RBKA Beekeeping For Beginners
An Introduction to Beekeeping
We are currently planning the course for 2026 and subject to enrolling a sufficient number of participants, we intend to run it between the end of February and April, with Apiary visits to follow in the summer. An indicative syllabus is set out below. There is flexibility in the content so as to incorporate the most upto date information and advice e.g. on disease threats and pests and focus on any particular areas of interest to the attendees. Course sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings at Wombleton [TBC] village hall in Ryedale.
The cost of the course will be £95 per attendee, payable in advance and this additionally includes your first year’s membership of the Ryedale, Yorkshire and British Beekeeping Associations with all the associated benefits plus Bee Disease Insurance for upto 3 colonies at an apiary site.
If you are interested please complete the application form at the bottom of this page with your name and contact details (telephone and email address). A firm commitment is not required at this stage but places will be allocated on a first come basis.
The Course Syllabus
Session 1 Introduction to Bees Origin and variety of Honeybees and other bees – The Colony – Anatomy and life cycle
Session 2 The Hive and Beekeeping equipment History of Beekeeping – Structure of modern hives – Beekeeping Equipment
Session 3 The Beekeeping Year Changes in the Colony through the year – Colony management and record keeping – Swarming and its control
Session 4 Pests and diseases Healthy Bees . Possible Pests – Brood diseases – Chalk brood, Foul Broods – Adult bee
diseases – Nosema, Acarine and Varroa – Possible future pests – Small hive beetle and Asiatic Hornet
Session 5/6 Hive products and practical sessions Sources of Pollen and Nectar – Honey Extraction – Microscopic observation of bees and Practicals Making up frames – Lighting smokers – Tasting honey – Next Steps – Organising Apiary sessions. Discussing sources of equipment, help and information
Bee Life Cycle
This is a National Geographic life-cycle video. It’s well worth watching – come to the Course and find out more!.
The Australian Flow Hive
A video about the Flow Hive for those on the 2022 Course, and anyone else who is interested!
There is also more information [including costs] on their commercial site. Inclusion of this link does not constitute a recommendation for their products!
BBKA Basic Assessment and other Training Options
Beekeeping for Beginners
The practical session involved work making up brood and super frames as well as trying to set the Village Hall alight with smokers.
Many thanks to the participants for their commitment and enthusiasm. We hope to see you all at our future meetings!
The apiary visits by those on the course have been completed and some fine photos of one of these sessions are available courtesy of Polly Baldwin and is also a professional photographer!
Some of Polly’s pictures from one of the apiary sessions, after the course….
