Bee Basic Exam

I took the BBKA basic exam this week. The person examining me was Celia Davis the president of the Warwickshire beekeepers association, chairperson of the Solihull branch and author of a couple of Bee books. I figure trying to show someone with that level of expertise the basics is going to be difficult as they must see lots of people and the level of expectation is going to be high.

I get the results in two weeks, the test is divided into practical parts and theoretical parts. I think I did OK, I may have made a couple of mistakes and could have had more knowledge of diseases. I had done my homework and studied and I know the principles etc, and I have a couple of years of experience so I should be alright.

Will keep you posted on the results. If I don't pass now I can take the exam again next year.


The orchard is fine examined the trees and the fruits, everything looks fine, I reckon some of the pear trees have rust leaf and I plan on doing some research on the subject over the next couple of days. I have seen rust leaf before on pear trees else where and in most cases it was just left as treatment may be expensive or labour intensive.

I have had more bird damage to some of the apples and as the orchard is still young, I guess its expected. Once the orchard has been established longer and I have more fruit, I am hoping that the percentage of fruit damaged is less. At present I can go around each tree and pick off damaged fruit. I then give it to my son who feeds it to next doors horses. They are loving the apples. In a couple of weeks the gages and the plums are going to be ready.

It will then be time to enjoy apple and plum crumble.