Beginners’ Course
We run a course for beginner beekeepers every year. The course covers the essential knowledge and skills that all new beekeepers should have before they take delivery of their first colony of bees. The syllabus follows the British Beekeeping Association Introduction to Beekeeping Course and covers the following material:
General introduction to beekeeping
The colony
The hive
History of beekeeping
The beekeeping year
Queens
Swarms and swarm control
Pests and diseases
Bees, plants and hive products
Getting started – what happens next?
Beginners’ Course 2023 – Dates and Venue
The classroom element of the course course takes place at Larkrise Community Farm, West Ashton Road, Trowbridge BA14 6DQ. The dates of the classroom sessions for the 2023 course are:
Wednesday 8th February, Wednesday 15th February, Wednesday 22nd February, Wednesday 1st March, Wednesday 8th March, Wednesday 15th March and Wednesday 22nd March.
Classroom sessions begin at 19:00 and end at 21:00.
After the classroom sessions have been completed, beginners will attend two further sessions at our branch apiary to gain some hands-on experience of working with bees. These sessions form part of the beginners’ course programme, and attendance at both sessions is required.
The dates of the apiary sessions will be confirmed at a later date, and may have to change if the weather is unsuitable for opening hives for inspection.
Following attendance at both hands-on club apiary sessions we will assign each beginner a mentor to support them through their first beekeeping season. Please note that we are only able to offer mentoring to course participants whose apiary is located within West Wiltshire.
Cost of the Beginners’ Course
We welcome and encourage anyone interested in beekeeping to join our eight session Beginners’ Course – the course fee is £80. In addition to the course fee, you will need to take out full membership of the WWBKA. WWBKA membership provides access to a wide range of benefits, including insurance for the practical sessions and mentoring that are part of our Beginners Training package. The annual cost of membership in our active and friendly is an additional £41.50. You can apply for membership here.
Attendees are also asked to obtain a copy of the BBKA Guide to Beekeeping, which provides the required reading and supports the course material.
Book on to the beginners’ course
To find out more, or to book on to the next beginners’ course, please contact our Training Co-ordinator at Secretary-WWBKA@outlook.com
We will request payment for the course in January 2023, after which beginners will receive confirmation of their place on the course, and full joining details.