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 in the evening on Wednesday each week 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:

To be confirmed but will start in April 2026

Course Cost:

To be confirmed.

Participants on the six-session core of the course will have branch membership as a Friend, newsletters and monthly meetings in the apiary, for the beekeeping season which ends 30th September 2025, included in the fee. A non-returnable deposit of £10.00 will be required, to be paid at least 14 days before the date of the taster session. The balance/full fee, for each part of the course, is required at the latest by the day before that part of the course commences.

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.

Anyone interested in the course should contact Julie Coleman in the first instance (see email link below). A deposit of £10.00 is required, to be paid at least 14 days before the start of the course.