Beginners Course
This is a season (Beekeeping season) long course designed to give a new beekeeper all the knowledge and tools they need to begin keeping bees. You will begin with 2 day long sessions in the classroom followed by the opportunity to attend weekly workshops at our teaching apiary. It is great value for money.
This course is suitable for anyone who is interested in the world of beekeeping or who wants to become a beekeeper. It is also suitable for anyone who has recently started beekeeping but has not yet completed a course. The course aims to cover all the essential elements of beekeeping through detailed presentations and open question and answer sessions. The topics covered will include but are not limited to:
- To explore the life cycle and behaviour of the honey bee colony
- To explain the importance of our native black bee Apis mellifera mellifera (AMM)
- To discuss the various hive types and beekeeping equipment needed to start beekeeping
- To understand the involvement of the beekeeper during the year, including summer management and winter preparations
- To discuss the history of the honey bee
- To explain swarming, prevention and control
- To discuss queen mating, marking and assessment
- To provide an introduction to honey bee pests and diseases
- To understand the process of honey clearing and extraction
- To provide an introduction to forage and setting up an apiary
- To provide practical experience in the inspection and handling of colonies of bees in our training apiary
A protective bee suit will be provided on loan for those who don’t have one of their own.
This course, along with the support of a mentor (mentors are allocated to SCBKA members who are in their first year of beekeeping and have completed the beginners course), should enable you to become a confident beekeeper. The classroom sessions will run over two Saturdays in January followed by your first practical sessions in the apiary in early May.
Thereafter you will have the opportunity to attend our weekly workshops throughout the season
The course fee of £100 also covers tuition at the weekly SCBKA apiary inspections (Saturday or Sunday subject to weather), and the opportunity should you wish to do so, to be involved in creating your own nucleus of bees with queen and brood, which you can then purchase from the association at a favourable price.
The lead tutor is Julian Hunter who is a member of SCBKA. Julian has been a beekeeper for over 30 years. A keen exponent of native bees, Julian currently runs 30 colonies and has a home apiary in which he has various types of hives for interest and comparison.
Dates for the 2025 course
(all Saturdays) are: – 18th Jan, 25th Jan, 09:00 – 16:00 hrs.
Venue
The course will take place at Plas Pentwyn Community Centre, 1A Castle Rd, Coedpoeth, Wrexham LL11 3NU
If you would like to register for the 2025 course, please complete the form below.
If you require any further information about the beginners course, please contact education@scbeekeepers.co.uk