control
3. Making an increase & uniting (amateur beekeeper)
4. Creating nucs and apideas
5. Manipulations when you can’t find the queen, or dealing with an aggressive colony
6. Marking and clipping the queen

4. Advanced

This group is aimed at beekeepers who have been coming to Henfold for 4+ years and have probably got
more than 2 hives. Again, this group will be exploring and experimenting with topics that are of interest to the group and will be lead by Trevor Keast.
Possible topics:

1. Vertical Splits for Post & Preventative Swarm Control
2. Disease Control, Inspections and treatment
3. Running a production hive to maximise the honey
4. Making increases and Queen Rearing
5. Minimal intervention, Varroa Resistance, Wild Colonies & Bait Hives

– Tutors

None of the above will be possible without the help of Reigate beekeepers volunteering as tutors. We are hoping that our wealth of experienced beekeepers will step forward to volunteer. Also we would like to pair up less experienced beekeepers as a second in command to cover for holidays and to learn on the job to tutor in future years.
If you are able to help please email me at and let me know a bit about yourself e.g. number of hives, number of years keeping bees and if you have a preference which group you would like to mentor.
Janet Kay
RBKA Education Co-ordinator
thekayfamily@ntlworld.com