I give courses in skepmaking and talks for beekeeping groups, but also for other clubs with more general interests, such as W.I. and U3A.      
I also set up my stall to demonstrate skep making and to sell produce at fetes and shows .   
And I judge honey shows.

Talks, Demonstrations, Classes and Judging

I give talks to clubs and societies on the following topics:

for non-beekeepers,

  • Beeswax candle making
  • The History of Beekeeping
  • Insects in the Garden
  • Beekeeping

and for beekeeper audiences:

  • Skeps and skep making (and basketmaking)
  • The history of beekeeping.
  • I teach skepmaking to one- and two-day classes
  • Preparation of exhibits for honey shows



ENGAGEMENTS IN 2012
February 18th,  High Weald BKA skepmaking class
March 13th Talk about skeps, Gloucestershire BKA.
May 13th, Yalding BKA in Kent. Skepmaking demo at the Honey Fair.
June7th, Judge at Suffolk Show, Ipswich.
July 10th to 12th Skep making demo at The Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate.
August 5th,  skepmaking class with Meon Valley Beekeepers at Warnford.
August 16th to 19th, (Judging on the 15th) at Southport Flower Show
October 25th, Judging at The National Honey Show, Weybrideg

25 starts for skeps. When I teach skepmaking I give each person in a class one of these to set them off making a skep without the pain of learning the hardest bit first. On the left are four left-handed starts; bottom left are two for making depriving hives with a central hole in the roof, and the rest are nineteen "ordinary" right-handed skep starts.  Because there are two spirals going on at the same time as you build a skep you cannot just turn the work  the other way round to go from right to left handed. It's like left and right hand thread screws, they are different.

 In my talks it's my policy NOT to use slides and projected pictures but to try for active participation by the audience, with plenty of relevant items to look at and handle, and where possible, things to make and do.
The wax talks involve hot wax and use of electricity. The audience do not get to handle these.
For skepmaking classes I supply all the materials and lend the tools, with started skeps to ease the process at the beginning. A whole day, preferably two, is needed for completion but materials can be taken home to finish an item.
If you have a particular interest in a related unlisted topic, just ask.

JUDGING

When judging Honey shows I like to leave a thick trail of little notes and comments aimed at helping people to overcome problems and improve the presentation of their honey, wax, craft and other entries.  Have a look at my notes for guidance of exhibitors, on my WIN PRIZES AT HONEY SHOWS page.