Introduction to Beekeeping Course

March 2025 - FULL

June 2025 - places available

If you would like to learn how to become a beekeeper, our Introduction to Beekeeping course is run by Diane Drinkwater over Six weekly sessions via Zoom and is for everyone starting out with bees, our new course also runs concurrently with Six weekly session at our Apiary in Southport. If you already have bees but are relatively new to beekeeping you'll find this course extremely useful and you're welcome to attend the sessions too. Our Introduction to Beekeeping Course is £75.00 including membership of L&NWBKA Southport & District Branch.

This price includes:

6 weekly Online Sessions - see below for schedule

6 weekly Apiary Practical Training Sessions will cover:

• • Hive opening, handling honey bees (weather permitting)

  • Experienced beekeepers will be on hand to answer any questions

  • Beehives and beekeeping equipment will be on display

Practical sessions are held in a friendly and informal fashion and are supervised by an experienced beekeeper. New beekeepers are encouraged to ask any questions that they might have during or after the session.

Membership of the branch

BBKA membership

BBKA News magazine (12 issues per year)

BBKA insurance and Bee Disease insurance

A copy of the BBKA Handbook or The Bee Manual: The Complete Step by Step Guide to Keeping Bees

A 3 month online trial to BeeCraft magazine

Introduction Course Training schedule:

• • Monday 24th March @ 7.30pm: Zoom Introduction week 1 - What are honey bees - an introduction

  • Monday 31st March @ 7.30pm: Zoom Introduction week 2 - The hive and the colony

  • Saturday 5th April @  10am Apiary Visit

  • Monday 7th April @ 7.30pm: Zoom Introduction week 3 - Inspections, swarming and stings!

  • Sunday 13th April @ 10am Apiary Visit

  • We will then pause for Easter, but the Apairy may still be open for you to visit

  • Monday 28th April @ 7.30pm: Zoom Introduction week 4 - Healthy hives

  • Saturday 3rd May @ 10am Apiary Visit

  • Monday 5th May @ 7.30pm: Zoom Introduction week 5 - Your apiary

  • Saturday 10th May @ 10am Apiary Visit

  • Monday 12th May @ 7.30pm: Zoom Introduction week 6 - Honey

  • Saturday 17th May @ 10am Apiary Visit

  • Saturday 24th May @ 10am Apiary Visit

PLEASE NOTE: The March Course is now FULL, but we do have places available in June.

Once you have signed up as a new member you are also welcome to join our Branch meetings which are held the second Thursday of the month in the Community Room at Southport Fire Station, starting at 7.30pm.  Attendance at the branch meetings is encouraged.

A second course will also be run from the 23rd June, running for 6 weeks with Apiary visits starting on the 5th July and running for 6 weeks.

For more information and to start your membership please contact Vanessa Wakefield: vanessa.wakefield@southportbeekeepers.co.uk

Our Improvers course is intended for beekeeping members wishing to take the Basic Assessment this year.

Improvers Course Training schedule: DATES TO BE CONFIRMED

• •  Zoom Improvers course week 1 - Manipulation and Equipment

  •  Zoom Improvers course week 2 - Swarming, Control and its Effects

  •  Zoom Improvers course week 3 - Natural History and Beekeeping

  •  Zoom Improvers course week 4 - Diseases and Pests