Beginner Courses
We recommend you join your local Beekeeping association and learn some practical skills before you start out. An ideal way is to join a beginners' Beekeeping course. Most associations run courses - some are leisurely, spread out through the year, involving theory and practical sessions, while others are intense instruction over a weekend. A comprehensive list can be found at www.thorne.co.uk
If you are thinking of keeping Bees but are not sure, we have a taster session (£5) early in May. Lasting a couple of hours on a Saturday morning you have the opportunity to look inside a beehive and ask our experts anything and everything about beekeeping. You should then be able to decide if you want to pursue beekeeping and enroll on one of our courses.
If you have decided to keep Bees there are three courses to choose from.
We run a weekday evening beginners' course each year from the end of May to the beginning of July at our apiary site. Beekeepers' jackets are provided as we open up beehives and demonstrate how to carry out some basic manipulations and checks. Experienced Beekeepers are on hand to instruct, give advice, and answer any questions. You will learn how to handle bees, recognize workers, drones and the queen, find bee eggs and larvae. Most importantly you will find out if you really enjoy being in amongst bees. The class usually runs over 6 weeks on a weekday evening from 6.30 to 8.30.
For those who feel they would prefer a one day intensive introduction to beekeeping on a Saturday, we run a course in July, starting at 9.00 and finishing at 4.00. This includes a series of talks and demonstrations as well as a couple of hours in the apiary.
For those prepared to spend more time learning beekeeping we can offer one-to-one teaching. Some of our members will 'mentor' new Beekeepers by taking them on as assistants. This is an excellent way to pick up practical knowledge over the whole beekeeping season and will enable you to link up with your beekeeping guru for advice later when you have your own bees.
For
each of
these three there is a charge of £30, this includes
Friends'
membership of Beverley Beekeepers' Association, loan of protective
clothing,
and a full set of course notes. Demand
for places is always very high. If you
think you would like to apply, please let us know as soon as possible,
stating
which of the alternatives you would prefer.
We are not able to allow anyone to take up more than one of the
course alternatives. The taster session can be attended in
conjunction with any one of the courses.
If you are interested in going on one of our courses please complete the Course Form. Whilst you are waiting to go on a course we encourage you to join as a Friend member, which costs only £5 per year. If you join in this way you get to find out about local beekeeping information, get our regular club newsletter and can come along to meetings. Go to the Membership pages and download a form if you would like to join us as a friend. Courses are £25 to Friends.
Bee Basics Theory Course
The course addresses all aspects of beekeeping husbandry at a level appropriate to novice Beekeepers. It is delivered by more experienced Beekeepers, some from the local area and some from neighbouring associations. It is a theory course covering most areas already demonstrated on the practical courses, but It is relatively informal with plenty of opportunity for asking questions, in a pleasant bee free environment where you can meet other Beekeepers and share experiences.
It is open to members of Beverley Beekeepers. Anyone who would like to come along who is not a member can join the association for a small fee.
Bee Basics details for 2011-12 are available here
You can register your interest in such a course with Wendy using the enquiry form.