Join Our Beginners Course
Our training course is intended to give you a good grounding in beekeeping, building your confidence and knowledge by working with an experienced beekeeper. We will introduce you to bees and bee handling during your first season. The theory part of the course provides you with the necessary knowledge to manage your own bees during your second season.
The course will have three elements, we expect that beginners will participate in all of these.
1. Taster day (dates for 2025 to be confirmed)
If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping, our taster sessions consist of a half day introduction to beekeeping. After a talk by an experienced beekeeper, we will provide you with the opportunity to see the inside of a working hive and introduce you to some of the equipment associated with beekeeping.
This may be sufficient to satisfy your curiosity but if you wish to learn more we will provide you with the opportunity to visit local apiaries and enrol in the winter theory course.
2. Apiary visits with experienced beekeepers
Get ‘hands on’ experience of inspecting bees with an experienced beekeeper and an understanding of the commitment required to be a beekeeper.
– you will need to invest in a bee suit.
– you should be prepared to commit to six inspections during the summer season.
3. Winter Theory Course: our winter course will run through January, February and into March; these theory sessions will cover:
– The hive
– The colony
– Queens
– Swarms
– Forage & hive products
– Pests & diseases
– The beekeeping year
The final session will be a practical session which will teach you how to assemble a hive and make frames.
After the theory sessions we will arrange sessions at an apiary to provide you with practical experience of beekeeping.
Dates, times and venues for these are:
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Saturday 11th January | 10am -2pm | Nell Bank, Denton Road Ilkley, LS29 0DE |
| Tuesday 21st January | 7:15pm – 9:15pm | St Mary’s Parish Office, 43 Station Road, Burley in Wharfedale, LS29 7NE |
| Tuesday 4th February | 7:15pm – 9:15pm | St Mary’s Parish Office, 43 Station Road, Burley in Wharfedale, LS29 7NE |
| Tuesday 25th February | 7:15pm – 9:15pm | St Mary’s Parish Office, 43 Station Road, Burley in Wharfedale, LS29 7NE |
| Saturday 8th March | 9:30-2pm | Nell Bank, Denton Road Ilkley, LS29 0DE |
The cost of the course is £135 less the cost of the Taster session if you attended it in the summer. We will be providing you with a textbook and membership of WBKA.
(Please note, the cost of the Taster session will be deducted from the cost of the full course for those that wish to continue beekeeping having attended the taster session.)
For more information on our beginners’ training please contact the Training Co-ordinator via the contacts page.
Sign-up for the winter theory course
Learn more about bees and beekeeping
BBKA Practical Assessments
For those wishing to increase their understanding of bees and to improve their way of working with them, the BBKA offer practical assessment opportunities in the following:
Basic Certificate, Husbandry, Health, Breeding, Microscopy and Judging
WBKA will support and assist those preparing for these assessments.
BBKA Module Exams (in March & November)
For those wishing to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of various aspects of beekeeping through written examinations, the BBKA offer Modules in:
Management; Forage & Products; Pests & Diseases; Biology; Behaviour;
Selection & Breeding; Management, Health & History
YBKA already has a system of study days focussed on these examinations. WBKA will also support and assist those preparing for them.