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Beekeeping Courses

Each year we run a number of courses ranging from an introductory course for those contemplating taking up beekeeping to more specialised courses for those who wish to develop new or existing skills.

Current courses are:

  1. Online – An Introduction to Beekeeping – for before you begin to care for bees. Video based answering “can I keep bees, what do I need, urban beekeeping, dealing with swarms, law, rules and regulations”.
  2. Practical Beekeeping for Beginners – Introduction – An immersive starter and taster day to experience being around honey bees, hives and equipment. A full day workshop with loan of all the equipment and guidance you need from our alternative beekeeping expert.
  3. Alternative approaches to beekeeping – This is a course for conventional beekeepers wishing to learn more about alternative approaches to beekeeping.

1. An Introduction to Beekeeping

This on-line course will introduce you to the craft of beekeeping and raise your awareness of all the matters you should consider before acquiring any bees!

The course comprises of a brief introduction and the following 16 sections, which can be viewed separately and in any order. Total running time 135 minutes.

  1. Why keep bees?
  2. Brief history of beekeeping
  3. Types of beekeepers
  4. The beekeeping year
  5. Life history of the honey bee
  6. Hive inspections
  7. Collecting swarms
  8. Hive products
  9. Bees, wasps and hornets
  10. Hives and equipment
  11. Creating an apiary
  12. Acquiring bees
  13. Bee stings
  14. Bees, the Law & Insurance
  15. Bureaucracy
  16. The next step

Cost: £35

To download a booking form, please click here.

2. A complete introduction to Beekeeping

The purposes of this four-part course are:

  • to introduce you to the craft of beekeeping
  • to raise your awareness of all the matters you should consider before acquiring any bees!
  • to introduce you to the practical skills needed to successfully manage a colony of honey bees.

Dates:

  • Part 1 10th March 2024
  • Part 2 17th March 2024
  • Part 3 24th March 2024
  • Part 4 28th April 2024

Times:

  • Parts 1, 2 and 3 will start at 10-00am and finish at 12-30pm.
  • Part 4 will start at 10-30am and finish at 3-30pm.

Location:

  • Parts 1, 2 and 3 will take place at The Cornerstone, Sulyard Street, Lancaster LA1 1PX.
  • Part 4 will take place at The Apiary, Nazareth House, Ashton Road, Lancaster, LA2 8LU.

Part 1

1) Why keep bees?
2) Brief history of beekeeping
3) What type of beekeeper do you want to be?
4) The life history of the honey bee
5) Hives and equipment
6) Hive inspections
7) The beekeeping year

Part 2

8) Bee diseases
9) Bees, wasps and hornets
10) Hive products
11) Bee stings
12) Creating an apiary
13) Acquiring bees
14) Collecting swarms
15) Bees, the Law & Insurance
16) Bureaucracy
17) The next step

Part 3

This will be a practical session aimed at familiarising yourself with the practical equipment you will need such as hives, frames, tools, bee suits etc.

 

Part 4

During the day we shall cover:

  • Session 1: Health and Safety, Risk assessments, Manual handling, Anaphylactic shock
  • Session 2: Setting up an apiary, long hives and vertical hives, swarm boxes, hive tools, apiary hygiene
  • Session 3: Frame making, use of foundation and smokers
  • Session 4: Reasons for inspections, weather, protective clothing, warning notices
  • Session 5: Live hive inspections

You will have the opportunity to handle bees for yourself under expert guidance.

Full protective equipment will be provided, although you will have to provide your own wellies.

The course is suitable for those in wheelchairs.

Course numbers are restricted to 8 to ensure that everyone obtains the maximum benefit from the workshop.

Course Costs

The course costs £170 which includes:

  • Free access to our on-line course covering all the information from parts 1 &2
  • Use of fully protective clothing except wellingtons (part 4)
  • Picnic lunch on part 4
  • Membership of Lune Valley Beekeepers for 2023-2024

To book a place, please click here.

3. Alternative approaches to beekeeping

 

Date: Sunday, 20th October 2024

the beekeeping spectrum

Some of the major issues to be considered when considering your middle path include:

  • Type of hive to be used
  • Open or solid floors
  • Use of foundation
  • Honey harvesting
  • Treatment free
  • Insulation and hive thermodynamics
  • Frequency of inspections
  • Swarming
  • Locally adapted bees
  • Use of smoke

More information and details of how to reserve a place will be available shortly.