Courses
Beekeeping can be a fascinating hobby, a profitable sideline, or a full-time occupation.
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Meet the Bees Taster Sessions
Meet the Bees Open Sessions – next session @ Wisley Apiary – Saturday 11th May 2024 – times available from 09:45 to 15:15 Would you like to become a beekeeper…
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New Beekeeper Courses
2 day intensive weekend course for the ‘newbee’: Held over a weekend in April, or June 2024, which includes support, bee suit and hive tool. We can also supply bees,…
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Junior Talks and Children’s Parties
Welcome to Surrey Bees. Our main objective is to promote beekeeping in Surrey and provide further education and support to beekeepers. Surrey Bees takes an active part in the education…
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BBKA Basic Assessment
The BBKA Basic Assessment course is aimed at those beekeepers who have been keeping bees for at least 1 year and wish to measure their achievement in basic beekeeping skills and knowledge.…
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Queen Rearing Course
The course is run every other year and will show the Jenter Method of queen rearing for the hobbyist beekeeper to raise a few queens or to rear a larger volume of…
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Intermediate Beekeeping
We recognise that beekeepers wish to continue their education but perhaps aren’t interested in Queen Rearing. Surrey Bees have a program to learn other more complex practical beekeeping skills including…
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Evening Workshops
We run several evening workshops during the winter months. At present these are limited to our members only. Details of all winter workshops can be found on the members pages…
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Microscopy Courses
Open to All Surrey Bees Training Members – one off Microscopy Workshops Held Dec – March each year on the following topics: Courses open to Members firstly, and max class…
Want To Keep Bees?
Learn how to become a beekeeper and save the honey bees:
Bees are pollinators vital to our food chain. One third of the food we eat would not be available but for bees and other pollinators. Bees are under threat and need your support.
Beekeeping can be a fascinating hobby, a profitable sideline, or a full-time occupation. You may want to keep bees for the delicious fresh honey they produce, for the benefits of their valuable services as pollinators, or perhaps simply for the enjoyment of learning more about one of nature’s most interesting insects. Almost anyone can keep bees.
If you want to learn more, come & join one of our newbees intensive courses: Two Day Weekend New Beekeeper Course; which are run through the spring months April to June and learn the basics of beekeeping, through theory session and practical sessions. We can also provide you with all the equipment and bees to set you up as a beekeeper for the first year on day 2. You’ll be provided with insurance, support, bee buddies & mentor plus lots of further workshops to attend to enhance your skills.
If you have never done beekeeping before, this is a wonderful opportunity to get first-hand experience as well as confidence and knowledge to help you become a beekeeper, with honey in your first year.
We offer an hour’s hands on session to Meet the Bees Day for people interested in potentially becoming a beekeeper or just to have a trial session – opening hives and manipulating bees – by advance booking only, Contact Us, this is held at our Wisley site. All equipment and bee suits are provided. You MUST bring your own wellington boots to protect your ankles and feet.
We also provide individual private lessons, and support for schools, once the theory has been learnt – Contact Us for further details.
However, if you want to support the bees but suffer from Anaphylaxis or don’t want to keep bees yourself; how about buying a share in a beehive and Adopting a Hive? It also makes a great Christmas or Birthday gift for grandparents and children alike.
We are able to support organisations to improve their carbon footprint and green credentials by providing a fully managed beehive service to local businesses. This can be part of your Corporate Social Responsibility Policy.
For more experienced members we offer the BBKA Basic Assessment, as well as Queen Rearing and Microscopy Courses.
For beekeepers who have kept bees for a minimum of 3 years, and completed their Basic Level Beekeeping we have an Intermediary Course consisting of 3 Theory Sessions and 4 hands on practical sessions, as well as Workshops to prepare for the General Husbandry Certificate.
We also take an active part in the education of children in Beekeeping though cub/girl guide/school visits to our apiary. We also invite young beekeepers to attend and pass the BBKA Junior Assessment. In 2019 we successfully trained the UK’s Youngest Qualified Beekeeper aged just 5, Archie Cridland, who passed his BBKA Junior Certificate. We support local schools educating them in the importance of bees as well as supporting Feltham Young Offenders in their rehabilitation programme covering the Skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
To enquire about available places please complete the enquiry form and one of the team will contact you to discuss preferred available course dates and venues. You’ll be amazed how easy it is!
If you do not have a Bee suit they can be provided.
We also run several several Winter Workshops. Costs include all materials and handouts and you’ll take home the product you have made with lots of good tips. It also provides an opportunity to chat and socialise with local beekeepers.
What people had to say about our courses & ongoing support
Kevin’s patience with us both, his tips for carefully managing bees, equipment and words of wisdom at the close were much appreciated. Liam enjoyed the afternoon and has already asked to visit our hives to practice what he’s learnt. Your guidance for collecting the swarm was an added bonus.
Rob G
I’m sure everyone will join with me in giving Lorraine and Kevin a massive thank you for all their efforts in not just helping us but in introducing others to the world of bees. After a day of training and while I suspect most of us are enjoying being Sunday morning lazy they’re still running around sorting us. Thank you both (but especially Lorraine for doing the washing).
Alan L
Kevin & Lorraine are awesome!! We’d be lost without them!! 🥰
Kirsty G
Thanks for being supportive at all levels.
Mel K
Thanks for all your support and advice along the way
Angie H
Thank you so much for your endless support!
Brigitte S