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Introduction to Beekeeping Course

Interested in learning about beekeeping or just learning more about bees?

 

Our Introduction to Beekeeping Course is specifically designed for beginners, equipping you with all of the basic knowledge of how to keep and look after honey bees.

Learn about the life of the bee, the different types of hive, threats to our bees, how to stay safe around bees and get hands-on experience handling bees. We also look at bee-friendly flowers, honey production, collection and much more.

Our next Introduction to Beekeeping Course will start on the 10th March 2024 and comprises of 4 x 2 hour classroom sessions and 2 x apiary visits. These sessions are run on Sunday afternoons (except Easter Sunday) between 2pm and 4pm. Don’t worry if you can’t make all of the sessions as comprehensive handouts are provided and there is time set aside for questions and answers allowing you to catch up.

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Location: Pound Close Youth and Community Centre, Stanstead Road, Hoddesdon. EN11 0PE

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NEXT COURSE STARTS 10th March 2024.

Details will be posted here early in the New Year

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Book your place now

To book your place please complete the Course Booking form which can be downloaded from the link below and send it to our Treasurer at the address shown on the form.

If you have any problems please contact us via this website and we will get back to you.

 

Introduction to Beekeeping Course

Sample Syllabus

SESSION 1   The Honey Bee – Life cycle, Protective clothing, Stings, Getting started with Beekeeping

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  • Identifying bees, wasps and hornets

  • Three castes of the honey bee and their function, life cycle and life expectancy

  • The stages/timings of development of Workers, Drones and Queens

  • Protective clothing, bee stings and how to treat them

  • How to get started with beekeeping

 

SESSION 2      The Hive and its Construction

  • Components of a hive and their function

  • Types of hive – advantages/disadvantages

  • Frames –types, spacing and top/bottom bee space

  • Constructing frames and installing foundation

 

SESSION 3      Managing the Hive and Bees

  • Siting the hive – factors to consider

  • Annual cycle in managing the colony – inspections, adding/removing supers, feeding

  • Undertaking a hive inspection – smokers, hive tools and how to use them

  • Recognising the different cell types at different times of the year

  • Swarming – reading the signs, prevention, collection, re-hiving

 

SESSION 4      Apiary Visit 1

  • How to light a smoker and open a hive

  • Demonstration of the use of tools, equipment  and handling the bees

  • Inspect and recognise eggs, larvae, workers, drones, the queen, capped brood

  • Recognise capped stores, unripe honey, pollen

 

SESSION 5      Bee Pests and Diseases and Honey extraction

  • Awareness of pests and diseases than can affect honey bees

  • Notifiable diseases and their recognition

  • Prevention and treatment, good husbandry

  • Honey extraction – when to remove supers, how to extract honey, bottling and labelling

 

SESSION 6      Apiary Visit 2

 

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South East Herts Beekeepers Association – a local branch of Hertfordshire Beekeepers Association and a member of the British Beekeepers Association

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