Price for 2025 - £90.00
Combined with Theory £150.00

Practical Training

If you've got this far, you have probably got the bug!

Practical training takes place at our own Branch Apiary where we have up to 20 hives for you to practice on.

You will be put into groups and allocated a mentor who will work with you through the summer months and a full season.
We meet every Thursday evening from 6.30pm to about 8.30pm depending on the light and the weather and we start with a group chat on a training issue. Generally one that you will be doing that evening.

Occasionally we will invite a specialist to come and talk to you about their favourite topic.

Every evening, weather permitting you will be handling bees, experiencing how they live, operate, behave and learn how to manage them. By the end of August we will have covered the basics of beekeeping and you will have sufficient knowledge, if not confidence to get your own hive and start beekeeping.

Following years, as a member of the Branch, you will be invited to regular Improver evenings

Beginner’s Practical Course

Starts on  24th April and continues every week on Thursdays throughout the Summer.

The Practical Course is held at our training apiary and starts at 6.30pm. Equipment including a bee suit, will be provided. Please bring your own wellies and Marigold type gloves. Normally the session includes a talk at the beginning followed by an opportunity to handle bees with an experienced beekeeper.

Combined Course includes both Theory and Practical Courses.

These are all included

with your Membership

Special Branch Events

During the year we also put on some Special Events for Branch members to support them in their Beekeeping:

• Bee Prepared, an afternoon where we talk about getting your beekeeping year off to a good start
• Nosema and Disease Workshop - an opportunity see bees under a microscope and learn more about common diseases
• BQT - Bee Question Time. This is usually a fun evening where members can put questions to a panel of experienced beekeepers, all of whom will have a different view!
• Memorial Lecture - this is usually on a subject that is loosely about parallel interests and of general countryside and ecological interest.
• Annual Dinner - always a fun evening
• Periodic BBQ - we like getting together for a BBQ and a chat about bees, beer, cider or sheep!
• Honey Show - our annual show case and a time for a bit of light hearted competition. We have entries for honey, wax, mead, candles, crafts, cakes and more.

Taster Days     Theory Course      Practicals    Special Events