An extended course for new beekeepers will be held in 2025 on Thursday evenings at Bradford University and at the Bradford Beekeepers Association Apiary.
It will include lectures on beekeeping, beekeeping equipment and Honeybee biology, as well as practical honeybee handling sessions. The course is designed for complete beginners or beekeepers with limited experience seeking to improve their knowledge and beekeeping skills.
The course is delivered by members of the Association who are both experienced beekeepers and educators. Aknowledged as one of the best courses available trainees should be able to start their careers as a beekeeper in May 2025, and will have enough know-how and skills to gain a nationally recognised qualification as quickly as possible.
The Course:-
6th March 2025 Lecture and workshop1 Honeybee Biology
13th March 2025 Lecture and workshop1 Beekeeping Equipment / Hive Products
20th March 2025 Lecture and workshop1 Hive Inspection – The art of ‘reading’ a colony
3rd April 2025 Lecture and workshop1 Honeybee life cycle and swarming
10th April 2025 Lecture and workshop1 Apiary Hygiene and Bee Diseases
24th April 2025 Lecture and workshop1 The beekeeping year / Siting an Apiary
8th May 2025 Beekeeping & Debrief2 Inspecting a colony of bees in a small group
15th May 2025 Beekeeping & Debrief2 Inspecting a colony of bees in a small group
22nd May 2024 Beekeeping & Debrief2 Colony Inspection & Social debrief
GET YOUR OWN HIVE AND COLONY OF HONEYBEES
Rest of Summer3 Mentor assisted care of a hive at our association apiary2
September 2025 Review of Course Q&A session for course members
The Venues – Bradford University & Bradford Beekeepers Teaching Apiary
1Lectures and workshops are all based at Bradford University 19.00 – 21.00.
2The practical activities and beekeeping all take place at 2Bradford BKA’s apiary on Tong Street BD4. The teaching apiary has hives of several different types and our bees are very easy to work with. We supply all the equipment you will need apart from a pair of ‘wellies’.
3You can purchase bees and hives from our shop and keep them at our apiary all summer. We’ll be available to help you continue to care for your bees
Fees for the Course
The course fee includes all tuition costs and use of equipment. You will receive a book “Notes for New Beekeepers” written by one of the course tutors.
The course fee is £180 including Associate Membership of Bradford Beekeepers Association.
Find out more : email bill.cadmore@icloud.com or text 07847476927
Book your place – contact Bill or under EVENTS on http://www.bfdbka.org.uk
Groups or Companies – Contact us to discuss Training / Team building / Volunteering Days
