BBKA Forum

basic-books by Diane drinkwater, on Flickr

The 'ministry' book/leaflets are good - and free to download.
I would say that Yates' Study Notes are not suitable for the Basic - far too in depth.
Clive De Bruyn's book is good.
I can't comment on the Haynes manual myself although I have heard good things about it. UNLESS it goes on about cracking open the roof and putting matchsticks under the crownboard!

Ted Hoopers Guide is good - I have the original version and not the re-written one. Probably not a first book,, maybe the second!

Winston's 'Biology' is a cracking read. Possibly too advanced for the basic and a few years' old now.
Another old book is The Morse and Hooper book which has been out of print for ages. You might see it for £100 or so. Absolutely stuffed with information.
Don't forget the Mid Bucks notes - designed for the Modules, they are a good summary and certainly good if someone wants to progress beyond the 'Basic'.

I was going to ask what the Mid Bucks notes were but a google search found them very easily.
https://blog.mbbka.org.uk/category/educ ... ment-exam/
They look quite useful. I don't know why the 2015 one only has 14 pages. and the 2014 one has 54 pages. Both look worth printing out rather than buying a book.

Thanks for the mid bucks link.
I was glancing through and it suggests taking two frames out to give room for an inspection; shaking the bees off each frame. This is what a Basic candidate did recently when she came for the assessment. I take one frame out only or maybe just the dummy board if I have one. Is two becoming the 'norm'?

AdamD wrote: ↑

17 Aug 2018, 10:25

Thanks for the mid bucks link.
I was glancing through and it suggests taking two frames out to give room for an inspection; shaking the bees off each frame. This is what a Basic candidate did recently when she came for the assessment. I take one frame out only or maybe just the dummy board if I have one. Is two becoming the 'norm'?

One of the Basic assessors suggested taking two frames out to one of the candidates last year. I usually take one frame out to put on the frame hanger or on top of the brood box depending on the frame.