Beginner’s Course for 2026

Please note that it is not necessary (or a good idea) to buy bees, hives and equipment before attending the course. There are several different types of hive and what you work with will be affected by your situation and by the strain of bees that you start with. You will have plenty of opportunity to talk through what would be the best hive for yourself and your bees during and after the course.

This course is presented using content endorsed by the British Beekeepers Association and is taught by BBKA-qualified tutors.

Julie Coleman
BBKA Master Beekeeper

 

A honeybee colony is  a complex super organism.  A hive may contain 60,000 individuals at its peak in summer.  As beekeepers we have a responsibility to understand, work with, and support the wellbeing of these important pollinators.  In return we enjoy a fascinating and rewarding hobby, contribute towards protecting and enhancing our environment, and in some years collect surplus honey to eat.

Our beginner’s course gives an overview of the beekeeping year from the perspective of the bees and the beekeeper and will be a good introduction to the honeybee if you want to become a beekeeper. The course will start off with a ‘taster’ session, where those interested will take part in the inspection of a live colony and handling the bees. This will be followed by weekly classes that will include both the theory and practice of good beekeeping. This will be taught in the branch’s teaching apiary at the University of Kent, Canterbury. There will be 12 places available on this course.

Course dates:

Anyone wishing to attend the beginners’ course is expected to attend the taster, as beekeeping is not for everyone and the taster will help people decide if they wish to proceed to the full course before any further payment is made.

The Taster Session will be held on Saturday 11^th April 2026, 2.00 – 4.00pm. Venue will be the  University of Kent campus apiary.

Further details and a map will be supplied closer to the date and when payment has been received.

We will provide all necessary protective equipment, and this will be a live hands-on hive experience in small groups, led by qualified and experienced beekeepers.  You will need to provide boots that can be walked through a disinfectant solution (wellies) and rubber gloves (Marigolds).

The course will then follow a six-week syllabus of practical training combined with a group discussion each week to cover various topics of bee physiology and husbandry, and beekeeping activities throughout the season. Handouts and other resources will be provided.

The dates of these six weekly sessions will be:

Tuesday 28^th April 6.00 – 8.00pm

Wednesday 6^th May 6.00 – 8.00pm

Tuesdays 12^th  , 19^th , 26^th May 6.00 – 8.00pm

Tuesday 2^nd June 6.00 – 8.00pm

Following formal training, the apiary team will continue to manage the bees throughout the season and beginners will be welcome to continue with mentoring and attend to the bees.  Dates to be notified closer to the time but likely to continue on Tuesday evenings. There will be no additional cost for continued mentoring after the six weeks of the formal course.

Participants will get ample experience of hands-on beekeeping in preparation for obtaining their own bees in Spring 2027.  We will endeavour to give opportunities to help with off-site extraction of honey and other related beekeeping activities. It is not a good idea to buy bees before starting the course or during it – bees are livestock and care is needed in dealing with them. Beekeeping can also be expensive, with winter colony losses, so we do not advise getting your own bees in the first season.

Course Cost:

Taster session – £20 per person.

Six-week teaching block – £130.00 per person.

Participants on the six-session core of the course will also have branch membership as a Friend, newsletters and monthly meetings in the apiary, for the beekeeping season which ends 30th September 2026, included in the fee. The individual fees for the taster (£20.00) and for the six-week block (£130.00) will be required at the latest by the day before that part of the course commences.

The course is filling quickly, and we will operate a waiting list.  Attendees of the taster will be given priority for the following six-week block of the course.

Requirements:

All equipment and protective clothing will be loaned by the branch in the first instance although participants will need to wear their own gumboots.  Tutors will advise beginners about the options available to purchase their own equipment as the course progresses. There are many options of hive types, smokers, protective equipment, bees and all beekeeping paraphernalia and we will do our best to explain and demonstrate the alternatives so you can make an informed decision on what to buy when you have completed the course.

Anyone interested in the course should contact Julie Coleman in the first instance (see email link below). Details of how to pay will be sent by Julie to those who have places for the taster session.