Dear all – especially those who are novice beekeepers – one of my roles as Chair is to support and promote the activities of each of our committee members and this is a (remote) addendum to February’s original newsletter from Emma, our Education Secretary.
I noted the dates of imminent beekeeping courses provided by KBKA but here are some additional details which will – hopefully – encourage some of you to join one or other of these courses. The training courses provided by KBKA are not only comprehensive but also value for money: they will definitely help you to improve your beekeeping skills!! I know – I’ve done them all 😊…… but it goes without saying that I still have lots more to learn!!
Whether you’re building on a few seasons of experience or simply keen to learn more, 2026 offers plenty of fun, friendly opportunities to boost your beekeeping knowledge and skills. There’s always something new to discover in beekeeping—and this year is a great time to take your next step forward.
This course is the ideal next step if you participated in one of our 2025 beginner’s courses. It provides detailed support before you get your own bees or as you navigate your first season. The course will also provide additional knowledge and confidence for novice beekeepers to ensure you are managing your hives effectively.
What’s involved?
Four free theory sessions and two practical classes to help members improve their skills. These will take place online on the following Wednesday evenings (7:00pm to 9:00pm): March 11th & 25th and April 8th & 22nd.
Practical sessions will be held at the apiary in May and June, with exact dates to be confirmed based on student numbers.
The course follows the BBKA syllabus, which you can view here: BBKA Basic Assessment Information along with a reading list: Basic reading list.
How is it assessed?
This is an optional practical assessment and the first of the BBKA formal certifications, but we don’t expect you to do it until you’ve had your own bees for a couple of years: passing the assessment means that you are a confident, competent, and knowledgeable beekeeper and you need experience for that!! Assessments generally take place in July or August and will be at the assessor’s apiary.
Feedback from Barney, who joined the course and passed his assessment last year:
“I was very happy to pass my Basic last year. I found the study groups and the practical sessions incredibly useful; they gave me the confidence that I was ready for the assessment. The session was held at Melksham BKA’s apiary, and the friendly assessor put my nerves at ease. Overall, it was a very positive experience—on to General Husbandry!”
The Honeybee Health Certificate (HBHC) is a natural progression from the Basic Assessment. Like the Basic, it is a BBKA accredited assessment, again practical rather than written; it is ideal for beekeepers who want to deepen their knowledge and further improve their beekeeping skills and is particularly suited to those who’ve kept bees for around 3–5 years.
What’s involved?
We will be running an informal online HBHC study group for 4-6 members comprising two or three online sessions followed by two practical sessions at the apiary (dates TBC).
How is it assessed?
This is an optional practical assessment as before but you will be ready to be assessed by the end of the course. Assessment will take place in July or August, at either our own or a nearby alternative apiary (not your own). You’re very welcome to attend the study sessions even if you don’t plan to take the qualification—I promise you’ll learn something either way!
Ready to raise queens from your very best bees?
This hands-on weekend course is for beekeepers who want to breed high-quality queens in a controlled, practical way—not just leave it to chance.
What’s involved?
We’ll cover the full queen-rearing journey, including how to choose a breeder queen, set up a cell-raising environment, produce and distribute queen cells, evaluate a mated queen, mark and clip queens, introduce queens successfully, and care for a mini-nuc. There’ll be plenty of practical practice, with guidance every step of the way and the bonus is that there is no assessment…. this is building skills for the more advanced General Husbandry assessment which should be taken when you have 5-7 years of experience at least!
The course will run over one weekend in May/June (bees and weather permitting), and the aim is for everyone to go home with their own queen cell in an Apidea to look after. If you’ve ever wanted to take real control of queen rearing and improve the quality of your colonies, this is the weekend for you.
If you would like to join any of these courses, please contact Emma at education@kennet-beekeepers.co.uk to book your place. Your bees will thank you for it!
That’s all folks – hopefully there is something here to whet your appetite!!
Andrea
Andrea Waylen
Chair, Kennet Beekeepers Association
