The 2027 SBKA Beginners Course will be split into two parts, both of which feature classroom and hands on training. Part A: Bee Background is intended for those curious to learn more about the world of bees. This costs £50 and does not require SBKA membership. Part B: Bee Keeping builds on the Bee Background course to include more practical aspects of how to keep and manage your own bees. This costs £75 and requires membership of the SBKA which you can join HERE. 

Note: You must take Part A to sign up for Part B

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Part A

Bee Background : An introduction to the biology and natural history of bees and the ‘hive mind’ that controls their behaviour followed by an in-person hands on apiary bee experience. Course cost £50, you do NOT need to be an SBKA member to take Part 1.

Classroom Sessions held at Lees Hall Golf Club, S8 8LL, 7:00pm :

Hands on session held at SBKA Training Apiaries:

May 2027 (exact date to be decided – and dependant on the weather)

Beginners Bee Experience at the SBKA Rivelin Teaching Apiary Look at kit, lighting smoker, getting suits on, safety briefing, 2x hive inspections.

To register for Part A please click HERE.

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Part B

Bee Keeping : Intended as a follow on to the Party A: Bee Background course for those wishing to keep bees themselves. This provides more detailed teaching about bee husbandry, swarm prevention techniques, and diseases and as well as hands on sessions covering equipment building, honey extraction and hive health. Part B costs £75 and includes a £10 off voucher for those buying a nucleus colony through the SBKA Shop. You will also need to become an SBKA member to take Part B.

Classroom Sessions held at Lees Hall Golf Club, S8 8LL, 7:00pm:

18th March 2027	Session 4 : Apiary Setup, Equipment, Hygiene
25th March 2027	Session 5 : Honey Bee Health, Pests and Diseases
15th April 2027	Session 6 : Swarm Control, Colony Expansion, Queen Introduction
22nd April 2027	Session 7 : Records, Vet Medicines Act, Insurance, Honey & Hive Products

Hands on sessions:

18th March 2027	Hands on Hive & Frame Building (following on from Session 4 @ Lees Hall Golf Club)
Dates TBC	Hive Health Inspections (@ SBKA Rivelin Training apiary)
Date TBC	Honey Extraction & Jarring (@ Whirlow Hall Farm Discovery Kitchen)

Plus optional weekly volunteering opportunities at SBKA Training Apiaries

Sign up for Part B is available HERE for those who have also signed up for Part A.

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Payments

Once you have registered for either Part A or B please set up a BACS transfer to:

For Part A please transfer £50 and for Part B please transfer £75 and reference your payment with your initials and PartA / PartB respectively.

We will be in contact by E-mail to confirm your place once your transfer has been received and we have confirmed your SBKA membership status (for Part B).