A 3-term course began in January 2020 on Monday evenings in Harrogate and at apiaries around Harrogate District. The course has been developed for complete beginners or those with limited experience of beekeeping who wish to improve their knowledge and is taught by experienced members of the association.

Successful completion of the course provides all the knowledge, practical skills and information required for new beekeepers to pass the Basic Assessment of the British Beekeeping Association in 2021. The cost of taking this assessment is included in the course cost.

Term 1 – Starting 13th January 2020 and continuing on alternate Mondays. (6 lectures plus a practical hive building session.)

These classroom based sessions cover all you need to know to keep bees safely and well, from choosing an apiary site and equipment to the natural history of honeybees and how to recognise pests and diseases.

The half day practical hive building session will cover the assembly of flat pack hive components.

Term 2 – starting early June 2020 (8 practical sessions on a weekly basis, weather dependent)

This term provides tuition in the practical bee handling skills required to keep bees safely and in good health. You will learn how to inspect and care for bees under the supervision of an experienced and knowledgeable beekeeper, using colonies of bees belonging to the Association. The Association endeavours to supply each student with a small colony of bees to work with, but this supply cannot be guaranteed. At the end of this term when the colony has increased in size, you will have the opportunity to buy the colony of bees, transfer them to your own hive and take them home. (Subject to availability).

Review of Course 1st Season and Q&A session September 2020 (1 session)

This is an opportunity to have any outstanding questions answered by the Course Tutors, in an informal and relaxed environment.

Term 3 – starting February 2021 and continuing on alternate weeks.

Following the theory & practical course of the first seasons beekeeping, further classroom based sessions are provided to revise and expand the original lessons. This additional information will give you the best possible start to your second season of beekeeping. Honey and wax processing will be included to enable you to harvest your crop and present it well for sale, show or gifts.

Fees for the course are £175

To register your interest so that you can be provided with further details please contact Elaine Remmer email: courses@feel.construction

Lessons

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