Training Courses Theory Course Practicals Special Events
MUBKA Beginning Beekeeping Training Courses
MUBKA runs a well-established training course for people who wish to train to be beekeepers, and for those who want to learn to handle bees, and for people who just want to know more about bees. The courses are open to young and old alike.
Theory Course Only
Practical Course Only
Combined Course – Theory and Practical
Juniors (under 18) pay 50%
When selecting a course, you will be requested to select a membership option.
Membership options are:
Malvern and Upton Beekeepers Only £5
Country (as above PLUS receive the BBKA magazine) £16
Full/ Registered (as above PLUS you have or expect to have bees, includes insurance for you and your bees) £32
Partner (someone else at your address is a full member) £24
Junior (under 18) £5
Theory Course
This usually takes place at Hanley Swan Village Hall or St Andrews Church Hall on a Thursday evening from 7pm to 9.30pm
The Theory Course may cover the following topics:
Session 1 Thursday 25th February
- Bees and other pollinators
- Role of the Honey Bee
- Types, Life stages and hive activity
- Life cycle
- Sources of information
Session 2 Thursday 4th March
- Bee Hives - Colony Requirements, Hive & Components, Types of Hives, Choosing Equipment, Bee Space
- Setting up an Apiary - Duty of Care, Forage, Environment, Access, Layout
- Acquiring a Colony - Obtaining Bees, Mixing Races & Genetics
- Working in an Apiary - General H&S, Clothing, Equipment, Hygiene
- Bee Stings - Anatomy, Reactions, Treatment, Prevention
Session 3 Thursday 11th March
- Inspecting Bee Hives - Why, When & How Often, Preparation, How to inspect
- Record Keeping - Hive records, Medical records
- Pests, Parasites & Pathogens - Varroa, Nosema, Brood Diseases (EFB, Chalk brood), Viral Diseases, Asian Hornet, Wax Moth
- Bee Communication
Session 4 Thursday 18th March
- Practical demonstrations
- Making Frames
- Building Hives
- Bee suits
Session 5 Thursday 25th March
- Colony management
- Feeding
- Bee Products,
- Harvesting and selling
Practical Course
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 Thursday 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 on from your initial year of Beginner Beekeeping Training, as a member of the Branch, you will be invited to regular Improver evenings on every other Tuesday, which are free to all members. These sessions cover topics which will help you to continue to look after your bees.
The 2027 Practical Course will start in April and continues every week on Thursdays throughout the Summer. It 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. Details of the branch training apiary will be provided later.
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 (chargeable event)
- 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.