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, hives and all equipment needed in a starter pack. 

We have a choice of two intensive newbee weekend courses this year, either

  • 27th and 28th April 2024 (with an extra free frame making workshop on 20th April) at our Wisley apiary.

or

  • 8th and 9th June 2024 (with an extra free frame making workshop on 1st June) at our Liphook apiary.

Learn how to keep bees, and purchase your equipment, hive and bees in one weekend! 

Two Day Intensive Course: the morning is spent learning the theory behind beekeeping and the afternoons, hands-on practical sessions in the apiary, inspecting hives.

Theory Sessions:

  • Biology and life cycle of the honeybee.
  • Workings of the colony – healthy bees, what to look for when opening a hive.
  • Castes and their roles in the colony
  • Beekeeping Year
  • Swarm Management
  • Management of Pests and Diseases
  • Products of the hive

Practical Sessions:

  • Hands on session with the bees, manipulating a colony and examining frames of brood and stores.
  • Beekeeping equipment – hives, bees and equipment which we have for sale
  • Time for questions
  • Orders can be collected for the starter pack containing equipment, hives, frames, foundation and bees at the end of the session.

There will be ample time to answer any questions.

What is included: 

Two Day Weekend Saturday and Sunday

  • 09:30 – 17:00
  • 70 Page Training Pack
  • Light lunch and refreshments
  • New full Bee Suit (to keep)
  • Hive Tool (to keep)
  • Access to various free sessions and workshops to enhance your skills further

Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear (you’ll need wellington boots for apiary visits) 

  • April Theory Classroom Morning Sessions: Connaught Road, Brookwood 
  • April Apiary Afternoon Sessions: Wisley Training Apiary, Surrey

OR

  • June Theory Classroom Morning Sessions: Millennium Centre, Liphook 
  • June Apiary Afternoon Sessions: Headley Road, Liphook Apiary 

Two day intensive £260 includes bee suit and hive tool 

All equipment, bees, hives can be purchased at the same time to take away at the end of the session. 

Please register early to ensure your place as we are always over-subscribed. 

Later in the season we provide additional free one off days to demonstrate clearing supers of honey, extraction, varroa treatment and setting up for winter for all attendees. You’ll also have access to various apiary meetings and workshops to enhance your skills and progress your knowledge further. We can only accommodate limited numbers on our courses, to be sure of a place, book promptly using the form below. The minimum age for candidates participating is 16 years old, but does not preclude, providing they are accompanied by an adult.