Beekeeping for Beginners

Update 3rd December - the 2025 course is now fully booked. You can join the early warning list for 2026 below.
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Whether you are a complete beginner or have some experience already, this is a great opportunity to learn new skills, improve your knowledge, gain confidence and make new friends. Our aim is that by the end of the course you will feel confident to keep your own colony of bees.

Topics We Will Cover

The course will cover the basic skills you need to manage your own colony of bees. It covers both important knowledge and hands-on practical skills including conducting hive inspections with live bees.
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  • The Bee Community & Behaviour
  • Protective Equipment & Types of Hives
  • Hive & Frame Building
  • Siting an Apiary
  • Inspecting a Hive and Handling Bees
  • Controlling Swarms
  • Pests & Diseases
  • Flowers & Forage for Bees
  • The Beekeeping Year
  • Harvesting Honey & Other Bee Products

Who is it for?

The course is suitable for adults aged 16+.
No previous experience is necessary.

When and Where

We plan to start the course on 7th May 2025. The course combines 4 classroom sessions on Wednesday evenings with 4 practical hands-on sessions on Saturday mornings. The 2025 dates are:
  • Wednesday 7th May evening
  • Saturday 10th May morning
  • Wednesday 14th May evening
  • Saturday 17th May morning
  • Wednesday 21st May evening
  • Saturday 24th May morning
  • Wednesday 28th May evening
  • Saturday 31st May morning

The Saturday sessions will be held at Taylor Hill and the Wednesday sessions at Broad Oak.
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​You will have continued access to the Association Apiary on completion of the course, to help you with your onward learning and to build your confidence. This is very much encouraged. Many attendees also pair up with a more experienced "bee buddy" from the Association.

Questions

If you'd like to discuss the course, please contact the Association Secretary via our Contact Form.

Cost

The course fee is £100. You must be a Full Individual Member of the HDBKA to join the course - membership costs £30 and can be purchased alongside the course.

Terms & Conditions

The following terms apply to registrations for the beginners' course:

Registrations
  1. To secure a place you must follow the booking instructions below and make your payment in full. 
  2. The course is for adults aged 16 or over only.
  3. The named attendee must hold a current Full Individual Membership of the HDBKA in order to attend the course.
  4. If you are not already a member you can purchase this alongside the course booking.
  5. If you do not hold Full Individual Membership by 31st March 2025, your place will be forfeited and your course fee refunded.
Cancellation and Refunds
  1. You can cancel your place at any time.
  2. If you cancel by 28th January 2025, we will refund your course fee and (if you wish) your membership fee for 2024-25
  3. If you cancel by 31st March 2025, we will refund your course fee only. 
  4. No refunds will be given for cancellations after 31st March 2025 other than in exceptional circumstances.
  5. The Association Treasurer's decision in matters of refunds is final.

Course Bookings

Sorry, the 2025 course is now fully booked and our reserve list is full.
If you would like to be informed in advance about our 2026 course and other learning opportunities, you can join the early-warning mailing list using the form below. 
    Request to join the early warning list for the 2026 Beginners' course.