Aims of Course
This course is suitable for those who wish to:-
- Discover more about beekeeping and/or
- Decide whether beekeeping is a suitable hobby and/or
- Start beekeeping.
Structure
The course is divided into:
- Theory – 12 Hours.
6 separate meetings, held at Bishops Cannings Village Hall, 2.5 miles from Devizes, Wiltshire. - Practical – The course is finished off with two practical sessions dedicated to beginners where you’ll be able to cement your learning with hands on experience. These sessions are held on Saturday afternoons (dates currently TBC). Once the beekeeping season starts at the end of April, and throughout the rest of the Spring/Summer, students will be invited to attend the club apiary every other weekend on Saturday afternoons (weather permitting). The apiary is where they will be able to gain some confidence handling bees under the tutelage of experienced beekeepers and be able to build on their theory knowledge with regular practical experience. The club apiary is also in Bishops Cannings.
Theory Sessions
Theory sessions will be held on 26th Feb through to 2nd April on Thursdays, between 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Meetings: 27th Feb 2026, 6th March 2026, 13th March 2026, 20th March 2026, 27th March 2026, 3rd April 2026 and 10th April 2026.
The theory will cover:
- Life cycle of the honey bee; nature of the colony and the individual bee; forage
- Equipment : personal, hives and frames
- Beekeeping Year: inspecting the bees throughout the seasons
- Keeping the bees healthy: recognizing a healthy colony; managing pests and diseases.
- Swarm management
- Honey extraction; other products of the hive
- Getting started: setting up an apiary; health and safety issues; purchasing bees and equipment
Practical Sessions
These sessions will held from the end of April, every other Saturday (weather permitting).
After kitting out – bee suits available to borrow – and practising how to light smokers, teams of 1 teacher and 2/3 students will work on a hive.
Teachers will demonstrate what to look for and how to handle bees during an inspection but mostly these sessions are an opportunity for students to gain hands on experience.
Further Learning – the Apiary is open for various weekend sessions throughout the season for course members to gain further experience handling bees. New beekeepers will be especially welcomed at these sessions.
Teachers
Most of the teaching team have considerable experience and expertise in both beekeeping and teaching beekeeping and are well recognized at County level and above..
Cost of Course:
- For existing KBKA members, the cost of this course is £50.
- If you are not already a member, there are two main types of membership:
- Full registered membership; for those who already have bees or are thinking of getting them before 30th September 2026. @ £43 (£93 total fee for the year, when you book this course).
- Associate membership for those without bees @ £16 (£66 total when you book this course)
Application
Early application is advised as the course. It also enables applicants to gain some of the membership benefits before the Course starts. Priority will be given to local members who make early application.
Please contact Emma Morley, Education Secretary, for the full details and an application form.
Click this link or see Contacts page for contact details.
Completion of the Form with payment will confirm your place on the Course.
