Beekeeping for Beginners: Theory / Practical

Beginners Training Leaflet 2024 (PDF)

We offer an exciting and engaging training programme for anyone wanting to gain essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills in beekeeping. Our training “Beekeeping for Beginners”, comprises both theory and practical sessions.

Theory sessions

The course covers all aspects of beekeeping for beginners and is suitable for complete novices as well as those with some basic beekeeping knowledge or experience. The course looks at the bees themselves, the beekeeping year, the swarming process and its management, pests and diseases, as well as the process of honey production and supplemental feeding. The theory sessions are designed to complement the BBKA Basic Examination syllabus as well as providing a good foundation of knowledge that can then be applied and built on during the practical course.
There are no entry requirements for the theory course. Children under 16 are welcome but must be accompanied by a fee-paying adult. The training sessions are a mixture of face to face and zoom meetings. All the evening sessions start at 7:30pm, aim to finish before 9:30pm and the zoom meetings are recorded so that people who miss a session can see it later.

A copy of the training material is provided to each candidate after the session along with a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

Practical course

For those who have completed the theory course as this is where they start to apply their knowledge. Bee-suits will be made available to those on the course for its duration but individuals will need to provide their own suitable footwear (wellington boots or similar). Held during the warmer months when the hives can be opened we will open the hive over several sessions to see how the colony has developed and understand the lifecycle of this super-organism. This provides the candidates a chance to build on the theory component and develop confidence with the bees. Practical procedures will be explained, demonstrated and then undertaken working both with the bees and within the apiary.

On completion of the course each candidate will receive a certificate of attendance.

Candidates must have completed the Beekeeping for Beginners – theory course before undertaking the practical sessions. Children under the age of 16 must be confirmed with us beforehand to ensure that a child sized bee-suit is available for them and accompanied by a fee-paying adult.

This course takes place at our training apiary at Yealand Conyers.

To make an enquiry about a course please contact secretary@lancaster-beekeepers.org.uk

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